Hart High School (4-2) had to hold off a second half rally from Saugus High School (3-3) to escape with their fourth consecutive win Friday night with a score of 35-20 at Cougar Stadium.

Hart got out to a 21-0 lead in the first half, as they opened the game with a scoring drive on each of their first three possessions. The offense was balanced and quarterback Zach Johnson looked composed all evening. 

“I think that we’ve really just done a good job over the last four games of sticking together and knowing that we got to go on a run,” Johnson said.

Hart opened the game with a 74-yard march down the field, finished off by a quarterback sneak  by Johnson for the score to make it 7-0 with 5:29 in the first quarter.

After a three and out from Saugus, Hart running back Taden Littleford found a seam in the defense and carried the ball 49 yards to the Saugus 13 yard line. He punched it in two plays later for Hart’s second score, 14-0 with 3:10 to go in the first.

Saugus completed their next two passes, but a bad snap forced another quick possession for the Centurions.

Hart took over and started another methodical drive down the field, which nearly stalled out as Hart got pushed to fourth and goal on the 14 yard line. 

However, Hart elected to go for it and Johnson was able to roll out of the pocket, buy himself some time and find wide receiver Ashton Thomas in the end zone for Hart’s third score, 21-0 with 7:52 in the half.

“We just started clicking and things started moving,” said Hart Head Coach Mike Herrington, “Our offensive line started playing better, Taden started running the ball better, we’re making good decisions on offense and our defense is playing a little bit better.”

Saugus struck first in the second half after a Hart turnover on downs plus a personal foul set the Centurion offense up at their own 42 yard line.

Centurion quarterback Colton Fitzgerald took advantage by going 4-4 for 58 yards on the ensuing drive, capped off by a 19-yard strike to Cade Gallagher for the score, making it 21-7 with 7:45 in the third.

Hart appeared to be about to finish off another scoring drive in response, but the Saugus defense was able to force a fumble at their own 11 yard line.

In response, Hart’s defense came up with a big sack from Travis Gill on a crucial third and eight in Hart territory, forcing the punt.

Gill was a terror on the field Friday night, as he also came up with a fumble and an interception tipped off the fingers of a Saugus defender in the first half.

“I just have to do my part, I think if we all do our jobs we’ll be successful,” said Gill. “ We made plays when it mattered and I think that’s what it came down to.”

The Hart offense then made their lead a little more comfortable when a pressured Zach Johnson found Angelo Lucchese deep for a 50 yard touchdown to finish a drive that started at their own five yard line and make it 28-7 with 7:45 remaining in the game.

However, the comfort didn’t last long as Saugus quarterback Fitzgerald again carved the Indians up throwing the ball 4-5 and 71 yards and one 6 yard scramble on a less than two minute scoring drive to make it 28-14. 

The momentum truly shited when Saugus then recovered the onside kick. Two Hart penalties on the ensuing drive, a defensive holding and roughing the passer, moved the Centurions to the Hart 25-yard line. 

From there Saugus finished their scoring drive with an eight yard completion to Cade Gallagher to bring it within one score 28-20.

That’s when the Centurions luck ran out though, they attempted another onside kick and had an excellent chance at recovering but the ball bounced out of bounds before they could fully recover it.

On the ensuing drive, Taden Littleford found a seam and ripped off a sixty-yard run before he was caught just shy of the end zone at the four yard line. He would punch it in two plays later for the games final score, 35-20.

Saugus now goes on the road for a chance to right the ship against Golden Valley (5-1) next Friday at Canyon High School.

Hart changes sides of Cougar stadium next Friday for a home game against perhaps their biggest challenge yet, Valencia (3-3).

Check out all the scores from around the Foothill League in our weekly scoreboard.

KHTS Sports is your place for the 2019 Santa Clarita high school football season and your Santa Clarita Dodgers coverage. Find all the latest news and updates on your hometown schools here as they compete in the Foothill League, Heritage League, Western State Conference and GSAC.