HS FOOT: Saugus up by 2 over Westlake at half

it's quite a game here at Westlake High, as Saugus leads 14-12 after coming from 9 back in what has proved to be a very exciting first half.

Saugus' star running back Ryan Zirbel has not been effective -- he has just 10 yards in 10 carries, including a 3-yard TD -- but quarterback Desi Rodriguez has made it up for it by rushing for 94 yards, including a weaving 55-yard TD, and he also has completed 4 of 6 passes for 77 yards.

Westlake is passing the football like crazy, though the Warriors are finding difficulty in the red zone. Ben Conlin is 18 of 32 for 193 yards -- 32 attempts in the first half, that's a lot.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com