SAUGUS HAS A CHANCE FOR GLORY.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Staff Writer

SAUGUS -- It's finally the Saugus High football team's chance to share some of the spotlight.

The Centurions haven't won a playoff game this century and have rarely been mentioned in the same breath as neighborhood rivals Canyon, Hart and Valencia over the past few years or so.

But this year is different.

Saugus (5-3, 2-0) can all but wrap up its first league title since 1981 with a victory over Foothill League rival Canyon (5-2, 2-0) at 7:30 tonight at College of the Canyons.

Of course, it won't be easy. Defending Div. II champion Canyon is a heavy favorite because the Cowboys have defeated much stronger opponents this year, and you'll remember the Cowboys beat Saugus 55-7 last season.

``Canyon is obviously a very formidable opponent,'' Saugus coach Jason Bornn said. ``They're the best team we've played yet. They're phenomenal, and I have the utmost respect and reverence for them because they're the reigning league and Div. II champion.''

J.J. DiLuigi, Canyon's star running back, has vowed not to take Saugus lightly.

``This is a very important game because it's for the league title, and Saugus is very good -- the best Saugus team I've ever seen,'' DiLuigi said. ``The key for us is to just play Cowboy football. We're exactly where we want to be for this point in the season, and this is probably our most physical team ever. We're out to put the hurt on people.''

Saugus knows it's an underdog, but that's OK because the Centurions feel like they've got more to play for.

``We're just going to come out fighting like it's our game to win, and we'll let the chips fall where they may,'' Saugus receiver/defensive back Kyle Monson said. ``There's a lot of hype, and it's going to be a packed house. We can't think too much about that, we just need to play football. We know we can beat this team, that we have it within ourselves. We just need to come and take care of business.''

If anyone knows Canyon from the inside, it's Bornn, who was a Canyon assistant under Welch in 2001.

``What I've done at Saugus is take what I've learned from Harry Welch and tried to put it into our own program,'' Bornn said. ``I've tried to emulate a lot of things about Canyon's football team. I know Harry has caught some flak through the years, but one thing I can say about him is he's always been kind to me and has been a mentor in a lot of different ways. I have the utmost respect for him.''

Obviously, Saugus must first try to contain DiLuigi, who scored six touchdowns against the Centurions last season. Otherwise, Saugus might as well crumble its game plan and feed it to a goat.

``J.J. looks like he's just as dominant as he was last year, and Canyon's line is just as explosive,'' Bornn said.

DiLuigi, who scored 43 touchdowns last year, has rushed for 992 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. Canyon also has a top quarterback in Ben Longshore (1,282 yards, 11 touchdowns,) a solid offensive line led by veteran starters Marc Valdez, Nick Madia and Nick Peterson, and a hard- hitting defense led by LBs Blake McMartin and Nick Jurado.

Saugus counters with Monson, who leads the team in receptions (32) and tackles (61), running back Ryan Zirbel (826 yards, 13 touchdowns) and quarterback Nick Gauthier (1,277 yards, 10 touchdowns).

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TONIGHT'S GAMES

CANYON (5-2, 2-0) vs. SAUGUS (5-3, 2-0) at COC, 7:30 p.m.

OUTLOOK: Both can all but clinch the Foothill League title, so there's plenty on the line, but Saugus has more to prove because the Centurions have yet to defeat a .500 opponent this season. Plus, Saugus coach Jason Bornn is a former Canyon assistant under Welch, so this is a chance for the young pupil to prove he can stand tall with the grand master.

A year ago, Canyon defeated Saugus 55-7 to ruin Saugus' homecoming.

This one should be closer, but Canyon is still a three-touchdown favorite, according to Calpreps.

Saugus has won three in a row and hasn't conducted itself any different during practice this week, Bornn said.

Saugus' Ryan Zirbel, a sophomore, is closing in on a 1,000-yard season. He's rushed for 826 yards (5.9 avg.), caught 12 passes and scored 13 TDs. Nick Gauthier has completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,277 yards and 10 TDs, and he's rushed for 314 yards and two TDs, including an 82-yarder. Kyle Monson is the team's leading receiver (32 catches, three TDs) and tackler (44).

Defending Div. II champion Canyon is loaded. J.J. DiLuigi, who scored six TDs against Saugus last season, has rushed for 992 yards -- an average of 142 per game -- with 19 receptions and 16 TDs. Over the past two seasons, DiLuigi has scored 59 TDs in 20 games, an average of nearly three per game. Ben Longshore has passed for 1,282 yards and 10 TDs. Among Canyon's key hitters are DLs Dillon Schelske, Ben Armbuster and Mike Spagnola, LBs Nick Jurado and Blake McMartin and DBs Michael Loucks and Chris Kingsbury.

HART (4-4, 1-1) vs. GOLDEN VALLEY (0-8, 0-3) at Canyon High, 7 p.m.

OUTLOOK: Hart is on the comeback trail after losing three of its first four games, and the eight-time section champion Indians look to remain in the hunt for the league title in what figures to be a mismatch against the struggling Grizzlies, who have allowed an average of 68.6 points against league competition.

Hart's Delano Howell, a hard-running junior, has rushed for 869 yards, caught 27 passes for 449 yards and scored 24 TDs 20 more than anyone else on the team. He also punts, returns punts and kickoffs, and starts at DB.

Teammate Alex Pettee has passed for 1,882 yards and 13 TDs, and he's also rushed for 275 yards and one TD.

``He gets hit a lot for a quarterback, but Alex doesn't mind. He's a tough kid,'' WR Michael Vairo said.

Hart LB Patrick Larimore is the league's leading tackler with an average of 10.6 per game.

Golden Valley's top players include QB Najee Coleman, WR Martel Hammond, DL Luke Leonard, LB Trevon Smith, P Corey Bryant, RB Eddie Watford and OL/DL Joe Speers.

WEST RANCH (5-3) vs. LITTLEROCK (0-8) at Valencia High, 7 p.m.

OUTLOOK: Seniorless freelance program West Ranch, coming off a loss to Vasquez of Acton that broke a three-game winning streak, must cope with the loss of leading rusher Joe Spell (ineligible). However, RBs Ross Bacon, Tyler O'Brien and L.J. McGee all have cracked the 100-yard barrier in a game this season, so there shouldn't be any excuses against winless Littlerock.

Littlerock, 4-34 since 2003, has won just 13 games over the past seven seasons.

SANTA CLARITA CHRISTIAN (7-0, 2-0) at FAITH BAPTIST (8-0, 2-0) of Canoga Park, 2 p.m. Saturday

OUTLOOK: Two undefeated eight-man powers meet in this attractive regular-season finale for the Heritage League title. Since Santa Clarita Christian's 29-28 victory over Faith Baptist in 2003, Faith Baptist has won 38 of 39 games, including its last 33 in a row.

``We're working hard,'' Santa Clarita Christian coach Garrick Moss said. ``Our guys want to be the ones who end the streak, and I think we'll have a chance. It's going to be the toughest game of the year. That's for sure.''

Santa Clarita Christian is led by QB Andy McKean, RBs Garrett Borden and David Odorizzi, OL/DL Mike Crawford, WR J.P. Dennis and LB Chris Chaplin.

CAPTION(S):

photo, 3 boxes

Photo:

Saugus High varsity football players practice for their game tonight against the rival Canyon High School Cowboys.

David Crane/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) FIRST AND 10

(2) INSIDE THE NUMBERS

(3) TONIGHT'S GAMES (see text)