In a crucial semifinal matchup for the Division 7 championship, the Saugus Centurions faced a do-or-die situation against the Apple Valley Sun Devils. Unfortunately for Saugus, their season concluded with a 21-7 defeat on Friday night, marking their first semifinal appearance since 2017.
This season has been a journey of resilience for the Centurions, who made a notable comeback after a winless campaign the previous year. “It”s just a testament to their character and to who they are as young men,” said head coach Jason Bornn. “Sometimes life is going to deal you a tough hand, and you just have to keep rolling with it and fighting for another day, and that”s what these kids did, each day this year.”
Throughout the playoffs, Saugus has demonstrated a knack for making second-half adjustments. However, in this game, Bornn felt that the team”s chances were compromised by questionable officiating, which he described as the worst he had seen in a long time. “It was the worst officiating job I”ve seen in a very long time,” he expressed. “There were calls that they made against them that I couldn”t believe.”
In the first quarter, Saugus fell behind early after a rushing touchdown by Noah Hardeman of Apple Valley. The Centurions struggled to respond offensively, facing dropped passes and halted runs. Although the defense managed to force a turnover on downs in the second quarter, they could not capitalize on the opportunity.
As the first half progressed, Brett Lanning, the Apple Valley quarterback, connected for another touchdown pass, widening the gap. Despite trailing, the Centurions maintained hope for a comeback, given their recent playoff performances. However, following Apple Valley”s score, Landon Lattimore answered with a remarkable 97-yard kickoff return for Saugus.
As momentum shifted, a late first-half interception by Jake Nuttall proved detrimental. The Sun Devils capitalized on the turnover, scoring again before halftime to take a commanding 21-7 lead.
The second half saw both teams struggle offensively, with Saugus finally making a significant push in the fourth quarter. Timely passes from Nuttall to Lattimore and Matt Long brought the Centurions within five yards of the goal line. However, a series of penalties hampered their efforts, and an injury timeout added to the frustration, as Bornn felt there should have been a flag for a hit on a defenseless receiver.
After failing to convert on fourth down, the Sun Devils regained control and managed to run down the clock, securing their victory. With this loss, the Centurions” season comes to an end, but Bornn is determined to reflect and learn from the experience. “We”ll evaluate, we”ll watch the film, we”ll get better, and we”ll learn and grow from it, and we”ll move on as a program,” he stated.
