Saugus looks to break Thanksgiving Day hex against Peabody

By Dom Nicastro

Saugus can make its season with one win: the annual Thanksgiving Day showdown between Saugus and Peabody is set for Thursday, Nov. 28, at 10 a.m. in Saugus.

While Peabody has had the upper hand in recent years, including nine straight Thanksgiving victories, the Sachems are looking to cap their season on a high note with a win over their long-time rivals.

  Peabody enters the game with a 4-7 record, having made the Division 2 playoffs with a 4-4 regular-season mark as the No. 11 seed. The Tanners showed promise early in the year, winning three of their first four games, including a 27-21 victory over eventual playoff opponent Winchester. However, their postseason campaign ended in the first round with a 35-27 loss to Winchester. Peabody also dropped their consolation round game to Chelmsford, 34-14.

Despite their recent struggles—losing six of their last seven games—the Tanners remain a dangerous team with a balanced offensive attack. Luke Maglione and Gabe Santos have been standouts, each contributing six rushing touchdowns this season. Santos also added two scores in Peabody’s playoff game, while Maglione delivered a standout performance earlier in the season with two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns in a win over Lynn Classical.

Peabody’s offense isn’t as pass-heavy as in previous years with the departure of standout quarterback Shea Lynch, but they still boast threats in their receiving corps and a quarterback capable of pushing the ball downfield.

“They’re really big up front,” Saugus coach Steve Cummings said of the Tanners. “Their offensive and defensive lines are very big. They move well, and they have good backs who are patient for holes to open up. If they establish their running game, it’s going to be a long day.”

  The Sachems, currently 3-7, are coming off a dominant 34-0 win over Brighton, where they excelled in all three phases of the game. The Thanksgiving matchup provides an opportunity for Saugus to build on that momentum and snap their nine-game Thanksgiving Day losing streak against Peabody.

Cody Munafo, who has been a force on both sides of the ball this season, will be key in helping the Sachems compete in the trenches against Peabody’s formidable lines.

“Cody has been consistent all year,” Cummings said. “Whether it’s running the ball or playing middle linebacker, he’s just solid. He’s great at finding space, breaking tackles, and grinding out extra yards.”

Junior quarterback Eli Fialho has also shown promise, forming a strong connection with Jordan Rodriguez. The duo connected for a crucial touchdown in Saugus’ win over Brighton, and they’ll look to replicate that success against Peabody.

“We think we’re going to get some guys back healthy, which will help,” Cummings said. “This game is always about the seniors. It’s their last time on the field, and we want to make sure they walk off with a win.”

  The Thanksgiving rivalry between Saugus and Peabody dates back to 1947. Peabody leads the all-time Thanksgiving series 47-26 (49-28 overall). The rivalry was put on hold for two years in 2007 and 2008 when Saugus played Chelsea, but it resumed in 2009.

Recent history has been dominated by Peabody, who have won by significant margins in the last three Thanksgiving matchups:

• 2023: Peabody 27, Saugus 6
• 2022: Peabody 48, Saugus 6
• 2021: Peabody 41, Saugus 6

Cummings emphasized the importance of this game for his young team, many of whom are playing in their first Thanksgiving Day matchup.

“We have five freshmen starting on offense,” he said. “For a lot of our guys, this is their first time experiencing something like this. It’s a big rivalry, and a lot of people care about this game.”