Saugus Has Heart, but Hart Has Title

For more than a decade, the Foothill League has been Indian territory.

It still is. Hart, with a 20-6 victory over Saugus at College of the Canyons Friday night, captured its fourth consecutive league championship.

The Indians (10-0, 4-0) have claimed league titles in nine of 11 seasons. But Saugus (5-3-2, 3-1) didn’t lie down and play dead against a Hart offense that averages more than 36 points and 390 yards per game.

The Centurions briefly led, 6-0, in the second quarter before the perennial champions took control.

The Indians got a touchdown pass from Steve McKeon, the area’s leading Southern Section passer, who was held to six of 13 for 49 yards and an interception.

Hart, which outgained Saugus, 263-157, got two touchdown runs by area scoring leader Ted Iacenda (31 touchdowns), who rushed for 130 yards in 22 carries.

“We would have rather had it nice and easy in the second half,” Hart Coach Mike Herrington said.

“Both teams are excellent ballclubs. Our defense came through.”

Thanks to McKeon’s touchdown pass to Chris McCabe 21 seconds before intermission, Hart led at halftime, 7-6. But Saugus couldn’t have asked for more in the first half.

With an offense that doesn’t score many points, the Centurions needed to control the ball--and did.

Quarterback Kevin Carrasco, an unproven passer with a completion rate of 42%, hit five of nine attempts for 80 yards in the first half--including three on Saugus’ 19-play, 78-yard scoring drive. He finished five of 14.

Running back Mark Pecaro capped the drive with a two-yard run after Carrasco got two first downs with passes of 10 yards to Mark Beatty and 17 yards to Phil Waterman.

The drive might have died early but Hart roughed Carrasco on second down and 10 at the Saugus 22, giving the Centurions 15 yards.

Hart came back with a 17-play, 74-yard drive.

The Indians faced two third-and-two fourth-down situations and converted all of them.

Most crucial was a 10-yard pass from McKeon to Chris McCabe on fourth and eight from the 16 with 25 seconds left.

On the next play McKeon hit McCabe on a quick slant in traffic for a six-yard touchdown.

Pat Rafter intercepted McKeon’s pass on the Hart 40 early in the second half, but Saugus ran three plays and punted--and didn’t reach Indian territory again. In fact, the Centurions gained only 23 yards in the second half.

FRIDAY’S YARDSTICK

Top performers of Valley/Ventura-area high school football players for the last two days. C14