Saugus runs past Manchester-Essex

MANCHESTER – The excitement surrounding Manchester-Essex?s home opener at Hyland Field Friday night increased exponentially when the Hornets? senior John Beardsley returned the game?s opening kickoff 93 yards for a quick 6-0 lead. The euphoria didn?t last long.Saugus responded by scoring on its first five possessions and rolled to an emphatic 31-12 victory to level its record at 1-1. Senior captain Nick Benoit (9 carries, 97 yards, TD) and senior quarterback C.J. Randolph (16 carries, 70 yards, 3 TDs) spearheaded an attack that rolled up 306 yards rushing and 13 first downs.?It?s the best half a Saugus team has played in awhile,” said Coach Mike Broderick of the first 22 minutes.?I?m really happy for the kids. We came in and did what we wanted to do. We ran the ball and we controlled the clock. Defensively we did a tremendous job. We kept their quarterback in check and tackled really well.”Saugus answered Beardsley?s opening strike with a nine-play, 49-yard drive that consumed 5:03.Runs of 12 yards by senior captain Justin Barrasso and 13 by Benoit triggered the drive capped by Randolph?s 10-yard keeper for the score. Zach Verrengia?s first of four PATs gave Saugus a lead it would never relinquish, 7-6, with 5:31 left in the first quarter.When Saugus stalled on its next drive at the ME 17, Verrengia blasted a 35-yard field goal for a 10-6 edge in the quarter?s final minute. Additionally, Verrengia drove four kickoffs inside the ME 10-yard line and drew a bit of impromptu praise from the PA announcer, who proclaimed “I haven?t seen a leg like that around here since the ?80s.”?He?s a tremendous kicker with a big leg and we?re glad we have him,” said Broderick.Nick Lennan?s interception with eight seconds left in the first period gave Saugus possession at the ME 13 and Randolph scored on a four-yard keeper on the first play of the second period. Verrengia?s kick made it 17-6.The Hornets launched a countering drive that only managed to whittle more than six minutes off the clock before they turned the ball over on downs at the Saugus 34. The Sachems promptly covered 66 yards in five plays as Barrasso (15 yards) and Ismael Minaya (20 yards) ripped off long gainers preceding Benoit?s 29-yard burst up the middle for the score just 1:54 before the half. Verrengia?s kick made it 24-6 at the break.Saugus opened the second half with a game-sealing 13-play, 56-yard drive that melted eight minutes off the clock and included only one play of more than 10 yards. Randolph capped it from a yard out and Verrengia added the PAT for a 31-6 edge.The Hornets tacked on a late score against the Sachems? backups as quarterback Corey Burnham connected with Chris Dumont from 15 yards with 3:43 to play.