Dan Watson/The Signal

In its season opener, the Saugus High football team went up against a talented running back.

In the second game, Saugus is going up against a lot of offensive talent, period.

The Centurions will travel to face Muir High of Pasadena at 7 p.m. today, and Muir boasts wide receiver/defensive back Kevon Seymour, running back Tairen Owens and an offense that scored 37 unanswered points to rout San Gabriel 44-20 last week.

Owens has committed to Washington, while Seymour is one of the top recruits in the nation and has offers from most of the Pac-12 schools as well as Florida and Nebraska. They backed up the hype against San Gabriel, when Owens had 112 all-purpose yards and Seymour scored on a 52-yard touchdown reception and a 59-yard punt return.

Moreover, Muir quarterback Josh Washington threw for 232 yards and four touchdowns. 

Saugus head coach Jason Bornn knows Muir (1-0) will be tough to stop, but he’s not letting his team get wrapped up in the statistics.

“They’re for the media,” said Bornn, who spent five years coaching at Muir High early in his career. “We don’t really care. At the end of the night, if they have 500 yards and we have 120 but we won, that’s all that really matters.”

That approach worked out for the Centurions last week, when they gave up 278 yards rushing to Zander Anding but outplayed Burroughs High of Burbank in the fourth quarter to win.

Still, a night like that might have Owens and Muir head coach Ken Howard licking their chops. But Howard expects a tougher defensive effort from Saugus, and he said his offense will rely on whoever’s having a big night.

“We’re going to find that guy,” Howard said. “Wherever we can strike them at, we’re going to go that route.”

Muir’s biggest goal, according to Howard, is cleaning up its mistakes. The Mustangs committed 17 penalties last week and had an 18th that was declined as the clock expired.

“It was the first game for us and the kids and the officials,” Howard said. “A lot of it was miscues. Going into games, we have to play our game, and we can’t worry about how the game’s being called. If we do what we’re supposed to do, we’ll limit those mistakes.”

Saugus (1-0) limited its mistakes in the fourth quarter against Burroughs and forced a big turnover late, when defensive back Scott Hamilton stripped Anding and linebacker Denley Rodriguez recovered.

Quarterback Jared Carbajal also came alive in the second half and finished with 188 rushing yards on 23 carries.

Bornn credited Saugus’ conditioning for grinding out the win.

“We’re not going to be the biggest, strongest or fastest team,” he said. “We’re not. But I can guarantee you there’s not going to be a team in better shape than us. When you see what these kids have done since January until now, the amount of work they’ve put in is tremendous.”

It’s gotten the Centurions off to a 1-0 start, and they’ll try to improve to 2-0 today.

It’s time again for the exciting “Friday Night Lights” program at the Saugus Centurion Football home games this season.  You have opportunity to watch the Friday Night Varsity games from the sidelines, while receiving full VIP treatment with Complimentary Food, Drinks, and a Saugus Football T-shirt. Plus, your tax-deductible donation will go towards supporting both the Saugus Gridiron and the Saugus High School Foundation. Seats are $100.00 per seat per game and $500.00 per seat for the entire home game series (5 games). If you reserve now you can have a pair of seats for $175.00 for one game and two (5 game) season seats for only $850.00. Donors who reserve the entire series will also receive a Saugus Goodie Basket.

GAME 1 SEPTEMBER 16 7:30 PM Saugus vs. Buena
GAME 2 SEPTEMBER 30 7:30 PM Saugus vs. Taft
GAME 3 OCTOBER 21 7:30 PM Saugus vs. Hart
GAME 4 NOVEMBER 4 7:30 PM Saugus vs. West Ranch
GAME 5 NOVEMBER 11 7:30 PM Saugus vs. Valencia 

If you are a Business Donor you will be recognized on a Sponsor Banner prominently displayed at the stadium, during Friday Night Lights half-time presentation and on the Saugus Football website during the week of the Sponsored game or throughout the series if appropriate. Please send any artwork or logos to be displayed on our web site.

There is also still an opportunity to have your ad displayed on the back of the Field Seating for $50 per seat for the entire season. (10 Seats total) Please indicate if you are interested in this feature (See below if purchasing online).

Due to the limited number of seats available for each game we suggest that if you choose more than one game to attend that you indicate your first, second and third choice for games (indicate in your mailing to us). We will try to accommodate special requests.  If paying online, you will receive instructions for selecting your seats in an email after you’ve made a payment via Paypal.

PAYMENT in FULL is required in order to guarantee your reservation. Payment is accepted by cash, check or credit card by PayPal. (CLICK HERE FOR THE SIGN UP FORM if paying via mail)

PURCHASE ONLINE NOW!

One Seat Friday Night Lights 2011

Price: $100.00

One FNL Seat @ COC You will receive an email confirmation after payment with instructions on selecting which game(s) you would like to attend.

Pair Seats Friday Night Lights 2011

Price: $175.00

Pair FNL Seats @ COC You will receive an email confirmation after payment with instructions on selecting which game(s) you would like to attend.

One Seat Friday Night Lights 2011 - ALL FIVE GAMES

Price: $500.00

One FNL Seat @ ALL 5 HOME GAMES - COC

Pair Seats Friday Night Lights 2011 - ALL FIVE GAMES

Price: $850.00

PAIR FNL Seats @ ALL 5 HOME GAMES - COC

1 Seat FNL Business Ad - Back of Field Seating

Price: $50.00

1 Seat Business Advertising on back of Field Seating for entire season (10 seats maximum)

The Saugus Gridiron Booster Club is classified as a public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions made to our organization are tax deductible under section 170 of the Code. Our tax I.D. is #26-4807976. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Saugus High School Foundation.

Don’t miss out since seating is very limited.

Gail Ishimoto
Friday Night Lights Chair
Fundraising Coordinator
Saugus Gridirion Booster Club
Phone: 661-904-5403
email: gailishimoto@yahoo.com

By Joey Gulino
Signal Assistant Sports Editor

Saugus High head football coach Jason Bornn could be heard loud and clear.

All the Centurions’ offense had to do was gain 6 yards. If it did, then it would score points as part of a drill the team was doing during training camp.

But the defense wouldn’t let it happen.

“That’s 21-10!” Bornn shouted, referring to the defense’s lead in the drill.

It was even more impressive considering the losses on defense and the attrition that’s taken place in the Centurions’ junior class.

Some of the kids decided not to play football this season. Some others moved. Still others are ineligible.

All of it has affected Saugus’ depth on defense. Therefore, building depth has become a huge focus in training camp.

“I think any successful program is going to have to develop their No. 2s and No. 3s,” Bornn said. “That’s what we’re working on.”

While Saugus’ flashy offense has gotten a lot of headlines in recent years, the defense has been just as important to the Centurions’ success. Last season, the defense gave up 20.5 points per game, and it got even better during league play, yielding just 16.4 points per game.

The Centurions held Canyon’s potent offense to just 21 points, and they did a better job than any other league team at containing star Valencia tailback Steven Manfro, despite losing the game 14-3.

“It’s a very emphasized aspect of our program,” Bornn said. “There are different philosophies and different takes on how you build your team, and we feel that we build our team around our defense.”

If Saugus is going to be effective on defense again, it will need to replace seven of the top eight tacklers from a year ago. A couple key parts of the defense are returning, but newcomers from the younger ranks and upperclassmen with limited experience are being counted on to add some depth.

So are players filling new positions.

“I think we’re a hard-nosed defense,” said senior running back Tyler Watt, who’s also playing middle linebacker for the first time this season. “We’re a brotherhood. We feed off each other.”

Some other key contributors on defense include freshman safety Chris Hamilton, senior outside linebacker Cody Taylor, senior defensive lineman Wyatt Whitham, and senior defensive backs Michael Visser, Curtis Kahovec, P.J. McKillop and Colton Jackson.

Regardless of who lines up where, Jackson said the players need to be focused on their jobs.

“We’ve just got to take it as it is,” he said. “We don’t know what’s going to happen during the season. Guys need to step up. I feel we’ll have enough depth this year.”

Some of the newer players can already see the difference.

“Myself, I’ve come along a lot,” Taylor said. “Last year, I was nowhere near as good as I am this year.”

Saugus will likely be mixing and matching its lineups on defense throughout the season. Finding the right combination could make the difference in the league title chase.

“The bottom line is, if you can hold people, you can win a game 3-0,” Bornn said. “If you score 80 points but the other team scores 81, that’s not doing you a whole lot of good.”

****** NEWS FLASH ***** NEWS FLASH *****

Late breaking news on the 2nd Annual Burrito Bowl…the contestants have been announced.

Edwards
Jenkins
Lightbody
Wells
Whitham

On the sidelines and ready for action;

Head
Garcia 

These fine Saugus Centurions are training for the big event as we speak. They will be practicing their burrito arm curls and performing speed-chewing drills to prepare for the main event! Good luck to all of you and let’s all  be there to cheer them on! Speaking of Cheer, our Saugus Cheerleaders will be there to get the crowd pumped up!

Let’s start the season with a BIG SAUGUS WIN!!! Wear your Saugus Spirit Wear and show your pride!

A special thank you to the Sponsors of the event:

Tarrell Florent of State Farm Insurance
Richard Alcantara of H2O Construction
Felicia Grad yof Realty Executives
The Elgin andPilar WalkerTeam ofKeller Williams
Rob Gardner of SCVBack Up
Jorja HarrisofJorja HarrisInsurance, State Farm
Debbie Glasnow of CBC Cleaning and Restoration
Dippy Chhina of Dilbeck Real Living Real Estate
Rob Aguilar of Keller WilliamsVIP Real Estate
College Bound Strategies
Laurie Rodgers of Carmela Louise Catering
Jennifer Gerard of White Now Whitening
Lil Weston of ReMax of Valencia
Randy Plaice of Keller Williams

Sincerely,

Gail Ishimoto
Fundraising Chair
Saugus Gridiron
(661) 904-5403
gailishimoto@yahoo.com

Margarita’s Mexican Grill and SCV Concierge with the participation of Saugus Cheer!

Tuesday August 16th
7:30 p.m.

Margarita’s Restaurant
23320 Valencia Blvd.
Valencia, CA 91355

Saugus Football will be competing against the other five local high school teams to see which team’s 5 Biggest Eaters can outpace and outdo the rest. There will be a Four-Foot-Long Burrito placed in front of each Team (donated by Margarita’s Restaurant).  The Team who eats the burrito fastest (and keeps it down) will win: 

Grand Prize $1,000.00
Second Prize $500.00
Consolation Prizes $250.00

so…….

Bring your family, friends and neighbors.

Saugus Cheerleaders are invited to come and cheer for the Saugus boys and sell 50/50 raffle tickets to the crowd. Half of the proceeds from the raffle will be divided among the cheer teams who show up and participate.

GO BIG BLUE!!!!

For more info – Gail Ishimoto at (661) 904-5403 gailishimoto@yahoo.com