In an all-time classic, Saugus’ defense comes up strong in second half as the two teams open Foothill League play with a bang.

Tyson and Holyfield. Frazier and Ali. Sports history provided all the cliches for Friday night’s bout between two Foothill League heavyweights, Saugus High School and Valencia.

Haymakers in the form of long touchdown drives were traded back and forth. Counterattacks in the form of interceptions sent each opponent on the ropes. But when the final bell rang, it was the Centurions still standing.

“It was really just a great team effort by all of our kids. Our coaching staff put together an outstanding game plan to give our kids the best opportunity to be successful” said Saugus head coach Jason Bornn about his team’s gritty 28-21 victory over its league rival.

There was much anticipation leading up to a matchup featuring the two teams who have in their own right shared their claim over the Foothill League for the last four years. Valencia won the league in back-to-back seasons (‘19, ‘20). Their reign ended the next season by Saugus, who are now aiming for their 3rd consecutive league title.

After each team sized up its opponent’s defense in their respective first drives, Saugus landed the first punch when TJ Cataldi hit running back Jake Viger for a 10-yard touchdown to open the scoring.

In response, Valencia landed a one-two; on their next possession, quarterback Trey Ericson and receiver Brandon Boateng linked up on a fade route, tying the game at seven before later taking the lead on a 35-yard touchdown run by Daniel Hernandez.

Saugus would land the next blow, a 4-yard touchdown run by Vinny Gallagher after a methodical drive down the field that ate up a large chunk of the 2nd quarter clock.

Last year, fans were robbed of a chance to see these two teams touch gloves and take their best shot after a postponement canceled their scheduled game. But Friday night’s matchup left nothing more to be desired.

Momentum?

Perhaps after Valencia’s Tyler Thompson picked off Cataldi at the 50-yard line and returned it for a pick-six with 57 seconds remaining in the first half?

“Sometimes you get those big plays, so hopefully we’ll be able to sustain it and keep it going in the second half,” Valencia Head Coach Larry Muir said at halftime and whether that play could propel his team in the next two quarters.

Adversity? 

“We love adversity,” Bornn said just moments after Valencia’s defensive score put his team in a 21-14 hole. “It’s nothing. It’s exactly what we expected tonight. We expected great play from their kids, just like ours. We expect nothing less.”

After a first half that featured all of that electricity, both teams came out charged on defense in the third quarter, as both teams held firm and entered the fourth quarter with the same score as when the two teams entered the half.

On the very first play of the fourth quarter, Saugus got their legs back under them. Cataldi dropped back and found AJ Goodman wide-open for a 15-yard touchdown along the far side, as the Centurions tied the game at 21-21.

Next, the signature Saugus defense which has been key to the team’s back-to-back first-place finishes forced a Vikings punt after just five plays.

Like a quick left jab, Cataldi and Goodman once again connected, this time on a 75-yard bomb of a touchdown pass on the first play of the Centurion’s drive. Despite now trailing with a touchdown deficit to overcome, Valencia didn’t buckle on the canvas. 

After using all of their timeouts and forcing a punt from Saugus, Valencia took the ball over at midfield with one last chance, needing a knockout blow. After a first down completion brought the Vikings to the Saugus 40-yard line, Ericson was sacked by a swarm of Centurions, prompting a scurry to the line of scrimmage.

With 10 seconds remaining, one last chance, Ericson heaved one down the right sideline, but his hail mary was instead answered by Saugus’ Jadon Lemmons who intercepted the ball and brought the game to a climactic finish after the Centurions kneeled out the final play on offense.

“It’s just the nature of these kids. You gotta remember, this senior class has been through a school shooting, a pandemic, an abbreviated sophomore season, then jumped right back into another season last fall,” Bornn said of his team’s resilience and ability to overcome said halftime adversity. “I mean, it’s just one hurdle after another, one kick in the crotch after another and they keep bouncing back up.

This main event between the two bruisers left fans longing for a rematch. Even Ali and Frazier had a part two. Perhaps a potential playoff matchup will allow for that. But in the first meeting between Valencia and Saugus, the teams went toe-to-toe and pound-for-pound with each other.

Ding, ding, ding. The winner- Saugus- in a 10-9 split decision.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.