Saugus struggles in 21-0 loss to Salem as offensive woes continue

By Dom Nicastro

The Saugus High School football team couldn’t finish off drives in a 21-0 loss to Salem at home on Thursday, Oct. 10. It was a game where their defense made key stops but the offense struggled to capitalize. The shutout dropped Saugus to 1-4 on the season, while Salem improved to 3-2 after the Northeastern Conference matchup.

The Sachems started freshman Eli Fialho at quarterback, making his varsity debut. Head Coach Steve Cummings explained the decision to move Jordan Rodriguez, normally the starting quarterback, to receiver in order to leverage his athleticism in other ways. “Jordan’s a really good athlete, and with him at quarterback, he was always in the teeth of the defense,” Cummings said. “We thought we could get him some easier touches at receiver, where he could use his athleticism and fantastic hands. So we went with Eli at quarterback, and I think he did well for his first game.”

Fialho showed some promise, connecting with Jay Arnett on a nice crossing route early on and scrambling for a first down to keep a drive alive. The freshman almost connected on some deeper throws that could have changed the complexion of the game. “Eli made some nice throws and missed a couple of deep balls by just inches,” Cummings said. “We’re literally talking inches away from touchdowns. It’s just part of the growing pains of having a young quarterback out there, but he throws the ball well, and he’s making strides every week.”

Despite the offensive struggles, Saugus’ defense kept them in the game. Cody Munafo was instrumental in the first half, making back-to-back big plays to force a turnover on downs, including a 7-yard tackle for loss and a sack. Ryan Shea was a standout in the secondary, coming up with two interceptions that gave Saugus much-needed opportunities.

“Ryan is such a ball hawk at safety,” Cummings said. “He reads the game so well and breaks on the ball quickly. He almost had a third interception, but he collided with another defender at the last second. He’s been rock solid for us all year.”

Salem’s offense, led by running back Alvin Laurent, broke through in the second quarter with an 11-yard touchdown run, giving the Witches a 7-0 lead at halftime. Saugus had its chances, including after Shea’s second interception set them up at the Salem 41 with 28 seconds left. But the Sachems couldn’t convert, leaving them scoreless at the break.

The Witches extended their lead in the third quarter when Laurent scored his second touchdown of the night on an 8-yard run, putting Salem up 14-0. A late pick-six by Salem’s Rocco Ryan with 1:10 left sealed the victory.

“We were inches away from having the lead in that football game,” Cummings said. “Our defense was fantastic, and offensively, we were just a little bit off. But I’m encouraged by how close we are. We’re growing as a young team, and once we tighten things up, it’s going to pop, and it’s going to be fun to watch.”

Saugus will look to get back on track in their next game on Friday, Oct. 18, when they host Gloucester for Senior Night at 6:30 p.m. Gloucester, coming off a win over Salem, presents another tough challenge for the Sachems in the competitive Northeastern Conference.

“Gloucester is a tough team, and they’ve got some good playmakers and a big line,” Cummings said. “There’s nothing easy in the NEC, but we’re going to work hard and try to send our seniors off with a win.”