SAUGUS — Lynnfield’s football team simply punished the Saugus Sachems 37-0 at Saugus Middle High School Complex on Friday in the opening game of the 2022 fall football season.
From the get-go, Lynnfield came out of the gate ready to take charge. Saugus, on the other hand, struggled.
Sachems’ returner Tommy DeSimone muffed the opening kick-off, and Saugus started with poor field position at its own five-yard line. With their backs against the wall, the Sachems were forced to punt.
Unfortunately for Saugus, Lynnfield senior Robert Marley III, made Saugus pay. He returned the punt 50 yards for a touchdown. After Kevin Connolly made the extra point, Lynnfield took a quick 7-0 lead.
After forcing another punt, Lynnfield struck again immediately with a bomb of a 51-yard touchdown from sophomore quarterback Tyler Adamo to wideout Joey Cucciniello to extend the lead to 14-0 after Connolly added the PAT.
The Pioneers added another score on a Charles Capachietti touchdown from Adamo and, before the end of the first quarter, led the game 20-0.
As the game continued, Lynnfield’s defense was outstanding, pestering Saugus nonstop, and the Pioneers’ offense continued to pile it on, leading 34 to 0 at the half after rushing touchdowns from Arthur Chiaradonna and Nicholas Razzaboni.
Connolly capped the scoring with a 40-yard field goal in the third quarter to account for the final 37-0 score.
Field position was a massive part of the Pioneers’ victory, as it seemed like Saugus could never get anything going because it was pinned in its own territory.
“It was huge – I think it is a major in high school football because you only get about eight possessions. You need to make sure most of those possessions if not all – you are in a favorable field position,” said Head Coach Pat Lamusta.
With all the hard work his team has put in during the offseason and preseason, Lamusta was ecstatic with the victory.
“They are just one of the hardest working groups I have had. When you see what they do in February, and you see what they do in June – you want the dividends paid,” said Lamusta.
“It is a sense of validation; it is a sense of your hard work paying off,” he said.
Michael Coughlin Jr. can be reached at mike@itemlive.com.
