SAUGUS — After a day of defensive stop after defensive stop, Thursday’s Thanksgiving showdown between Peabody and Saugus became a waiting game for that one string of big plays that would shift the momentum one way or the other.
With time winding down in the second half, that string of plays started and ended on a pair of crucial fourth downs.
First, the Sachems offense drove 63-yards before facing a fourth-and-two at the Peabody 15 yard line. But Saugus couldn’t dial up the big play it needed and Peabody forced a turnover on downs.
A few minutes later the Tanners offense had drove down the field and faced a similar situation, a fourth-and-six at the Sachems’ 31. And the Tanners had the perfect play in their back pocket.
Quarterback Alex DeNisco dropped back for his only pass attempt of the second half and found a wide-open Colby Therrien for a 31-yard touchdown. The score proved to be the game-winner in a 21-7 Peabody victory and it was a play that Therrien and company were itching to run all morning.
“Early in the game coach had said that play was going to be open later,” Therrien said. “And then that’s when we ended up coming to it. I knew I was going to be open. I was focused on the ball the whole time, I wasn’t focused on anything else. I just wanted to bring that ball in. I didn’t even know if I was going to score or not, I just ended up falling into the endzone. It was crazy.”
It seems fitting that Therrien was the one to haul in the score. The senior did it all for Peabody’s offense in his last game, rushing for 115 yards on 11 carries, including a 68-yard touchdown run earlier in the game.
Being able to get the ball in his hands and come up with a pair of scores was all Therrien could ask for in his last win as a Tanner.
“That’s always been a dream of mine,” Therrien said. “Just playing for this team, it’s been a great time. I’m going to miss it. It’s been a good four years.
“This has been our goal for the whole week. We wanted to come out with a win and we did it. It was a hard week of practice but it paid off. I did what I wanted to do, win my last game.”
Peabody coach Mark Bettencourt and the whole Tanners program will also miss Therrien, who had a lasting impact on and off the field.
“It’s kids like Colby that you want to build your program around,” Bettencourt said. “Colby comes out at practice, he gives everything he’s got everyday. He gives everything he’s got in the classroom. He’s a good kid in the community.
“To have a kid like Colby Therrien come through your program and have the success he’s had it makes you feel good that you’re doing something right as a coach. We’re going to miss him terribly. Not just for his football ability but his leadership, his personality and what he brings to the table as a person.”
