Following four straight wins to start the year, the Centurions’ undefeated season came to an end off the hands of Hart defender Bailey Hill.
The Hawks defeated Saugus, 46-35, for their third win of the season and first Foothill League victory of the year.
In the closing minutes of the game Jacob Paisano punched the ball into the end zone for a touchdown to extend the Hawks’ lead over Saugus, 46-35
And on the following drive with two minutes left in the game, the Centurions’ offense drove down the field with quarterback Jake Nutall making big passes.
With the Centurions knocking on the goal line, Hart defender Hill came away with the interception off Nuttall and sealed the win for Hart.
“I was elated for our guys, I don’t think they’ve gotten the credit they deserve coming into this game,” Hart head coach Jake Goossen-Brown said. “Everybody else had Saugus picked so our guys believed, and we had faith and trust in what we do, so I’m really happy that they came up with a big stop when we needed it.”
Paisano accounted for six touchdowns in the game, four rushing and two passing. After the game he credited his performance to his running backs and receivers who gave him the options to be successful.
“I have a good running back, good receivers, and I could run, too,” Paisano said. “I think it just helps our offense be even more explosive and dangerous, so it makes it hard for defenses to prepare for all five of our receivers, our running back, to me.”
The Hawks opened the game with Paisano breaking off for a 65-yard line scramble down the sideline to take the early 7-0 lead over Saugus.
On the following drive, the Hawks’ defense forced a three-and out and their offense drove down the field to score again.
Paisano handed off the ball to Matix Frithsmith, who ran the ball across the goal line and into the end zone and gave the Hawks the lead over Saugus, 13-0.
And in the closing minutes of the opening quarter, Paisano utilized his legs again to score as the quarterback rushed into the end zone for his second rushing touchdown of the game.
In the second quarter, the Centurions’ offense drove down the field with running back Ty Hall leading the way.
Hall broke off for a 21-yard run and, later in the drive, Nuttall connected with Tre Lewis for the touchdown and cut into the Hawks’ lead.
After giving up the touchdown to Saugus, the Hawks’ offense responded with a scoring drive of its own.
With possession in their own territory, Paisano scrambled out of the end zone, avoiding the sack, and threw across his body to Michael Toner for a 28-yard play. And on the following play, Frithsmith broke down the sideline for a 48-yard rush and set up the Hawks’ offense on the 4-yard line.
A couple of plays later, Paisano rushed for his third touchdown of the game and the Hawks extended their lead over Saugus, 27-7, with eight minutes left to go in the first half.
And in the final minutes of the first half, Hart scored again.
On third down and 21 from the 33-yard line, Paisano connected with Toner for their second scoring play of the evening and the Hawks extended their lead over Saugus, 33-7, going into halftime.
On the very first play of the second half, Landon Lattimore broke off for a 58-yard play for the kickoff return and gave possession to his offense on the Hawks’ 42-yard line.
A few plays later Hall scored a rushing touchdown to cut into the Hawks’ lead, making it 33-14 with 10 minutes left in the third quarter.
But with every Centurions score, the Hawks always responded right back.
On second and 10 from the 29-yard line, Paisano escaped the pocket to avoid the sack and thew the ball to Frithsmith in tight coverage for the touchdown and the Hawks extended their lead over Saugus, 40-14.
In the closing minutes of the third quarter, Nuttall threw his second touchdown pass of the game to Degan Grant to cut into the Hawks’ lead, 40-21 going into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Saugus continued to chip into Hart’s lead.
Nuttall threw his third touchdown pass of the game to Hall and on the following drive, Paisano threw a pick-six to Teddy Knott.
With Saugus creeping on Hart and trailing by five, Hart’s offense responded with run plays in an attempt to run down the clock.
In the final minutes of the game, Hart scored again off another Paisano rushing touchdown and the Hawks’ defense had the final say with Hill ending Saugus’ perfect start to the season.
After the game, Hill spoke on the final defensive play of the game for the Hawks and what was going through his mind once he came down with the ball.
“I’m trailing my guy, he bobbles it, he made a mistake, and I had to capitalize,” Hill said. “We’ve been preparing for this since the end of last season, I know we can play, I know we can ball. And we came out and handled business.”
And handle business they did, Hart secured their first league win of the year and second straight home victory of the season.
Hart returns home next week on Friday at Cougar Stadium hosting Golden Valley.