Turnovers costly for Sachems in loss to Reggies

  Playing probably its best game of the season so far, the Saugus High School football team still ended up making costly errors at key moments last Thursday night at Christie Serino Jr. Stadium. The Sachems turned the ball over several times inside their own territory, which led to points for the visiting Greater Lawrence Tech Reggies in an eventual 45-28 loss.

  The defeat left Saugus at 0-9 on the season while Greater Lawrence won its third straight game to improve to 3-6. The Sachems were scheduled to travel for a contest at Whittier Tech on Thursday (after press deadline).

  Against the Reggies, Saugus quarterback Cam Preston threw for over 200 yards and tossed three touchdown passes while Josh Osawe also had a big game, returning the opening kickoff 70 yards for a score and hauling in a 13-yard TD pass in the third quarter.

  The Sachems held one of their few leads all season at 14-8 after one quarter. Osawe’s game-opening kickoff return and Connor Bloom’s PAT kick gave the hosts a quick 7-0 edge before the Reggies responded with a TD and two-point conversion to go in front 8-7.

  A 28-yard scoring reception by Ameen Taboubi on a pass to the end zone that was up for grabs regained the lead for Saugus. Bloom’s successful PAT kick made it 14-8 as the opening period was coming to a close. Once again, the visitors came back to retake the lead, 15-14, early in the second quarter.

  That’s when the mistakes began to happen for the Sachems. A Saugus fumble after a completed pass gave Lawrence good field position in Sachems’ territory, and the Reggies drove it in for a 21-14 lead. A late interception then led to a Lawrence field goal just before the half and a 24-14 deficit for the hosts.

  Things looked more promising at the start of the third quarter when Saugus stopped the Reggies on downs and proceeded to march 54 yards for a TD. Running back Tommy DeSimone rushed for 27 of those yards; Isaiah Rodriguez caught a 12-yard toss; and Osawe completed the drive with his TD catch from 13 yards away. Trailing 24-20 after a failed PAT kick, Saugus appeared to have momentum, but another fumble of a completed pass gave Lawrence the ball inside the Sachems’ 20. The Reggies took advantage and hit paydirt to extend their lead to 31-20 heading into the final quarter.

  Preston then connected with DeSimone on a 30-yard pass play, but that promising drive stalled at midfield. From there, a blocked punt, a facemask penalty and a later interception would help Lawrence to two more scores and a comfortable 45-20 cushion.

  The Sachems added a late touchdown when Preston found Taboubi over the middle for 32 yards to set up a 22-yard scoring strike from Preston to DeSimone. Taboubi’s two-point conversion reception closed out the scoring.