The Gloucester Fishermen (2-4) defeated the Saugus Sachems (0-7) on a rainy Thursday night at Christie Serino Jr. Memorial Stadium, 48-22.
Quarterback/running back Frank DeSisto paced Gloucester with 157 yards on the ground and three touchdowns, using his speed and blockers in front of him to have success.
Gloucester returned the opening squib kick past midfield. On just the second play from scrimmage, running back Caleb DeCoste took a handoff 23 yards, and the run-only drive was capped off by DeSisto finding the endzone from a yard out. The Fishermen racked up 47 rushing yards on their first drive.
Saugus’ Josh Osawe controlled the ensuing kickoff at the 6-yard line and took it inside the Gloucester 45-yard line – deking a Fisherman to the turf in the process. Two failed run plays and a screen pass forced them to punt, however.
DeSisto would strike again on Gloucester’s second drive – taking a handoff 35 yards down the right sideline. The Fishermen lead doubled to 14-0 after the extra point.
After a pass interference penalty on a Cam Preston bomb, Saugus found themselves just shy of the redzone. Multiple plays of negative yardage led to a fourth down attempt, where Gloucester’s Brady Sullivan leaped to deflect a pass away in the back of the endzone.
Saugus freshman Fynex Espinal recovered a fumble at the center logo on the ensuing drive, but the offense failed to make the Fishermen pay.
Sachem receivers ran routes effectively, but Gloucester’s cornerbacks got hands on jump balls multiple times.
On a Gloucester punt, a high snap flew over the punter and into the endzone. Saugus captain Braden Faiella pounced on it for a touchdown, but the two-point conversion attempt was no good (14-6).
DeSisto recorded his third touchdown of the half on Gloucester’s two-minute drill, taking the ball 42 yards to the promised land. The Fishermen got the ball back with less than 30 seconds remaining and added another touchdown with Cameron Widtfeldt finding DeCoste for 23 yards on a slip screen.
The halftime score read 28-6. Saugus rushed for -5 yards in the half while DeSisto racked up 140 yards on the ground.
“He’s [DeSisto] a big back, and he’s been playing since he was a freshman,” Saugus Head Coach Steve Cummings said. “He’s got great vision, he runs with high knees, he’s tough to bring down. When you’re a step slow, he’s going to run through that stuff.”
Preston threw a strike to junior Isaiah Rodriguez on a defensive breakdown for a 69-yard touchdown to begin the third quarter. After an Osawe haul-in on the two-point try, the scoreboard showed 28-14. Cummings credits his team’s resilience.
“Our guys. They play, they battle. There’s 32 of us in pads right now, and they give it to you,” Cummings said.
Gloucester marched to the Saugus 10-yard line afterwards, but a failed slant route on fourth down turned it over.
They got the ball back after a Saugus punt. The result: a 46-yard jet to the endzone from junior John Gucciardi to put Gloucester up 35-6 after the extra point. On their next drive, Widtfeldt scored a rushing touchdown from six yards out – set up by a 34-yard Chase Goulart run down the left sideline – to put his team up 42-14.
In the fourth quarter, Gloucester’s Nikko Thomas ran for a 14-yard touchdown – the Fishermen lead was 48-14.
Saugus’ junior captain Tommy DeSimone collected a touchdown and two-point conversion in the waning minutes – his 36-yard burst set up the 1-yard touchdown.
The final score was 48-22 in favor of Gloucester – a hard-fought road victory for their second win of the season.
Saugus football players, band members, and cheerleaders were honored prior to the game for their time and dedication given to the program – all to the applause of the Sachem faithful.
Saugus returns to action on Friday, Oct. 21 against Rockland at 7 p.m.