After running past West Ranch, Saugus will play for piece of Foothill title

By Jon Stein
Signal Staff Write

Saugus running back Colton Jackson, right, tries to break away from West Ranch linebacker Devin Georgio on Friday evening at College of the Canyons.

The Saugus Centurions nearly used every weapon in their possession on Friday night when they took on West Ranch at College of the Canyons. 

Saugus used its bruising rushing attack to build an early lead and mixed in just enough passes to secure a 35-14 victory.

Saugus (6-3, 3-1) opened the game for the second straight week by recovering the opening kickoff, and quarterback Jared Carbajal capitalized with a 6-yard touchdown run to cap the drive.

Carbajal finished the game 2-of-5 passing with 83 yards and one touchdown, while rushing for 98 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.

Carbajal surpassed 1,000 yards rushing on the season on a 7-yard scamper in the third quarter. 

Saugus running back Colton Jackson added 108 yards on 14 carries and running back Quentin Hendrix added 41 yards on nine carries and a 59-yard touchdown catch.

West Ranch (5-4, 1-3) wasn’t nearly as productive.

Wildcats running back Jeff Coprich exploded in the first half for 122 rushing yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns.

As a team, though, the Wildcats managed just 116 total yards of offense in the first half, as no one other than Coprich found success moving the ball.

He finished with 130 yards on 19 carries, as Saugus began to stack the box and take advantage of West Ranch’s one-dimensional offense in the second half.

West Ranch quarterback Gabe Peralta, starting in place of Gerrit Mouw, threw for 36 yards on 3-of-6 passing with one interception.

With Saugus leading 21-7 with 1:29 to play in the first half, Coprich exploded on the first play of the ensuing drive, going 62 yards for his second touchdown of the night.

With the win, Saugus remains tied for first place in the Foothill League standings with Valencia and Canyon. 

The Centurions will have a chance to clinch a share of the league title when they take on Valencia on Friday at College of the Canyons.