On Halloween night, while most teens were out trick-or-treating, the Saugus football team was busy clinching its first playoff berth since 2022 in a thrilling come-from-behind win over Golden Valley.

Saugus (8-2, 4-2) didn’t take its first lead until the final 1:30 of the game, when Matt Long scored his third touchdown of the night on a three-yard run, putting the Centurions ahead 32-29. On Golden Valley’s final drive, Long sealed the game with a clutch interception, securing the victory.

Head Coach Jason Bornn praised Long for his versatility and playmaking ability.
“[Long] is kind of the jackknife out here – we can plug him in at running back, quarterback, wide receiver, outside linebacker, safety or corner,” said Bornn.

Bornn added that having a player like Long keeps defenses guessing, especially with attention often focused on running back Ty Hall or receiver Landon Lattimore.

Long credited his team’s depth for their success.

“We have a very large depth chart, so we have a lot of players that we can just keep rotating in,” said Long. He explained that constant rotation helps throw off opposing defenses and praised his coaches for “putting players in at the right moments.”

Bornn reflected on how rewarding the season has been for his resilient group.

“It’s a great group of kids — they competed and never gave up. They had opportunities to leave and go to other schools and do things that players do when things get tough,” said Bornn. “They believed in the program, and you know sometimes you gotta go through fire before you can get to where you’re going.”

The Centurions had to “go through fire” once again Friday night to pull off the 32-29 win.

Golden Valley came out strong, scoring first on a 12-yard run by Aaron McCormick, who would finish with three touchdowns. After a penalty on Saugus for too many players on the field, the Grizzlies converted a two-point attempt to go up 8-0.

Aaron McCormick punches it in from 12 yards out, then converts the 2-point try.

Golden Valley takes an early 8-0 lead over Saugus. pic.twitter.com/11bkBcteM1

— KHTS Sports (@KHTSSports) November 1, 2025

Saugus responded quickly as Jake Nuttal connected with Tre Lewis on a seven-yard touchdown. But McCormick struck again minutes later with a 41-yard run, extending Golden Valley’s lead to 15-7.

Jake Nuttall connects with Tre Lewis for a 7-yard touchdown, cutting into Golden Valley’s lead, now 8-7. pic.twitter.com/ODsfNIK5pF

— KHTS Sports (@KHTSSports) November 1, 2025

Saugus looked poised to score after a long completion from Nuttal to Lattimore, but a holding call erased a touchdown. The Centurions settled for a field goal, cutting the deficit to 15-10.

Later, another holding penalty wiped out a Saugus touchdown, and Golden Valley capitalized and held the Centurions scoreless on the drive.

The offense rode that momentum with Jayce Johnson hitting Ace Frias for a 75-yard score, making it 22-10.

Jayce Johnson finds a wide open Ace Frias who gets into the endzone untouched for a 75-yard touchdown.

Golden Valley extends their lead to 22-10. pic.twitter.com/6h4cqQ4PIi

— KHTS Sports (@KHTSSports) November 1, 2025

Before halftime, Long lined up in the wildcat and powered into the end zone, narrowing the gap to 22-17.

With under a minute left in the half Saugus’ Matt Long powers his way into the endzone from one yard out.

Golden Valley still holds the lead up 22-17. pic.twitter.com/b0uvneoPXR

— KHTS Sports (@KHTSSports) November 1, 2025

In the second half, McCormick added a 20-yard touchdown to put Golden Valley ahead 29-17.

McCormick scores his third touchdown of the night, breaking loose for a 20-yard run on third-and-10.

Golden Valley extends its lead to 29-17. pic.twitter.com/ahRem923DC

— KHTS Sports (@KHTSSports) November 1, 2025

But Saugus refused to back down. Long scored again to make it a one-possession game, sparking new life into the Centurions.

When Saugus looked out of the game Long came up with a big 13-yard touchdown.

Golden Valley still has a 29-24 lead with 8:33 left to play. pic.twitter.com/mhhStuBmVp

— KHTS Sports (@KHTSSports) November 1, 2025

Down five with under three minutes to play, Saugus mounted its most important drive of the night. Facing a 4th-and-3 from the 24-yard line, the Centurions executed a hook-and-ladder play to keep the drive alive. Moments later, Long punched it in from three yards out.

Long finds the end zone again, this time from 3 yards out — his third touchdown of the game. On the 2-point try, quarterback Jake Nuttall hauls in a touchdown pass to convert.

Saugus takes a 32-29 lead with 1:29 remaining. pic.twitter.com/tegpbrJlej

— KHTS Sports (@KHTSSports) November 1, 2025

Saugus converted the two-point attempt with another trick play — this time Nuttal caught a pass to make it 32-29.

“We’ve had those (referring to the trick plays) since summer,” said Bornn. “We practice it week in and week out and hopefully you don’t have to use it in a game, but if you do, then you do — and that’s what we did.”

“It’s a carbon copy of what happens in practice,” he added.

With the lead finally theirs, Long’s interception on Golden Valley’s last drive sealed the victory, the third-place finish in the Foothill League, and an automatic playoff berth.

Saugus will find out its playoff opponent on Sunday, while Golden Valley’s season will likely end short of an at-large bid.

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