Saugus Makes Its Points, Slips Past Chaminade

A week after its best defensive effort of the season, Saugus High returned to its modus operandi.

Allow your opponent lots of points, but make sure your offense scores more.

Saugus used a 21-point scoring spurt in the third quarter to pull away for a comfortable lead, but had to withstand a fourth-quarter rally by Chaminade in a 56-35 victory Friday night in a Southern Section Division III first-round game at Canyon High.

Quarterback David Parker of Saugus threw for five touchdowns and ran for another, overshadowing a spectacular performance by running back Eric Zdenek, who had a hand in all of Chaminade’s touchdowns.

Zdenek, who came into the game with 253 yards in 37 carries, rushed for 251 yards in 38 carries. He ran for touchdowns of seven, 30 and three yards and threw touchdown passes of 20 and 13 yards.

Saugus (9-2), which will face Highland in a quarterfinal game next week, couldn’t stop Zdenek but came up with key defensive plays to maintain the upper hand.

Trailing, 49-35, after Zdenek scored on a three-yard run, Chaminade recovered an on-side kick with 2:18 remaining.

But on third and eight at Saugus’ 36, Chaminade committed its fourth turnover of the game. Lineman Brent Ybarra of Saugus wrapped up quarterback Jon Palacios, who tossed a short pass toward the line of scrimmage.

Corey Pearson intercepted the errant pass and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown, the second by Saugus’ defense, giving the Centurions a 56-35 lead with 1:09 remaining.

Parker threw touchdowns to five receivers. Parker, who was pressured continuously, finished 12 of 28 for 163 yards and had two passes intercepted.

The touchdowns went 10 yards to George Rivas, 16 yards to Marco Gilbert, 36 yards to Nathan Steele, eight yards to Brett Draimin and three yards to Nels Jensen.

The 6-1, 185-pound senior quarterback rushed for 115 yards in 14 carries and was sacked twice.

Draimin of Saugus finished with 104 yards in 10 carries.

The two teams amassed 552 yards in the first half.

Chaminade tied it, 7-7, and 14-14, but Saugus took a 14-point lead on Parker’s touchdown passes to Jensen and Gilbert.

On a trick play, Zdenek threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Palacios with 21 seconds left in the first half, and Chaminade trailed, 28-21.

Saugus scored three touchdowns in a span of 4:05 in the third quarter to take a 49-21 lead.

Parker threw two passes in the 21-point spurt and Brian Bramer fell on a fumble in the end zone after a bad snap on a punt.

Palacios completed 10 of 23 passes for 189 yards and had two passes intercepted.

Scott Hass of Chaminade caught eight passes for 155 yards and a 20-yard touchdown from Zdenek on a halfback pass which tied the score, 14-14, with 9:50 left in the first half.