Lynn Tech grinds one out against Saugus

SAUGUS — If you like wet-weather football and defense, Thursday night’s game between Lynn Tech (2-1) and Saugus (1-2) was for you. After nine combined turnovers, the Tigers escaped with a 3-0 win on enemy turf.

After Tech recovered a fumble around midfield with 10:55 remaining in the fourth quarter, that’s when it decided to lean on freshman running back Tyler Brown (60 yards rushing).

“Very few years do I say I get to have twins,” said Tech coach James Runner. “A great set of twins was Chase and Chance Buono. We had Chance and Chase went to Classical. We now have a set of twins in Anthony and Tyler. When Anthony went down hurt, his brother Tyler stepped up. Tyler is tough. He ran tough… and he must’ve had 10 or 11 tackles.”

The Tigers, behind Tyler Brown, methodically marched down the field and chewed up more than eight minutes of the clock to set up a fourth-down field goal attempt from Saugus’ 7-yard line.

Tech brought out its field goal unit and let freshman Daniel Lerum attempt the first score of the game. With 2:03 remaining, the freshman’s kick was good, giving the Tigers a 3-0 lead.

“We didn’t want to give Saugus the ball back. We kept chopping wood and chopping wood and grinded to get to the red area,” Runner said. “I put the freshman out there and he kicked the field goal to win. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this, but I’m very grateful it did.”

Saugus had its chance to tie – and perhaps win – the game. With 1:54 to go, quarterback Jordan Rodriguez connected with junior Ryan Shea for a 27-yard pickup to get the ball to Tech’s 40.

Unfortunately for the hosts, Rodriguez looked for Shea again on the following play, and this time, it was intercepted by Tech’s EJ Morales to seal the game.

“Hats off to them. They came up with plays when they needed to. That was a big drive by them,” said Saugus coach Steve Cummings. “The turnovers hurt us tonight. We’re a young football team and we have to learn from this. Last week, when we needed plays, we made them. This week, we didn’t. It’s the growing pains we’re going to have as a young team going through this for the first time.”

Saugus was led by hard-nosed running back Cody Munafo, who rushed for about 85 yards.

“Cody’s been everything we needed him to be this year. Last week, when we needed him, he came up with a big run to close out the game,” Cummings said. “We don’t shy away from him in big spots because we know he’s a big-time player on both offense and defense. On defense, it seems like he’s on every ball.”

For Runner and the Tigers, they were dealing with key injuries to Anthony Brown and starting quarterback Jadiel Ortega.

But their backups excelled, with quarterback Eddie Lewis and Tyler Brown making sure the Tigers didn’t miss a beat.

“Eddie Lewis is a very wholesome young man. I’m very proud of him for keeping his poise. He said at the start of the season that he likes that Jadiel is the quarterback because it allows him to get the ball outside and make moves,” Runner said. “This week, he stepped up like the upperclassman he is and put the helmet on as quarterback. He didn’t run away from the opportunity. I’m proud of him.”

Cummings said his young Sachems need to learn that “every moment matters.”

“I can’t fault the effort. The guys played hard tonight. In times like these, with the weather and some setbacks, we just have to dig down a little bit deeper,” he said. “We just have some things to clean up.”

As for Runner, it couldn’t have been any better for him.

“This is the best win of my career and the lowest score I ever had. The papers doubted us and the hood doubted us,” he said. “Twenty-five years of coaching and it’s unreal to kick a field goal to win the game on the road. I’ll take it any day.”

Saugus looks to return to winning ways Friday, Oct. 4 when it travels to Winthrop at 6:30 p.m. The Tigers return from a bye week on Oct. 11 at Keefe Tech.

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