RallyNorth.net

Pentucket rebounds for comeback win over Saugus

Saturday, October, 29 By Chuck Frye
Staff writer

SAUGUS — For Pentucket, 15 short minutes made a world of difference.

In the first half of yesterday’s game, the smart, split-second decision-making of Saugus’ option quarterback C.J. Randolph rolled up 153 rushing yards, while the defense bottled up Pentucket’s attack to just 61 yards and forced a turnover. Going into the break, Saugus held a 14-7 advantage.

But during halftime, head coach Steve Hayden and his staff found the answers as Pentucket rebounded to win the battle of the Sachems, 27-14.

The defense got the transformation started, simply by balking on Randolph ball fakes and staying home. Defensive end Tim Freiermuth (four tackles, two sacks and three QB pressures) was a menace in the backfield, and linebackers Nolan Dragon (seven tackles, two for lost yardage) and Jeremy Kane (four stops, defended pass) effectively clogged up the middle.

Saugus was held to just 108 second-half yards, over half which came on its first possession that ended on downs at the Pentucket 24-yard line.

“In the first half, we really struggled with reading our keys,” Freiermuth said. “We watched the ball too much, and that gave us some trouble.”

“We tried to get another guy on (Randolph) because he was really killing us,” Dragon said. “The coaches did a nice job telling us what to switch up.”

And on offense, Pentucket just buckled down, went to a two-tight end front and straight-T backfield, and pounded away with bruising fullback Dragon.

“We got our horse the ball a little more,” said Hayden.

And Dragon delivered, plodding, plowing and producing 102 of his 131 rushing yards and all three second-half TDs.

“We wanted to grind away as much as we could,” the 210-pound senior said. “We continued to run, the offensive line and backs stayed on their blocks, and we kept it going.”

Trademark 10 and 11-play scoring drives totaling 10 minutes got Pentucket the lead and then the locals caught a huge break as a 57-yard Saugus pass play to the 10 was wiped out by an offensive interference penalty.

Saugus moved to midfield before Freiermuth and Dan Thornton punched holes in the line, creating three huge losses and three incomplete passes on the last six plays Saugus ran.

Freiermuth explained, “I think I defend the pass and run equally well, but I just get that fire in me when I see a pass coming. We had to be aggressive against this type of offense, and it definitely helped that I have some speed.”

And for Dragon, who got battered on both sides of the ball, winning provided the healing touch.

“I’m definitely beat up all over, but the coaches say it’s all about toughness, so we’ve got to keep going, keep grinding away as much as we can.”