High School Football : Solid Defense Lifts Saugus to 14-12 Win

In a defensive battle, Saugus High had the last stand--rather the last three--to secure a 14-12 nonleague win over host St. Francis on Saturday night.

Saugus (3-2) stopped three St. Francis drives deep in Saugus territory in the final eight minutes. Alex Flores intercepted a John Willis pass at the Saugus 27-yard line with 1:14 left to end the final St. Francis effort.

Saugus, which snapped a two-game losing streak, took the lead for good with 1:54 left in the first half when Gerry Caruthers intercepted Willis’ screen pass and returned it 34 yards for a score. Kevin Griggs added the point-after for a 14-12 Saugus lead.

The St. Francis defense, which limited Saugus to 174 yards and consistently gave the Golden Knights’ offense good field position, held Saugus on a fourth-and-one play from the St. Francis three-yard line with 1:36 left in the third quarter.

St. Francis (1-4) took a 12-0 lead within a four-minute span of the second quarter on a 19-yard scoring pass from Willis to Shawn Haney and an 18-yard scoring pass from Willis to Marty Konrad. Konrad recovered a fumble to start the drive in which he scored.

Saugus (3-2) cut the deficit to 12-7 with 3:16 left in the half on Mike Manuel’s three-yard run and Griggs’ point-after.