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The red zone wasn’t a friendly place for the Saugus Centurions in their home opener Friday night at College of the Canyons.
Four trips resulted in a total of two scores, with a missed field goal, failed 2-point attempt and crucial interception mixed in. Ultimately, Canyon fell 21-9 to the Buena Bulldogs after Saugus quarterback Louis Eusebi’s pass from the 5-yard line was picked off by safety Tyler Olivares with just over a minute left.
“I saw the outside linebacker fly out and I decided to hit the slant,” Eusebi said of the fateful play.
But Olivares took advantage of Saugus’ wide receiver slipping in the end zone to provide the dagger.
“I read the quarterback’s eyes, he looked right at his receiver. I thought for sure it would be a run up the middle,” Olivares said. “When the line picked their heads up high and fast (I knew it was a pass).”
Saugus showed flashes between the 20-yard lines, with Eusebi extending plays with his feet.
The Centurions’ signal caller finished with 69 yards through the air on 16-of-25 attempts.
“We had to get him out of the pocket,” Olivares said.
And throughout the game they did just that.
Eusebi added another 20 yards on 16 carries on the ground, but was taken down in the back field five times by an aggressive Buena defense.
“(The pocket) was breaking down, I did my best to try to extend the plays.”
The Centurions (1-2) opened the game strong, going 49 yards on 11 plays as Eusebi gave Saugus a 3-0 lead with 6:54 to play in the first quarter with a 23-yard field goal.
Buena quarterback Martin Mijares responded, though, hitting Mason Beling for a 66-yard touchdown with 1:06 to play in the first to cap a two-play drive that put the Bulldogs (3-0) ahead 7-3.
They would extend the lead thanks in large part to another big play from Mijares to Beling, this time a 40-yard reception that set up Olivares’ 5-yard touchdown run to give Buena a 14-3 lead with 1:22 remaining in the quarter.
Beling finished with 122 yards receiving on four catches, including the touchdown.
Mijares threw for 255 yards and a touchdown on 22-of-33 attempts.
After Saugus pulled within 14-9 on a 4-yard touchdown run from David Aubrey, the Saugus defense nearly forced Buena off the field.
But Olivares, who missed Buena’s win over Simi Valley last week, continued his strong night, this time converting a fourth-and-1 with 6:09 remaining to keep the Bulldogs’ drive alive.
They would cap it off with a 7-yard scamper up the middle from Juan Gaytan to set the final score.
“(This game showed) we play how we practice,” said Saugus head coach Jason Bornn. “We didn’t have a stellar week of practice and it showed tonight.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
