Saugus handles Georgetown behind Benoit

SAUGUS – The Saugus High football team will roll into CAL/NEC Tier 3 play next weekend on a four-game winning streak after pulling away from Georgetown, 35-14, in the second half of Friday afternoon’s crossover game at Stackpole Field.With senior running back Ismael Minaya sidelined, captain Nick Benoit shouldered the load for the Sachems’ offense with a scintillating performance. Benoit ran over, through and away from the Royals for 217 yards and touchdown runs of 80, one and 63 yards on 15 carries. The Sachems made economical use of limited opportunities, amassing 321 net yards on just 29 plays.”Nick had a great game. He ran hard and really gave us a spark. (Quarterback) CJ (Randolph) also did a really good job of running the offense again,” said coach Mike BroderickTier 4 Georgetown (1-4), averaging more than 30 points per game coming in, certainly didn’t act like a squad missing two of its marquee offensive players, injured quarterback Niko Edwards and receiver Colby Ingraham (17 combined TDs in four games).The Royals opened the game with a 13-play, 80-yard drive that gobbled 7:05 off the clock. Running back Tom Zargaj (14 carries, 138 yards, TD) set the drive in motion with a 43-yard dash to the Saugus 36. On fourth-and-8, quarterback Jackson Fritz delivered a 14-yard strike to six-foot, five-inch wideout Pat Bjork in the right back corner of the end zone. Tim Dillon’s conversion rush gave the Royals an 8-0 lead.When Fritz recovered the intentionally short ensuing kickoff at the Saugus 32, Georgetown was poised to take early control. However, Cody Elder’s three-yard sack of Fritz turned the ball over on downs at the Saugus 20 and, on the Sachems’ first offensive snap – with 1:11 left in the period – Benoit burst through the middle, cut to the right and rumbled 80 yards for the score. Zach Verrengia’s PAT made it 8-7.”That was a good defensive stand and changed things a bit. We just weren’t ready at the start of the game. They (Georgetown) were very physical. They hit us hard and we didn’t respond to that,” Broderick said.Saugus forged ahead with 1:27 left in the half, taking over at the Georgetown 30 after a short punt. Randolph rolled left and found Ryan Henehan well behind the Royals’ secondary for a 30-yard score. Verrengia’s kick made it 14-8 at the break.On the first play after Randolph’s 12-yard interception return set the Royals up at the Georgetown 23, Dan Cacciola swept the left side for the TD. Verrengia’s kick stretched the lead to 21-8 with 5:48 to play in the third period. Benoit’s one-yard plunge and Verrengia’s kick made it 28-8 later in the quarter.Georgetown didn’t go quietly. After converting a fake punt for a first down, Zargaj found a seam on the left side, cut to the middle and outran the pursuit for a 64-yard score. However the PAT failed and Benoit answered on the first play after the ensuing kickoff, racing 63 yards on the last play of the third quarter. Verrengia’s PAT accounted for the final.Broderick and his staff have preached momentum since the first day of pre-season. Now that the Sachems have it, he knows they must play better to maintain it, starting Friday at Winthrop.”It’s our league opener and we have a great rivalry with them. We have to make sure we’re ready to match their intensity and we have to play better than we did today,” Broderick said.