Football: Saugus-Winthrop rivalry remains a constant

Through thick or thin, as rivalries come and rivalries go, there?s been one constant on the North Shore football scene: Saugus and Winthrop continue their annual get-together. And this year is no exception.The Sachems and Vikings open their seasons at noon Saturday at Miller Field in Winthrop. And both squads are looking to rebound from tough 2013 seasons.For Saugus, last year?s 3-7 record belies the fact that the Sachems were young, and gaining experience weekly. Half their problem was that they were placed in the upper division of the Cape Ann League, where they had to match up with the likes of Masconomet and Pentucket. Despite leaving the Northeastern Conference in a quest to find better competitive balance, the Sachems found instead a league that featured schools drawing from multiple towns. This year, they?re playing an independent league schedule until they can totally assimilate back into the Northeastern Conference.And even though the record may have been sub-par, the team did improve. The Sachems did defeat Arlington Catholic and Peabody, and lost to Swampscott and Ipswich by a combined margin of eight points.The best news for Saugus, though, is that the Sachems only graduated two players. Among the returnees are quarterback Justin Winn, who has become adept at running the triple option offense. Dan Cacciola, who would have run for more than 1,000 yards last year if he didn?t get hurt, is back running the ball. Saugus also features a solid offensive line.Winthrop also missed the playoffs in the first year of the new format, and finished 5-6. The Vikings return 20 seniors from last year?s team, though, and hope to make some more noise in the Northeastern Conference/Small. Chief among the Vikings? threats is quarterback Dylan Driscoll, son of coach Sean Driscoll.?We?re like most teams,” Driscoll says. “We?ll be strong unless we get an injury or two. Then, it?s a different ballgame.”St. John?s at Bridgewater-RaynhamAt Bridgewater (1:30), the new era at The Prep begins. Brian St. Pierre has taken the reins from 30-year veteran Jim O?Leary and he?ll bring a team to Bridgewater loaded with raw talent and somewhat short on experience.A.J. Carrigan and Oliver Eberth have battled all fall for the right to start at quarterback, but St. Pierre is a little more stable at running back, with Cody Harwood (who came close to running for 1,000 yards in only eight games after Johnny Thomas was hurt) and Jack Lambert. He also has tight end Jake Burt returning. Burt is an early commit to Boston College.Beverly at HaverhillAt Haverhill Stadium (3), the Panthers bring back 15 lettermen from a 2013 season that saw them go 7-4 and end up in a three-way tie for first in the Northeastern Conference/North with Marblehead and Gloucester.The Panthers are expecting big things from senior quarterback Bryan Flaherty, junior running back Peter Mulumba and rugged offensive and defensive lines.Lynnfield at PentucketAt West Newbury (1), the Pioneers will be road warriors this season until the fields at the high schools are done (they are expected to be fit for playing football around the end of October).Lynnfield had a memorable 2013 season, winning the Cape Ann League?s Baker Division and making it to the divisional semifinal before falling to Bedford.