Football: Saugus looking for bounce back against Beverly

To call what happened to the Saugus football team at the end of its 23-16 loss to Marblehead last Saturday heartbreaking would be an understatement of epic proportions.For three and a half quarters last week, the Sachems did everything right against the Magicians to take a 16-0 lead. Then like a tidal wave, Marblehead swept back to score 23 points in 100 seconds to stun everyone at Stackpole Field.The question facing Sachem coach Mike Broderick this week was if his team would hang its head or come out motivated to get ready to host Beverly on Saturday (1).”I learned a long time ago in coaching that the kids bounce back quicker than the adults,” Broderick said. “The kids have been very mature about what happened and they know they have to be ready because Beverly is a top contender in the league.”The Sachems (4-2, 1-1 NEC South) now must prepare for a Beverly (2-5, 2-0 NEC South) team that comes in off a convincing 28-13 win over Winthrop and has seemingly found its stride.”Beverly is huge up front and their backs (Nick Theriault and Brendan Flaherty) are tough,” Broderick said. “We are going to have our hands full with them.”Saugus isn’t without its share of size in the backfield as fullback Shamir Guillaume has been outstanding all season. He rushed for 189 yards and a touchdown in the loss a week ago.”Shamir has all kinds of natural ability but he wants to succeed and will run through a brick wall to do it,” Broderick said. “Last week, you saw him do that a couple of times.”Other games Saturday:Winthrop at SwampscottAt Blocksidge Field (2), the Big Blue (6-1, 2-0 NEC South) continued to live dangerously last week in a 42-20 win at Danvers. After running out to a 21-8 first half lead, Swampscott saw the Falcons shave the lead to a point at the break.Quarterback Mike Walsh, however, restored order by throwing a pair of touchdowns to Zach Beerman and rushing for another as a part of a 21-point second half explosion.Swampscott will face a Viking (0-7, 0-2) team desperately in need of a win after dropping a 28-13 game at home to Beverly last Friday.St. Mary’s at Austin PrepAt Reading (11), the Spartans (6-1, 0-1 Catholic Central League/Large) will look to get back on the winning track after being knocked out of the unbeaten ranks by Cardinal Spellman last week.St. Mary’s played well against the powerhouse Cardinals but ran out of gas in the fourth quarter as Spellman star Blaise Branch scored twice to break a 6-6 tie. The Spartans now face the reigning league champs, who have shaken off a slow start to sit at 4-3 and 1-0 in league play after a 22-12 win over Arlington Catholic last time out.Tech at ShawsheenAt Billerica (1:30), the Tigers (1-5, 1-2 Commonwealth Conference/Large) will hope to get back in the win column after suffering a 26-8 loss to Mystic Valley last week.Tech was its own worst enemy in the loss, turning the ball over three times. The Tigers face a Rams club that sits at 5-1 overall and 1-0 in league play.Catholic Memorial at St. John’sAt Cronin Memorial Stadium in Danvers (1:30), the Eagles (4-3) finally get to kick off their Catholic Conference slate with a visit from the 5-1 Knights, who are 1-0 in conference play.The Prep enters off a 24-0 win over Somerville last week that saw it prevail despite fumbling the ball nine times. Tyler Coppola rushed for 189 yards and a score while quarterback Tommy Gaudet found the end zone three times.The Eagles will need to protect the ball better this week against a CM team that has a talented quarterback in A.J. Doyle and a fleet-footed running back in Armani Reeves.