High-scoring offenses to meet in Swampscott-Fenwick game

The links between the Swampscott and Bishop Fenwick football teams are hard to miss. Swampscott native Ryan Squires played for the Crusaders last year and now wears the colors of the Big Blue as a wide receiver. Older brother John was under center for Fenwick last season when the two teams played at Swampscott.And fittingly, the game came down to the final moments when Peter Kinchley hit Brendan Garner for a game-winning touchdown in the Big Blue’s 14-7 win.On Friday night (7), the rematch is on tap, this time under the lights at Donaldson Field in Peabody. And if the two teams’ styles this season are any indication, the scoreboard operator could be in for a long and hectic night.”Last year, we had a great game with them. They just made one more play than we did,” Fenwick coach Dave Woods said.If you are a fan of offense, then the talent on the field Friday is something to be enjoyed. The Big Blue’s spread offense, triggered by Kinchley, has scored 20 or more points in three of the team’s four wins this season.Last Saturday against Gloucester, the Blue were held to 191 yards of total offense and 14 points as Kinchley could hit on only 9-of-19 passes with two touchdowns and two costly interceptions while the ground game only had 46 yards on 19 carries.”We just didn’t make enough plays,” Swampscott coach Steve Dembowski said. “And we had three drives inside the red zone where we didn’t score.”Don’t tell that to the Crusaders, though, as Fenwick will face a second team that has the ability to spread the field. Earlier this season, Fenwick lost 35-14 to Masconomet.”They have athletes everywhere on the field,” Woods said. “They throw to whoever is open, their offensive line is tremendous and have two running backs (Ilya Levin, Kyle Shonio) and a quarterback that isn’t afraid to run.”The Crusaders, meanwhile, simply have one of the top backs in Massachusetts in senior Bobby Tarr.In each of Fenwick’s three wins this season, Tarr has gone over the 200-yard mark rushing, including a 287-yard, four-touchdown effort in a 27-12 win over Central Falls (RI) last Friday that stopped a two-game losing streak.”Bobby is the best back in the area and he can go the distance on every play,” Dembowski said. “They present enough challenges to keep anybody busy. Containing (Tarr) and finding ways to score is a priority.”That ball-control offense is something the Crusaders hope is on hand Friday.”We’d like to control the clock and keep them off the field. But that’s easier said than done against them,” Woods said. “They are playing with a lot of confidence right now.”Making that job even tougher is a Swampscott defense that has played well all season. The 21 points allowed by the Big Blue against Gloucester were a season high, but the defense only allowed 277 yards in total offense. And it’s that unit that has Woods’ attention.”Their defense is similar to Masco’s, and they kicked our butt,” Woods said. “They like to hit and fly to the ball.”Needless to say, this could be an entertaining game. And Dembowski is well aware of it.”We both have the ability to score, so this should be a good game to watch,” Dembowski said.