[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”32098″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]By Tony Ciniglio, LA Daily News
http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20161012/unbeaten-saugus-football-team-continues-to-rise-and-grind
Jared Pane, Nathan Eldridge, Gary Bojorquez, Daniel Gilmartin, Coleman Vanderhorst and Jaelin Kinney. The Saugus football team is unbeaten through its first six games. Saugus, CA. October 12, 2016. (Photo by John McCoy, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
SAUGUS >> The alarms for most of the players pierced the still air around 5:30 a.m.
It was dark. It was early. But those treacherous 6:30 a.m. offseason workouts awaited the Saugus football players.
Time to rise and grind.
The sleepy Saugus football players converged for about a 90-minute workout, a chance to bond while building for a season unlike any of them had imagined to this point.
“Those tabatas will wake you up,” Saugus receiver/defensive back Gary Bojorquez said.
There are the dreaded tabatas — high-energy interval training. There are sprints. Weight-lifting.
Even the so-called Dawn Patrol which was a special once-a-month workout featuring 10 different stations positioned all over the field.
“We do the morning workouts every year, but this year something just clicked for all of us,” Saugus defensive back Coleman Vanderhorst said. “We were tired of all the other schools hating on us.”
The rise and grind became the Saugus theme this season.
What followed was an awakening of sorts as Saugus blazed to a 6-0 start for the first time in Coach Jason Bornn’s 14-year tenure, something Saugus will look to continue Friday against West Ranch at 7 p.m. at Valencia High School.
Bornn said the players have bought into his no-nonsense approach that he preaches every year, a smart approach especially with its biggest tests against Valencia and Hart still ahead.
“We don’t talk about being undefeated or records or anything like that,” Bornn said. “The end result is the byproduct of our focus on the process.
“Every year is a unique animal. We’re not doing anything differently, but we’re fortunate to be executing and winning some of these games.”
What is different is the winning.
Saugus is having its best season since winning the Foothill League title in 2008 and its best start since winning eight of its first nine in 2007.
It started with a 35-7 win over Santa Barbara that defensive lineman Jaelin Kinney said set a “precedent” for the rest of the year.
In-between victories over Camarillo (28-25) and Agoura (35-23), there was a 17-13 victory over Buena in which Saugus trailed 13-0 in the first half and a 17-14 victory over Ventura in a battle of unbeaten squads.
Then came a truer gauge — a 21-9 victory over a rising Golden Valley program to open Foothill League play.
“That was huge,” Saugus receiver Jared Pane said. “It was our first chance to make a statement.”
It has been a balanced attack for Saugus.
Quarterback Nate Eldridge took over for Tony Eusebio and has been proficient, competing 88 of 149 passes for 1,149 yards, 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions.
“Personally I knew what a great athlete (Eusebio) was and that I had big shoes to fill, but this team didn’t let me think that way,” Eldridge said. “I have a great group of receivers and a great O-line, and I just want to do well for them.”
Eldridge has a whole stable of capable receivers, including Jared Pane (361 yards, 4 TDs), Daniel Gilmartin (266 yards, 5 TDs), Gary Bojoquez (226 yards, 3 TDs) and Chase Seyforth (149 yards, 1 TD). Running back Quinn Sheaffer (387 yards, 2 TDs) is also a threat.
“We’re a lot more diverse this year,” Gilmartin said.
The defense has allowed just 15.2 points per game. Gilmartin, Bojorquez, Vanderhorst and Claremont-McKenna bound Jaelin Kinney are the ringleaders on defense. In fact, Vanderhorst came up with the game-saving stop on Buena’s final drive.
“Relentless,” Bojorquez said.
“Do you job — that’s the big thing for our defense,” Pane said. “Coach Bornn and Coach David Russell always tell us to execute and play fast.”
Part of the cohesion on the team comes from the weekly team dinners.
The offensive line usually makes its way to Eldridge’s house, where his mother Deana prepares a variety of dishes, including a mean steak and mashed potatoes.
The defense goes to Gilmartin’s house where his mother Christine whips up a popular chili dish.
“I love those guys — I know they have my back,” Eldridge said. “And I think it brings us even closer.”
Everyone is quick to credit everyone else.
Eldridge points to an unsung offensive line that includes “The Duo” of Christopher Christensen and Richard Meza while also receiving big contributions from Chasen Hardy, David Lemus and Jeff Lytle.
Kinney praised defensive linemen Luc Borrelli and Jordan Durden.
Bojorquez and Vanderhorst credited Noah Turner and Tahjeem Johnson for their roles in the secondary.
Even water boy Daniel Lundin brings an infectious energy the team rallies behind.
“There’s no division on this team at all,” Kinney said. “We all love each other and we pull for each other.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
