Thousand Oaks, Saugus Play to a Draw

Saugus High vs. Thousand Oaks was expected to be one of the most exciting matchups of the season’s opening week of prep football.

The game did not disappoint, the combatants playing to a 13-13 tie at Thousand Oaks on Friday night.

Saugus had an opportunity to win in the game’s closing minutes, but defensive back Greg Aguilar intercepted Bobby Cowan’s pass at Thousand Oaks’ nine-yard line with 27 seconds to play.

“I just went crazy when I made the play,” said Aguilar, who also scored the game-tying touchdown. “It was a great, great feeling because I stopped them from getting a touchdown or a field goal to win.

“It was a good game by both teams. I just wish we could have won it.”

Saugus Coach Jack Bowman also was impressed by both teams.

“This was a game with some great athletes on both sides of the field,” Bowman said. “It’s only the first game of the season, and, usually, that makes it hard to tell where you are really at. Playing a great program like Thousand Oaks does let you know where you’re at right off the bat.”

The offenses were led by the running backs.

Thousand Oaks’ Quincy Jacobs carried 19 times for 160 yards and a touchdown. Saugus’ Chris Johnson gained 132 yards in 18 carries.

Both teams made mistakes. Cowan threw two interceptions and fumbled once; Thousand Oaks lost two fumbles and quarterback Trevor Thompson also threw an interception.

Thompson, however, helped the Lancers earn a tie. With five minutes remaining, he threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Aguilar. It closed out the scoring, as kicker Erik Kraszewski missed what would have been the game-winning extra point.

The Centurions also had problems converting point-afters in the second half. After Cowan’s one-yard sneak with 2 minutes 12 seconds left to play in the third quarter gave the Centurions a 13-7 lead, kicker T.J. Wiese failed on the PAT.

After the Centurions were forced to punt after three plays in the game’s opening series, the Lancers drove 67 yards in 13 plays.

Jacobs scored on a 10-yard run up the middle with 3:53 remaining in the first quarter, and Kraszewski’s PAT made the score 7-0.

The lead, however, lasted 14 seconds, thanks to the Centurions’ Jibri Hodge.

Hodge moved up to the five-yard line to catch Kraszewski’s second kickoff, and did not stop until he reached the end zone 95 yards later.

Hodge also had seven receptions for 75 yards.

Wiese’s PAT closed the first-half scoring.

Saugus’ best chance to break the tie came with less than three minutes left in the half when the Centurions drove from their 21-yard line to Thousand Oaks’ 19 in eight plays.

The drive ended when Cowan fumbled the snap from center Shawn Stuart.

Thousand Oaks missed its last scoring opportunity in the half when Kraszewski’s 34-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide right with 1 1/2 minutes left.