Centurions rally in second half to knock off Pioneers
According to Saugus football coach Jason Bornn, halftime speeches are overrated.
“By the time we got over there, they were talking among themselves and figuring things out,” Bornn said of his players. “They're self-getters. They get after it on their own.”
After leaving the locker room, the Centurions turned a one-touchdown deficit into a 16-14 win over Simi Valley on Thursday night at Canyon High School.
The Saugus defense forced a turnover that played a key role in the win. Dario Sandoval tackled Pioneers quarterback Steele Pizzella to knock the ball loose with 30 seconds left in the third quarter, and Wyatt Hawk dove to recover the fumble. The Centurions (3-1) scored on the ensuing drive to take the lead and set up the win.
“Turnovers in a contest like tonight are huge, because their offense has been phenomenal,” Bornn said. “Any time you can take away one of their possessions because we got a turnover, it's a good day for us.”
Saugus' offense opened the game in a big way, scoring first on a 60-yard pass from TJ Cataldi to Khai Ky-yeith.
Facing pressure from the Centurions' defense, Pizzella threw a 52-yard pass to Caleb Alvary with 1:49 left in the first quarter. In the second frame, Pizzella launched a 54yard pass to Dominic Demaio to give Simi Valley the lead.
Ki-yeith came off the field with an apparent lower body injury just before halftime. Until that moment, the senior receiver had been Cataldi's favorite target.
“We have a great connection on and off the field,” Cataldi said. “We're always hanging out. It's just our thing and it carries onto the field.”
AJ Goodman became Caltaldi's new go-to receiver and caught a 34yard pass for a touchdown. Simi Valley blocked the PAT, preserving a 1413 lead.
Jake Viger kicked a 22yard field goal with 1:48 left to give Saugus the lead, 16-14.
It is the first loss of the season for Simi Valley (31), which had outscored its first three opponents 149-15.
Coach Jim Benkert saw Thursday's game as a wake-up call for his team.
“The complacency of success causes us not to be ready for a good football team,” Benkert said. “I went into this game thinking it was a trap for us because we have gone through three games and really kind of had our way with people. So we're not prepared to play a fourquarter battle.”
The Pioneers will look to get back on track next week against Yorba Linda, while Saugus will take on defending CIF Southern Section Division 4 champion Valencia in its Foothill League opener.
“Every day we're doing something, whether it's in the weight room, whether it's film, whether it's just stretching,” Cataldi said. “We're always together and we're coming.”