Thanksgiving 2012: Saugus playing for winning season

If any team should feel frustrated about its season heading into Thanksgiving Day, it’s Saugus. After all, three of the Sachems’ (5-5, 1-4) losses in the ultra-competitive CAL/NEC Tier 3 came by six points or fewer. Coach Mike Broderick, though, says his club remains upbeat and focused on securing a winning season Thursday morning at Peabody.”Sure, we had high hopes but ran into a couple of disappointing games where turnovers and strange plays hurt us. I’m very pleased with how this group responded to the adversity. In every game this season, their effort and attitude has been tremendous. We’re not going to let those losses define us as a group. We still have a shot at six wins and that’s pretty good,” Broderick said.The Sachems’ resilience is a direct reflection of the make-up of their 16 seniors, many of them three-year starters.”These seniors exemplify what we preach. Their commitment, dedication and hard work have set the standard for the future about how to prepare for the season. Now I hope they get the chance to celebrate one more win,” Broderick said.Despite the well-chronicled troubles of the Tanners (0-9, 0-4), Broderick said his club won’t take them lightly.”We’ve been on the other end before, where one game can make the season. We’ve seen them live and on film and, at times, they’ve looked very good. They’re young and they’ve made some mistakes but in one game, with emotions running high, anything can happen,” he pointed out.Peabody’s sophomore quarterback Mike Raymond certainly has the attention of Broderick and his staff and will be the focus of the Sachems’ defense.”He’s an athlete – he can throw it and run it and makes things happen. We feel like they will try to run he ball. We have to tackle better. We’ve been working on that aspect in practice and hopefully it’s fixed,” Broderick said.The Sachems’ inside linebackers and captains, Tommy Trainor (11 tackles per game) and Derek Joyal (7 tackles per game), have enjoyed monster seasons, enabled by the ability of 6-1, 260-pound tackle Jeremy Kane to occupy multiple offensive linemen. Look for defensive ends Ismael Minaya – who had two sacks and a forced fumble in the Sachems’ most recent win against Triton – and Kory Dominick to put the heat on Peabody’s Raymond.The Saugus offense will seek to establish tempo and control the clock with its methodical but efficient option attack, operating behind the all-senior offensive line of Trainor, Joyal, Kane, Dominick and Atticus Andruchow. Senior quarterback C.J. Randolph has rushed for 13 touchdowns and thrown for four. Senior back Nick Benoit (6 TDs) is poised to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing while sophomore Dan Cacciola (6 TDs) provides a speed element. On those rare occasions when Saugus airs it out, senior Ryan Henehan (4 TDs) has proven a sure-handed target. Saugus also has one of the North Shore’s top place-kickers in senior Zach Verrengia (4 FGs, 23 PATs).”It all starts with our offensive line – they get overlooked but that group has worked very well together all season,” Broderick said. One more such effort and the Sachems should secure their best record since finishing 7-3 in 2009.