Suspended Saugus Trio Opts to Quit

Three Saugus High football players who were suspended for a week have decided not to return, according to Coach Dick Flaherty.

Starting quarterback Jeff Hickman and reserves Mike Magdaleno, a defensive back, and Seth Warren, a linebacker, were disciplined two weeks ago after they violated team rules, Flaherty said.

“They decided to continue not playing,” Flaherty said. “The rest of the team is going on with its business. They still choose to play football.”

Flaherty has promoted backup quarterback Rich Gutierrez. In last week’s 14-12 loss to Ridgecrest Burroughs, third-stringer Jason Bobby got the call when Gutierrez was sidelined because of a badly bruised kidney. Hickman, who threw for 1,007 yards as a junior, will be missed, Flaherty said.

“I would have liked to have seen Jeff come back,” said Flaherty, whose team is 1-5.