Football Sachems gear up for challenging season with new leaders at the helm

By Dom Nicastro

The Saugus High School football team is preparing for a season of growth and challenges under Head Coach Steve Cummings.

After the team chose to take its bye week at the start of the season, it gained an additional week of preseason practice, setting it up for a challenging opening against Cambridge Rindge and Latin on Sept. 13 on the road (6 p.m.). Three out of the first four games are on the road. The home opener comes on Thursday, Sept. 26 in another non-leaguer against Lynn Tech (6:30 p.m.).

“We lost a lot of seniors last year, so we figured it would be better off to have the extra week of preseason,” said Cummings.

Despite the youth and inexperience on the squad, the Sachems are optimistic about the season. With 45 players in camp – an increase from the 30s last year – the team has more depth to work with. This includes new freshmen and upperclassmen who’ve returned after a year or two away from the program.

Cummings emphasized the importance of identifying new leaders to replace last year’s standout players like Braden Faiella, Tommy DeSimone and Isaiah Rodriguez, who were key to the team’s success.

Last year, Saugus finished the season 5-6. The program won one game total in 2021 and 2022 and about a handful over the last five. Starting 3-0 and finishing with an almost .500 record and five total wins in 2023? That’s progress.

“We’re trying to find those guys in our program right now, whether they’re sophomores or juniors, to go along with the senior class that we have right now that can take the reins and push the program in the right direction,” Cummings said.

This year, senior Cody Munafo (fullback/middle linebacker) and junior Kobe Jette (two-way lineman) have been named captains, both of whom bring significant experience and leadership to the field. “Those two really took some leadership roles in the offseason,” Cummings said. “They were on top of getting guys to offseason workouts, making sure the weight room was open, and those kinds of things.”

At the quarterback position, the Sachems have competition brewing between Jordan Rodriguez and freshman Eli Fialho. The former got some significant playing time at signal-caller after Saugus’ starter went down.

“Jordan Rodriguez is a fantastic athlete,” Cummings said. “He’s one of those guys that’s going to make a difference no matter where we put him on the field.”

On Fialho, he said, “He’s a freshman, so we’re trying not to throw too much at him too quick. We’re trying to develop him the right way.”

The Sachems’ schedule is daunting, featuring non-league games against Cambridge Rindge and Latin, Wilmington, Lynn Tech, and Peabody on Thanksgiving. Peabody is in different divisions in the Northeastern Conference now, swapping with Swampscott, who will now play in Saugus’ portion of the NEC in a league game.

Most of the teams on Saugus’ schedule have playoff pedigree. Cummings is eager for the challenge; Cambridge Rindge & Latin, a Division 2 playoff team last season, will test the Sachems right from the start. “We wanted to start our schedule out tough because we want to find out what we have, see what guys are going to bring to the table,” Cummings said.

The Sachems’ NEC slate, although shorter, is just as formidable. With four league games against Gloucester, Salem, Winthrop and Swampscott – all of whom made playoff appearances last year – the team will need to be battle-tested if they hope to contend for a league title. Salem lost in the Super Bowl.

“If you are the team that comes out of our league with a league title, I mean, you had to earn it,” said Cummings. “Once you get to the playoffs, you’re battle-tested.”