Big Plays by Gillis Fit Saugus for a 12-12 Tie With Quartz Hill

LANCASTER —  Saugus High linebacker Matt Gillis didn’t think he would have much a chance to be a hero midway through the third quarter.

Gillis had just been penalized for roughing the kicker on a punt play and his team trailed Quartz Hill by six points.

But Gillis redeemed himself by blocking the next punt four plays later, then catching the tying touchdown pass to help the Centurions salvage a 12-12 tie with the Rebels Friday night.

“I had a bad first half and then I slipped into the punter,” Gillis said. “I needed to do something to make it up.”

After Gillis caught a 16-yard scoring pass from from Kevin Carrasco, the Centurions went for a two-point conversion, but Carrasco’s pass fell incomplete.

Gillis gave Saugus a chance to win by intercepting Brian Woodworth’s pass at the Quartz Hill 41-yard line with just under two minutes left.

However, Eric Gray’s third sack of the game and two pass deflections in the end zone by Damein Kendrid helped save the Rebels (2-1-1).

“We came up with some big defensive plays,” Quartz Hill Coach John Albee said. “We had a chance to lose it.”

Running back Jeremy Mushinski gained 110 yards in 26 carries for Saugus (2-1-1).

Kendrid completed 10 of 21 passes for 92 yards for Quartz Hill. Woodworth didn’t complete a pass in five tries and had two intercepted.

Both teams opened the game with sustained drives but both stalled without any points. Quartz Hill came up one yard short on a fourth down at the Saugus 25-yard line.

The Centurions drove to the Saugus three-yard line, but Mushinski was stopped at the two on fourth down.

After a scoreless first quarter, Kendrid dropped the ball near midfield as he went back to pass. Gillis recovered the fumble for Saugus.

Saugus scored on a two-yard run by Mushinski seven plays later to take a 6-0 lead.

Quartz Hill tailback Jeremiah Harris ran 44 yards set up a four-yard scoring pass from Kendrid to tight end Andy Rethi. Harris led the Rebels in rushing with 87 yards in 16 carries.

Shortly before halftime, the Rebels’ Devin Unruh recovered a muffed fair catch by Steve Sieren. On the next play, Kendrid scrambled 10 yards for a touchdown to put Quartz Hill ahead at the intermission, 12-6.