Hello Parents,

In an attempt to keep the lines of communication open, allow you to stay “in the know”, and just simply stay in touch with what your sons are doing, I will be doing a weekly newsletter. This is the first time I have ever embarked on this and I will do my best to send out a weekly update on what is going on.

First and foremost, your sons have come back off of break with a great attitude and have worked hard in the weightroom. On top of that they have attended several meetings during the week at lunch or in the morning that I would like to explain.

We are interested in developing our young men into more than just football players. We want to build Champions for Life. In doing this, we have several things that we are and will be doing throughout the semester to address this goal.

By Trevor Sojka
For The Signal

It only took eight weeks, but the Canyon football team is finally healthy and the result is a two-game win streak and a confident squad.

The Cowboys turned the season around and defeated Saugus 17-10 Friday night at Canyon High.

“We just had a lot of previous injuries and things are finally starting to click,” said Canyon running back Trent Hernandez. “Our defense was also healthy and really stepped up.”

By Joey Gulino
Signal Staff Writer

Valencia clinches at least a share of the Foothill League title with shutout

Not an off night from the star running back. Not a swell of penalties. Not even the defending league champions.

Nothing could keep Valencia from clinching at least a share of the Foothill League championship.

Vikings quarterback Alex Bishop threw for 426 yards and three touchdowns and Valencia hit several big plays to blaze past Saugus 49-0 Friday at Cougar Stadium.

With the Centurions stacking the box to stop running back Steven Manfro, Bishop found seven different receivers and made them pay.

By Cary Osborne
Signal Sports Editor

Just when things were starting to turn around for Saugus football, they go back the other way.

Not only are the Centurions, who have won two straight games after losing five in a row, playing highly touted Valencia tonight at 7:30 at College of the Canyons, but they have also lost their starting quarterback for the season.

Senior Zack Gauthier broke a vertebrae in his back, according to Saugus head coach Jason Bornn.

By Joey Gulino
Signal Staff Writer

Saugus celebrated its Senior Night Thursday with a 3-0 victory over Canyon at Saugus High School.

The Centurions won by scores of 25-18, 25-11 and 25-14.

“All of the seniors played great,” said Saugus head coach Zach Ambrose. “Taylor Schubert, our captain, led the team in digs and did her normal job of making sure everyone was doing what they’re supposed to do. She definitely has the intangibles there.”

By Debby von Winckelmann
For The Signal

Saugus beat Golden Valley 42-26 at Canyon High School on Friday night, but the 26 points scored by the Grizzlies were more than they have scored the entire season.

“This is big for our program,” said Golden Valley head coach Andy Campbell. “We know we can compete. The kids are starting to figure it out.”

It was bleak early for the Grizzlies (0-8, 0-3), as Saugus led 28-0 going into halftime.

Centurions come back in epic fashion to defeat upstart West Ranch

By Joey Gulino
Signal Staff Writer

Too often this season, Saugus hasn’t been able to get out of its own way.

The team has been sloppy and ineffective, nothing like the program that has risen so far the last few years.

Thanks to an epic drive during Friday’s homecoming game – a 19-play, 97-yard march that devoured the fourth quarter and beat West Ranch – the Centurions looked like their old selves.

Homecoming, indeed.

Quarterback Zack Gauthier completed five passes for 68 yards on the final drive, including a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jon Aguirre with 1:13 left, and Saugus rallied to beat upstart West Ranch 26-22 at College of the Canyons.

The victory is the first since week one for Saugus (2-6, 1-1), which played a tough pre-league schedule that led to some trying times.

By Joey Gulino
Signal Staff Writer

Hart forced three Saugus turnovers in the first half Friday and scored with each possession.

By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, those points came in quite handy.

Saugus scored a pair of touchdowns early in the fourth quarter but missed two late field goals, and the Indians staved off the rally to earn a 31-21 victory in the Foothill League opener at Cougar Stadium.

“I thought (the fourth quarter) was indicative of how we can play when we protect the football,” said Saugus head coach Jason Bornn. “Unfortunately, we dug ourselves too deep a hole in the first half.”

Crespi passing game picks apart Saugus defense

By Perry Smith
Signal Staff Writer

ENCINO — Crespi scored on all six of its first-half possessions to put Saugus away early in a 50-0 win on Friday at Crespi High School.

Saugus (1-4) fell behind 20-0 after the first quarter due to a passing attack that picked apart the Centurions’ secondary.

While the toughest part of Saugus’ schedule is over, the most important part is about to begin, and that’s what Saugus head coach Jason Bornn emphasized to his team after the lopsided loss.

Taft commits 17 penalties and three turnovers, but Saugus can’t capitalize in 14-3 loss…

By Cary Osborne
Signal Sports Editor

Saugus should get a gift receipt for this one.

Taft of Woodland Hills was a giving mood Friday night at Cougar Stadium, committing 17 penalties for 132 yards.

Yet Saugus did very little with the extra opportunities and lost its third straight game, this one a 14-3 setback.