Canyon’s Streak Rolls as Saugus Rolls Over, 42-0

Before continuing in their respective directions, Canyon High and Saugus High took care of a little Golden League football business Friday night at College of the Canyons.

The brief encounter offered few surprises.

Canyon 42, Saugus 0.

And the streaks go on.

Saugus (0-5-2) made it seven weeks--and eight games overall--without showing signs of an offense or a victory.

In the other direction, Canyon (7-0) concluded its 31st consecutive week without a loss, and in this case without a challenge.

“In one sense, I think this was the best we’ve played this year because we didn’t have the high intensity coming in that we did against, say, Crespi,” said Cowboys Coach Harry Welch.

“We knew coming in that (Saugus) didn’t have an exceptional football team, but we thought they were a good defensive football team. For us to play like this is great.”

Canyon rolled up 357 yards on offense to dominate an out-manned league opponent.

The onslaught began on the Cowboys’ fifth play from scrimmage. Lance Cross ran 61 yards for the first of his three touchdowns and a 7-0 lead.

Paul Chadwell scored on a 15-yard run and Randy Austin hauled in a 16-yard pass from Jeff Watkins to give Canyon a 21-0 halftime lead.

Cross scored on runs of one and six yards in the second half before Rob Eisenberg capped the scoring on an eight-yard scamper.

Cross finished with 83 yards on only seven carries. Chadwell added 66 yards on six carries.

“I bet there’s not another successful football team in Southern California that has a 135-pound fullback (Chadwell) and a 151-pound tailback (Cross),” Welch said.

Saugus certainly had no such combination, nor did it have any answers to a balanced Canyon offense that produced 209 yards on the ground and 148 through the air.

On offense, the Centurions managed only five first downs and 74 total yards. In fact, Saugus accomplished most of its ball movement in reverse, losing 158 yards on 15 penalties.