Now on to other issues.  In some respects things were much closer than the score.  In other respects it was much worse.

Saugus scored on it's first four possessions and the only reason the Cents didn't score on the fifth possession was that -- thankfully -- there were only a few seconds left in the half when Saugus got the ball. 

 

Hart actually started to look very good at the end of the first half and well into the third quarter but, inevitably, the six-shooters came out and the Indians once again started blasting away at their own collective feet.  What might have been an interesting game became a rout with a fumble, an INT and a really bad officiating call in the third quarter.  The other killers for Hart: continuing poor play on special teams, really lousy tackling and way too many penalties (though Saugus was not far behind in that category).

Here are some of the details.

Saugus' DePew snagged the opening kickoff around the 11 and returned it 45 yards to the Hart 44 (first special teams screwup; note to Saugus fans -- it's been a common occurrence).  Saugus scored 7 plays later on a 3-yard Zirbel run (one holding penalty against Saugus).  On the extra point, Saugus passed unsuccessfully but there a pass interference penalty on Hart.  Saugus scored a 2-point PAT on the second try to make it 8-0 at 8:33.

Hart got a 9-yard return, started at the 18 and went three and out.  The killer for Hart: on third and 2, there was a fumbled exchange.

Saugus got a 37-yard punt return by DePew on the punt (second Hart special teams faux pas) to the Hart 32.  Four plays later Zirbel took it in from the 13 for the TD.  15-0 at 4:26.

Saugus kicked it out of bounds [another penalty] and Hart started at the 35.  The Indians managed to get to the 49 before losing some yards and then punting which was fair caught.

Saugus at the 17: 83-yard run by Zirbel right through the middle to make it 22-0 at 11:39 in the second.

Saugus kicked it out of bounds [another penalty] and Hart once again started at the 35.  After a 22-yard pass to Borland, Hart stalled out in large part due to two illegal procedure penalties (the latter turned a fourth and short into fourth and long) and Saugus took over on downs.

Saugus started at the 43 and quickly moved 30 yards down the field on consecutive penalties, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against one of the Hart coaches and a pass interference penalty.  Saugus also got hit with a holding penalty on the drive but ultimately scored on a very clever sort "jump shot" pass to Lara on 4th down from the 1-yard line.  Saugus 28-0 at 5:11 left in the half.

Hart started at the 20 and on a 12-play drive, scored on a 13-yard pass to Borland (two more illegal procedure penalties against Hart during the drive).  28-7 at :28 left in the half.

Saugus got another 15-yard return by DePew and tried two long passes both of which fell incomplete.

Hart took the second half kickoff, started at the 20 and went three and out due in large measure to another fumbled exchange and another illegal procedure penalty.

Hart got it's first and only break of the night when Saugus fumbled the punt and Hart recovered at the Hart 48.  The next series was more in the line of vintage Hart: 22-yard pass to Diamond, sack for -10, 35-yard pass to a wide open Stephens and then a 1-yard run by Souza for the TD.  28-14 at 8:57 in the third.

Then a quick return to the current Hart: Hart squibbed the kickoff and Zirbel got about a 2-yard return to the 25.  On the first play from scrimmage, Desi ran it 75 yards up the middle for the TD and it was 35-14 at 8:38 in the third.

Hart once again started at the 20 and scored 6 plays later on a 49-yard pass to Diamond.  The PAT missed and it was 35-20 at 6:25. [see what I mean that it was closer than you might think].

Hart tried an onside kick and from my perspective (looking straight at it through the binoculars) it was perfectly executed.  The play was right in front of Herrington and the side judge, both of whom immediately signaled Hart ball.  Then the ref from the far side of the field -- 45 yards away -- came charging in and said Hart had touched it too soon (NOT) but Saugus got the ball at he Hart 49.  Following a procedure penalty, a 35-yard pass to Pedron, a face mask penalty against Hart and then a holding penalty against Saugus, Desi eventually took it in from the 6 to make it 42-20 at 4:18 in the third.

Hart then looked to get untracked when the returner fielded the ball on the goal line and returned it 45 yards only to fumble it at the end of the return.  Saugus recovered on the Hart 47 and scored 7 plays later on a 14-yard Desi run (with another holding penalty thrown in).  49-20 at :21 in the third.

Hart started at the 23 and following a 14-yard pass to Borland, Souza let one fly way down the right sideline and Desi intercepted.  Following another 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, Saugus was backed up to the 17 and, for the first time in the game, stalled and punted on fourth and 7 from the Hart 20.  (That's Hart's defensive highlight of the night if you want something in that category.)

Hart got no return but was called for an illegal block penalty which backed the Indians up to the 37.  This drive too was killed by a holding penalty which backed it up 15 yards and Hart eventually turned it over on downs.

Saugus  kept all the offensive starters in the game, started at the 48 and following an illegal blocking penalty and another holding penalty, scored on a 33-yard pass on 4th down and short with 3:29 left (sorry Saugus fans but that was a completely classless call by your coach.  4th and 3, with a 29 point lead, deep in Hart territory, all the starters still in and 3 minutes left?  It'll be remembered). 55-20 at 3:29.

Hart got another 24 yard return by Almond to the 24 but eventually turned it over following an inc., sack, sack, inc sequence.

Stats:

Souza was 17 of 29 for 262 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT.  He had 13 carries for 1 yards, a TD and was sacked 4 times.  Stephens had 48 yards on 9 carries.  He also had 2 catches for 28 yards.  Borland had 8 receptions for 112 yards and a TD, Diamond had 5 catches for 95 yrds and a TD.  I think the other two catches were by Blumel for 5 yards and possibly Shoemaker (or Vicari) for 28 yards.

Rodriquez was 5 for 7 for 91 yards and a TD.  There was one other pass (incomplete) but I'm not sure who threw it.  Zirbel had 181 yards on 21 carries and 3 TDs.  Rodriquez had 186 yards on 16 carries and 3 TDs. Adrian Cruz  had 18 yards on 3 carries.

Some thoughts: The spread offense is not the mystery it once was.  That being the case, you have to put a lot of thought into elements which confuse the opponent.  There are certain sets and situations both immediately before the snap and immediately after the snap which are absolute dead giveaways in the Hart offense.  Clearly, Saugus recognizes some of them.