A BUILDING BLOCK FOR CENTURIONS.Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Staff Writer SAUGUS - Like a bodyguard for the president, offensive lineman Ramsen Golpashin of Saugus High doesn't let anything get between him and his quarterback. ``I trust him with my life,'' quarterback Nick Gauthier said. Golpashin is perfectly suited for the job. At 6-foot-3 and 325 pounds, he's the biggest player in the Foothill League, a three-year starter who's helped pave PAVE Cardiology A clinical trial–Post AV Node Ablation Evaluation the way for a Saugus team that's on the brink of a playoff play·off also play-off n. Sports 1. A final game or series of games played to break a tie. 2. A series of games played to determine a championship. Noun 1. berth heading into tonight's game against Golden Valley (0-7, 0-2) at College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. . ``It's been a pretty good season so far,'' Golpashin said. ``Not just the way we've been able to compete, but the whole attitude.'' Golpashin has seen the best and worst of Saugus football, as the Centurions (4-3, 1-0) have been bullied bul·ly 1 n. pl. bul·lies 1. A person who is habitually cruel or overbearing, especially to smaller or weaker people. 2. A hired ruffian; a thug. 3. A pimp. 4. through the years by neighborhood rivals Valencia, Canyon and Hart. That changed last week with a 36-21 upset over Valencia, and Golpashin has taken a vow to help Saugus keep on winning. ``We're not done yet,'' Golpashin said. ``The Foothill League has always been about those three powerhouses, and now it's our time to work our way into the rotation. After Golden Valley, we're out to win two more in a row against Canyon, then Hart. We totally believe we can do it.'' Golpashin's toughness comes from his family. His father was a helicopter pilot for the Iran army against Iraq, surviving three crashes. His 21-year-old older brother Saam, a former Saugus basketball player, has been wrestling with his not-so-little brother since they were toddlers. ``We used to break each other's noses,'' Ramsen said. Coach Jason Bornn loves the way Golpashin has managed to put the team first while emerging as a leader at the same time. ``I think because of his work ethic work ethic n. A set of values based on the moral virtues of hard work and diligence. work ethic Noun a belief in the moral value of work , Ramsen is just a natural leader,'' Bornn said. ``He's really taken hold of that role. He's a very physical football player who's really improved, especially his pass blocking, which has been important this year. He's 330 pounds with big bones, and he'll knock the tar out of you.'' Thanks to blocking protection from Golpashin and veteran teammates such as Shane Watterson and John Bryant John Bryant may refer to:
``I think I was touched one time against Valencia, and that was a coverage sack,'' Gauthier said. Running back Ryan Zirbel also has benefited, rushing for 762 yards and 12 touchdowns, including a career-best 233 yards and four TDs against Valencia. Golpashin, an honor student, hopes to play college football. The best way to gain notice is for Saugus to keep on winning, so that's the plan. ``I never thought this year would go by so fast, but it's just flying along because I'm having a total blast,'' Golpashin said. ``I don't want to play at a school like College of the Canyons. I want to go somewhere bigger.'' gerry.gittelson(at)dailynews.com (661) 257-5218 TONIGHT'S GAMES SAUGUS (4-3, 1-0) vs. GOLDEN VALLEY (0-7, 0-2) at COC See chip on chip. , 7:30 p.m. KEEP AN EYE ON: Jason Bornn, Saugus, head coach 1/3 Bornn could inadvertently become the story if outmatched Golden Valley, coming off a 90-0 loss at Canyon last week, again falls beyond by a large margin in the first half. OUTLOOK: This is a chance for Saugus to clinch Clinch, river, c.300 mi (480 km) long, formed by the junction of two forks in SW Va., and flowing generally SW across E Tenn. to the Tennessee River at Kingston. a playoff berth by nudging out one of the Big Three, so expect the Centurions to go all out against the Grizzlies The name Grizzlies may refer to:
Saugus RB Ryan Zirbel (762 yards, 12 TDs) is red hot. He's coming off a career-best 233-yard, four-TD performance Friday in a 36-21 upset victory at Valencia, and the stocky stock·y adj. stock·i·er, stock·i·est 1. Solidly built; sturdy. 2. Chubby; plump. stock  i·ly adv. 5-foot-7 sophomore has three
100-yard performances over the past four weeks. He runs behind an
experienced OL led by three-year starter Ramsen Golpashin, Shane
Watterson and John Bryant.
Saugus played terrific defense against Valencia, limiting the high-powered Vikings to two first downs in the first half, as the Centurions amassed a 29-point lead. The key hitters are LBs Ryan and Justin McKillop and DB Kyle <noinclude></noinclude> ''This article or section is being rewritten at One derivation of the surname is from the Scottish Highland word caol, 'channel', or 'strait'. There are other possible derivations (see below). Monson. Third-year program Golden Valley, which has seniors for the first time, is led by QB Najee Coleman and WR Martel Hammond. LB/RB Trevon Smith (concussion concussion Period of nervous-function impairment that results from relatively mild brain injury, often with no bleeding in the cerebral cortex. It causes brief unconsciousness, followed by mental confusion and physical difficulties. ) is questionable. ``We have a good corps of ninth- and 10th-grade kids, and we plan on building a future around them,'' Golden Valley coach Steve Pinkston said. ``Our players are hanging in there. It's difficult and hard on the kids to play some of the best teams in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, , but we've had some good practices this week getting ready for Saugus.'' HART (3-4, 0-1) at VALENCIA (2-6, 1-1), 7 p.m. KEEP AN EYE ON: Shane Vereen, Valencia, RB - Vereen was held to just 51 yards Friday in a loss to Saugus one week after rushing for a league-record 359 yards and six TDs against Golden Valley. Vereen, whose 87 career TDs are 12 shy of Ted Iacenda's league record (Hart, 1993-95,) has something to prove tonight, and it will be Hart's mission not to let the speedy senior into the open field. OUTLOOK: What has happened to Valencia? Until this season, the Vikings were among the Southland's mightiest programs, reaching the section semifinals or better five times since 1998. They enter tonight's pivotal contest with five losses over the past six games -- a victory over winless Golden Valley two weeks ago broke a four-game skid -- as Valencia has allowed more than 35 points per game this season. Hart also has had its ups and downs ups and downs pl.n. Alternating periods of good and bad fortune or spirits. ups and downs Noun, pl alternating periods of good and bad luck or high and low spirits but appears to be on right track even though the Indians are coming off a 41-25 loss to Canyon two weeks ago, followed by a bye last week. Both feature excellent QBs and RBs. Valencia's Graham Wilbert has passed for 1,710 yards and 18 TDs, and Vereen has 855 yards, 27 receptions and 21 TDs. Hart's Alex Pettee has passed for 1,652 and 10 TDs, and Delano Howell has rushed for 761 yards, caught 27 passes and scored 24 TDs, including a 95-yard kick return. Hart LB Patrick Larimore leads the league with an average of 10.9 tackles per game. WEST RANCH ranch, large farm devoted chiefly to raising and breeding cattle, horses, sheep, and goats. The cattle ranch was introduced from Latin America to Texas and the plains of the W United States and Canada. (5-2) at VASQUEZ (4-2) of Acton, 7 p.m. OUTLOOK: West Ranch, a seniorless first-year program, has steadily improved, and the Wildcats can all but clinch a playoff berth with a victory over the Mustangs, like West Ranch one of the Southern Section's top freelance programs. West Ranch's Joe Spell is an undersized undersized see dwarfism, runt. but dynamic RB who's averaging more than 100 yards per game. LB Tyler O'Brien is a top hitter. Vasquez has won three in a row, including a 43-36 victory last week over Boron boron (bōr`ŏn) [New Gr. from borax], chemical element; symbol B; at. no. 5; at. wt. 10.81; m.p. about 2,300°C;; sublimation point about 2,550°C;; sp. gr. 2.3 at 25°C;; valence +3. , then ranked No. 1 in its division. QB Joe Perez has passed for 1,110 yards and seven TDs and rushed for 542 yards and eight TDs. No one else has scored more than twice. SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, CHRISTIAN (6-0, 1-0) vs. L.A. LUTHERAN (3-4, 0-1) at Canyon High, Saturday 7 p.m. OUTLOOK: Santa Clarita Christian, averaging nearly 54 points per game, figures to win this game easily, setting up a showdown next week against reigning section champion Faith Baptist, ranked No. 1 in the eight-man poll. ``We want to put ourselves in position to give Faith Baptist a run,'' coach Garrick Moss said. Santa Clarita Christian RB David Odorizzi is among eight-man football's fastest breakaway break·a·way adj. 1. Designed to break, bend, or fall apart easily upon impact, especially to create an illusion, as with a theater prop, or for safety, as with a highway sign or barrier. 2. threats. CAPTION(S): photo, 3 boxes Photo: Centurians Ramsen Golpashin and Ryan Zirbel are both standout players for the Saugus High team. David Crane/Staff Photographer Box: (1) TONIGHT'S GAMES (see text) (2) FIRST AND 10 (3) INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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