AMESBURY — The No. 6 Saugus football team’s playoff run came to an end with a 20-0 loss to No. 2 Amesbury Friday night at Landry Stadium.
The Sachems defense held the Indians offense scoreless for three quarters, but Amesbury was able to capitalize on several Saugus mistakes in the fourth quarter.
“The kids battled and our defense played outstanding,” Saugus coach Mike Mabee said. “That’s a good offense that we were up against with a big offensive line and our kids fought hard all night.”
With Saugus unable to run the ball as effectively as last week (in the 29-6 win over Weston), the Sachems turned to the arm of sophomore quarterback Mason Nickolas (7-of-22 for 100 passing yards) to move the chains.
“Mason stepped it up tonight,” Mabee said. “He went through his reads, he scrambled a little bit and he did a good job.”
Both teams traded big defensive stops in the first half before Saugus started the move the ball with less than a minute remaining before halftime.
Saugus lined up for for a 30-yard field goal attempt from Javier Martinez-Moretta but the kick sailed wide left to keep the game scoreless at halftime.
With just a few minutes left in the third quarter, Amesbury’s Logan Burrill came up with a huge play, blocking a Saugus punt to give the Indians the ball at the Sachems 25.
“I think our defense still played well,” Mabee said. “They blocked a punt, it happens what are you going to do? That type of thing is tough to overcome when you’re playing a good team.”
Running back Patrick Birmingham (13 carries for 73 yards and one touchdown) finished the Indians’ ensuing drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to put Amesbury ahead 8-0.
The Sachems faced a 4th-and-10 from their own 40 on their next drive, but decided to go for it rather than punt. The play was a disaster for Saugus with a Nickolas pass being intercepted. On the interception return Saugus was flagged for both a personal foul and an unsportsmanlike penalty to give the Indians possession at the Saugus 23.
“I’m a coach who kind of goes with a feeling and I went with it there,” Mabee said of the decision to go for the first down on the 4th down play.
Amesbury capitalized soon after with a 3-yard touchdown run by Blake Bennett to put the Indians ahead 14-0.
The ensuing kickoff bounced off a Saugus player at the 50 and Amesbury recovered. The Indians capitalized once again when Bennett connected with tight end Troy Marden for a 46-yard touchdown to put Amesbury ahead 20-0 and the game out of reach for Saugus.
“I’m just going to talk to the team and let them know they played hard and now we just have to finish these next two games for our seniors,” Mabee said. “That’s what we are playing for now, to send those guys out on a good note. It’s a close team so I think they’ll rally behind them and play for them and play for each other.”
