Masco pulls away from gritty Saugus

TOPSFIELD – The plan for Saugus was simple – possess the ball and keep Masconomet?s high-octane offense sidelined and out of rhythm. However, while the Sachems had three drives of six minutes or longer, they couldn?t match Masco?s efficiency in a 35-14 Cape Ann League Large loss last night at Bunker Stadium.Even though Saugus held the ball for 13:43 of the game?s first 17 minutes the Sachems found themselves down, 20-0, with 6:10 left in the half as Masco scored on three of its first six offensive plays, all from distance. While it proved too big a hole to climb out of the Sachems certainly made things interesting when they closed to 20-14 late in the third quarter.?There are a lot of positives to be had from this game. We?re young, but we fought back. In the second half, we did the things we wanted to do. Now we have to learn how to play a full game,” said coach Mike Broderick of the Sachems, now 0-3 (0-1).What Saugus couldn?t do was contain Masco?s standout senior back Mike Tivinis, whose productive seven carries produced four touchdowns and 152 yards.?We just didn?t tackle. We had people in position but we just didn?t tackle the kid,” Broderick said.Tivinis opened the game with a 56-yard kickoff return and rolled in from 26 yards on the Chieftains? second play from scrimmage.Saugus responded with a 55-yard advance that died on downs at the Masco 24. Chieftains quarterback Troy Bunker delivered a 76-yard scoring strike to Corey Tines on first down, then tacked on the PAT for a 14-0 edge.The pattern repeated itself in the second quarter when Saugus drove to the Masco 29 before stalling. Three plays later Tivinis burst through the left side, found the sideline and outraced the pursuit for a 65-yard score and 20-0 lead that stood at halftime.Saugus made it interesting after the break. Dan Cacciola (25 carries, 90 yards) carried seven times and capped a half-opening 52-yard scoring drive that consumed 7:24 with an 11-yard TD reception from Justin Winn (15 carries, 47 yards) to make it 20-6. Cacciola made a shoe-top grab at the three and spun into the end zone.The Sachems? Adam DiChiara then recovered his own well-executed onside kick at the Saugus 49. Two plays later Seth Roy sprinted 44 yards for the Sachems? second TD in 50 seconds and Cacciola?s two-point rush cut Masco?s lead to 20-14.However, Tivinis plunged in from a yard on the last play of the third quarter, then scored from 24 yards with 9:08 to play to account for the 35-14 final.Saugus had the ball for 52 offensive snaps compared to just 28 for Masconomet. Time of possession was heavily in the Sachems? favor, 32:37-11:23.?Now we just have to put together a game where we don?t shoot ourselves in the foot,” said Broderick.