Centurions only a couple steps away from greatness

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It took about six or seven weeks before I truly became a Saugus believer (I’d say the Valencia game was the clincher), and it seems like I’m not the only one who’s recently hitched a ride on the Centurion bandwagon.

In the last few weeks, my colleagues started to consistently vote them into our top 25 (they were impressed by that 33-0 bashing of St. Francis) and Rivals.com and CalHiSports.com started to put Saugus into its top 25 state rankings.

But if No. 16 Saugus is going to dissolve, legitimately, the chain that has latched the program to underdog status in the Santa Clarita Valley for nearly 25 years, it needs to beat defending Division I state bowl champions Canyon. A win will not only blow away the final remnants of underachiever status, but will also put the Cents in a prime position to claim their first league title since 1981 heading into their regular-season finale with Hart.

Still, it’s not going to be easy. No. 22 Canyon is as tough as any team Saugus has played (OK, maybe Notre Dame is a little better) and its defense is no joke. LBs Mike Spagnola, Justin Stevens and Chris Duncan are going to make life difficult for Saugus’ sprinting duo of RB Ryan Zirbel and QB Desi Rodriguez. Just ask Crespi‘s Austin Shanks and E.J. Woods.

‘I’m pretty excited about playing in a big game like this,’ Zirbel said. ‘To go to their house at their homecoming and play a team like them is something we’ve been waiting for.’

If the Cowboys can manage to stop these two (which not even the Wes Horton-led boys over at ND could do), then things are looking pretty good for Canyon. But if Zirbel has another trademark performance, it’s going to be tough for Canyon’s growing offense to consistently break through against Saugus’ senior-laden defense.

‘I think we can win [the league title] for sure this year,’ Zirbel said. ‘We have more drive this year and we really want it.’

What: Saugus (7-1, 3-0) at Canyon (4-4, 2-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Prediction: Saugus 28, Canyon 17
Calpreps.com prediction: Saugus 31, Canyon 21

-- Austin Knoblauch