Danvers football team roughs up Saugus

DANVERS – The Danvers High football team absorbed a number of lopsided beatings a year ago. Friday night they administered one in a systematic 47-14 dismantling of Saugus in a game at Dr. Deering Stadium.Danvers’ dominance was absolute, as it was the Falcons’ largest offensive output in 39 years.After punting on its first two possessions, the Falcons’ first offense scored on its next five, a span of 13 snaps. Each of senior quarterback Paul Nicolo’s three completions went for touchdowns, one of 35 yards to fellow senior captain Nick Valles and two of 72 and 14 yards to Valles’ sophomore brother Alex Valles. Nick Valles (52 yards) and senior Jake Palazola (five yards) scored on the ground.The defense was equally imposing, limiting the Sachems to 28 net offensive yards in the first half. Sophomore Anthony Cordoba returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown while senior captain Mike Connors and junior Joe Manson both sacked beleaguered Sachems’ quarterback CJ Randolph.Falcons’ coach Sean Rogers said the performance resulted from a focused week of practice.”After a poor week of practice before last week’s loss, the kids were really focused this week. That’s a tribute to the captains and the seniors,” said Rogers.”We played assignment football. We knew we had to have 11 players doing their job because their quarterback is so good on the option read. Offensively I was very happy with our execution. Michael Connors at center did a great job setting protections and making all the line calls,” Rogers added.Danvers (2-2) struck for its first score with 56 seconds left in the first period. Nicolo found Alex Valles on a slant route over the middle and Valles sprinted directly through the heart of the Sachems’ secondary to complete a 72-yard score. The two-point try failed.That kicked the Falcons into high gear and points came in rapid-fire fashion in the second quarter. In order, Nicolo connected with Nick Valles for a 35-yard score; Palazola punched in from five yards; Cordoba registered his pick six; and Nicolo and Alex Valles hooked up again from 14 yards. The Valles brothers added a two-point conversion apiece, sending Danvers in at the half with an insurmountable 34-0 bulge.When Nick Valles swept the right side for a 52-yard scoring dash on Danvers’ first play of the second half, the lead ballooned to 40-0 with 8:57 to play in the third quarter, ending the night for the Falcons’ front-liners.To its credit, 0-4 Saugus – which had a short work week after losing to Austin Prep on Sunday – kept playing. The Sachems’ executed a 71-yard no-huddle scoring drive capped by Nick Benoit’s eight-yard run. AJ Guthro’s 70-yard TD sprint against on the Sachems’ next possession and Benoit’s PATs after both scores made it 40-14 by the end of the third quarter.The Falcons’ seconds closed the scoring with an impressive 89-yard scoring drive finished off by Andrew McEachern’s 12-yard run.The Falcons have non-league home games remaining with Lynnfield and Triton before kicking off CAL/NEC Tier 2 play at home against Beverly on Oct. 21.”It’s a chance for us to gain momentum and get all the kinks worked out before division play begins. And, especially in our division, we have to be ready to do. A win like this gives us a little more confidence. Hard work in practice makes Friday night more enjoyable,” Rogers said.