Saugus Gets Thrown for a 23-0 Loss

Saugus High had the third-stingiest defense among Southern Section teams in the Valley area. Loyola had allowed only 14 points in its first two games.

Something had to give when these unbeaten teams met Thursday night at Canyon High. The Saugus defensive backfield gave--generously--in a 23-0 rout by the Cubs.

Loyola quarterback Kyle Spielbuhler threw three long touchdown passes against a Centurion defense that refused to bend against the rush but was short-handed in the secondary without injured cornerbacks Mark Beatty and Jeff D’Amico.

“We have no excuses, though,” Saugus Coach Jack Bowman said. “We blew three coverages.”

The three touchdowns, plus a safety, all came in the first half. The Centurions (2-1), despite holding the Cubs to 100 yards rushing in 30 attempts (22 yards in the first half), couldn’t stop Spielbuhler and his receiving corps.

The Loyola quarterback completed 11 of 13 passes for 194 yards. Midway through the first quarter, Spielbuhler hit Dan Farmer on a fade pattern. Farmer, 6-feet-4, 200 pounds, blew past 5-8, 156-pound cornerback Pat Rafter for a 36-yard touchdown.

The Cubs made it 9-0 when Brandon Alvarado’s punt was blocked in the end zone by Loyola’s Soren Solari. Centurion Mark Pecaro recovered for the safety.

After the free kick, Loyola marched 66 yards in five plays, scoring on a 42-yard pass play from Spielbuhler to Patrick Klein for a 16-0 lead.

“I think one of our strengths is our wideouts,” Loyola Coach Steve Grady said. “They’re tall, strong and good athletes.”

Farmer, who had five receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns, scored again when Loyola surprised the Centurions on a 46-yard pass play with 15 seconds left in the first half after lining up without a huddle.

No defender was within 15 yards of Farmer when he caught the ball along the left sideline.

Saugus quarterback Kevin Carrasco completed only seven of 23 passes for 66 yards and was sacked four times.

STILL UNBEATEN: Nordhoff High improved to 3-0 with an 18-7 nonleague victory over St. Bonaventure. C10