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Saugus loses its QB en route to a 3rd straight loss
VENTURA — Not much went right for Saugus on their trip to face the Ventura Cougars on Friday.
Turnovers, an injury and a 20-0 loss to the Cougars leaves the Centurions with a lot to think about before next Friday’s non-league game before Foothill League play.
“You’re going to play how you work during the week, and we had some issues during the week in terms of preparation and it showed tonight,” said Saugus (1-3) head coach Jason Bornn. “We have a game plan and as long as we execute that game plan, good things will happen.”
Ventura’s game plan was pretty simple: Feed the ball to senior running back Roan Moran and let him work.
And Saugus got a healthy dose of Moran all night. Just in the first half he had 131 yards and two scores on 17 carries.
Meanwhile, five Saugus players could only muster up 7 total yards rushing in the first half.
Moran finished with 179 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries.
“I thought Roan (Moran) played pretty well tonight,” said Ventura (2-2) head coach Tim Garcia. “Our O-line is going to carry us. They’re the heart of our team and we’ll go as far as they take us.”
Moran’s first TD came on Ventura’s opening drive, when he punched the ball in from 5-yards out after setting the Cougars up in the red zone with a 42-yard run on the second play of the game.
Down 6-0 early, Saugus couldn’t get much in terms of offense, going three-and-out in its first series and a Louis Eusebi interception ending the second series.
Ventura took advantage and six straight run plays later, Ventura quarterback Tyler Smith sneaked in from the 1-yard line and gave the Cougars a 13-0 advantage.
Eusebi’s night would come to an early end late in the first quarter when he took a shot after a pass attempt and left the game with a leg injury.
From there it was up to sophomore backup Nathan Eldridge to try and jumpstart the offense.
Eldridge finished with 92 yards passing and three interceptions, two coming off of passes off receivers hands.
“When I saw Louis limping I knew I had to go in and try my best,” said Eldridge. “I came out a little slow but after that I just wanted to play my heart out.”
Ventura’s last score came late in the second quarter when Moran muscled his way into the end zone from 3-yards out to give the Cougars their final 20-0 lead.
Saugus’ best scoring chance came in the third quarter, but a failed pass attempt on fourth-and-goal from the Ventura’s 1-yard line left them empty handed.
The Centurions will try to rebound next week when they host Agoura at College of the Canyons.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
