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The score says just about everything but there were a few oddities.
First oddity -- one of the banks of lights (out of 4) was out, thus the southwest quadrant of the field was almost dark.
Second, while rain was predicted, there was no real rain at all during the game (some misting here and there) and it was
really quite warm, much more so than the last couple of weeks. Nevertheless, the fans stayed away in droves. I'm guessing
that there were not more than about 1000 or so fans in attendance and 3/4 of those were on the Hart (visitor) side.
Third, the Saugus band didn't come so they were going to play the national anthem over the PA system. The announcer said
"please rise . . . etc." Nothing. We wait. Nothing. He says "we're having technical difficulties." Nothing.
Finally, he says "we can't get it to work, you're gonna have to go ahead and play." A bunch of folks on our side
sang any way.
Fourth, the condition of the COC field is atrocious. Overall its a really great facility but the deterioration of the
field the last two seasons is really beyond the pale. Virtually everything between the 20s was just muck.
So here's the game:
Hart took the opening kickoff and started on the 34 and went 3 and out (2 incompletes by Norton). Saugus, after an initial
10 yard gain, went three and out. Hart, starting at the 15, managed one first down on an 11-yard pass to Cody Kase but was
forced to punt. Saugus mangaged one first down and then again went 3 and out. In short, both teams were very tentative I think
because of the field conditions and the lights.
Hart started the next series on the 22 and on the first play, Norton slipped and lost 6 yards. (He was 1 for 6 and 11
yards at that point in the game). He then got untracked with a 27-yarder to Paxton Howard follwed by Norton for 15 yard run,
10-yard pass to Wilson, 9-yard pass to Kase, 3-yard run by Norton, incomplete, 5-yard run by Norton and then a 17-yard TD
to Kevin Ciccone. Hart 7-0 with 1:39 in the first.
Saugus: 3 and out (Saugus kept trying to run the ball and was getting absolutely nothing).
Hart started the next series on the Hart 40 and the first play was a 40-yarder to Kase. Unfortunately the next play was
a fumble that Saugus recovered.
Saugus was headed for another 3 and out but a roughing call on the punt gave the Centurions a first down (the Centurion
long snapper was kind of lofting them up there, making almost every punt a close run thing). The ball was moved to the Hart
49 (the Cents first foray into Hart territory). Following an incomplete, the QB threw long and Kase (an OLB) picked it off
way down field and returned it 58 yards to the Hart 22. Two running plays by Howard and it was 14-0 Hart at 7:48 in the second.
The next Saugus series started at the 22. The Cents moved it out to the 45 but gave it up on downs. Hart scored on 5 plays
-- the TD came on a 25-yard pass to Elledge playing tight end. Hart 21-0 with 3:58 in the second.
Saugus started at the 23 and moved down to the Hart 17 but once again lost the ball on downs. Hart took over with well
under a minute left. The Indians moved to the 49 in 3 plays and then with 8 seconds left, Norton threw a 51-yarder to Ciccone
( pretty much all in the air too). Hart 28-0 at the half.
Norton, from his inauspicous start ended up 10 for 19 and 220 yards with 3 TDS in the first half.
The second half started a little better for Saugus. First play: a run for 2. Second play: an incomplete. Third play: a
69-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Estes. The Hart DB was right there but Estes pulled out of the tackle and it was smooth sailing
to the endzone. Hart 28-7 at 10:49 in the third.
Hart started on the 35 and, on 3 for 4 passing, scored on a 1-yard pass to Kase. (The big play in the series was a 27-yarder
to Kase.)
Saugus 3 and out.
Hart moved for the 18 to the 50 but stalled out and had to punt.
Saugus started at the 12 and moved the the 38 when the quarter ended. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Wilson
intercepted and returned it to the 50.
Hart scored 5 plays later on a 14-yard pass to Kase. Norton came out at that point. He finished the night with 18 completions
on 29 attempts, 300 yards and 5 TDs. Howard had 75 yards rushing and about 50 receiving. Hart 42-7 at 9:52.
On the next Saugus series, Wilson intercepted on the first play and returned it to the 10. The Hart second team got hung
up so Simons kicked at 25-yard field goal. Hart 45-7.
Saugus went three and out and Hart just ran it out from there.
While Hart started slow, they were really firing on all cylinders both defensively and offensively as the game moved on.
Valencia on Thursday.
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