Live blog: Saugus advances to Northern Division semifinals

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Desi Rodriguez rushed for 258 yards and three touchdowns on 38 carries and threw for 81 yards and two more scores to lead host Saugus to a hardfought 35-28 victory over Thousand Oaks in a back-and-forth battle at College of the Canyons.

Rodriguez threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Mario Lara with 2:33 left to give the Foothill League champion Centurions the lead for good. On the ensuing possession, Thousand Oaks fumbled on a double reverse deep in its own territory, Saugus linebacker Daniel Cordova recovered and Saugus ran out the clock.

Leading rusher John Lister finished with 211 yards and one touchdown in 21 carries for Thousand Oaks, which suffered just its second loss of the season.

Saugus will travel to Ventura to play top-seeded St. Bonaventure, a 32-7 winner at Paso Robles, in the semifinals next week. The Seraphs eliminated Saugus in the same round last year.

In other Northern Division quarterfinal games, Valencia routed Westlake, 55-26, and #2 Moorpark is leading Atascadero, 6-0, late in the fourth quarter.

-- Steve Galluzzo