NEC South crown belongs to Big Blue

SWAMPSCOTT – It took over a quarter to rid itself of a pesky winless team, but the Swampscott football squad will be returning to the postseason for the first time since 2003. The Big Blue overcame Danvers, 26-3, this past Saturday at Blocksidge Field to emerge as the champions of the Northeastern Conference South. The team will face the yet-to-be-determined winner of the Catholic Conference Large in the first round of the playoffs the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.”It’s a huge accomplishment for us,” said Swampscott coach Steve Dembowski about advancing to the playoffs; his club made it to back-to-back Super Bowls earlier this decade. “Making this (the postseason) says a lot about our program, and the kids and coaches that are in it.”Yet the way things started out on Saturday, it appeared as though the Falcons (0-5, 0-10) were going to put a roadblock in front of the Big Blue bus. The Danvers defense pressured quarterback Peter Kinchley throughout the first quarter, causing Swampscott to get only minimal yardage in its possessions. On the team’s second drive, back Ilya Levin gained 15 yards on a third-and-10 to the Falcons 24, yet the possession sputtered from that point on, ending in two straight incompletions by Kinchley from the 21 (his first six passes fell incomplete).Penalties also plagued Swampscott as well, as a 25-yard interception returned for what would’ve been the game’s first points late in the period was nullified on a defensive pass interference call.”We didn’t come out ready to play,” admitted Dembowski. “It could’ve been any number of reasons, but it was my fault for not preparing the team. Danvers blitzed us, and we didn’t do a good job stopping them, and they played hard. That’s a credit to coach (John) Sullivan. But we weren’t ready to play in the first quarter, and we were flat.”However, that all changed midway through the second period. The Big Blue (9-1) took over at the Falcons 46, and Kinchley directed the squad downfield. He brought the team to the 26 after runs of 12 and eight, then completed a 17-yarder to teammate Jordan Kelly (3-62). Levin (11-99) ran for three, and then Kinchley (9-24-0-146) found Kelly coming over from the right side for the game’s first points.The Falcons marched right back. Quarterback Eric Burgos brought the team to the Swampscott 31 after a nine-yard gain, then scrambled through the defensive coverage for another 23. Yet Danvers could only move backwards after a loss of three on a carry by halfback T.J. Shanley and an 11-yard sack of Burgos. Kicker Nick Pellino then booted a 39-yard field goal (which would’ve been good from 50) to bring the Falcons to within 7-3.The Big Blue then took the following possession and widened their lead. Kinchley gave the team a first down on a nine-yarder to the Swampscott 46 on a third-and-eight. Moments later, running back Tyler Shonio gained 12 more to put the club at the Falcons 42. After a loss of four, Kinchley and Shonio teamed for a 16-yard hookup, where Shonio was able to keep his balance despite being knocked around by Danvers linemen after the reception. The Big Blue increased their lead two plays later when Kinchley found Trevor Wheeler over the middle for the 22-yard score to improve the margin to 13-3.After Danvers went three-and-out, Kinchley directed Swampscott on another scoring drive just before the end of the half, going three-for-four. Starting at his own 43, he found receiver Justin Mitchell for 11 yards, then hit Stephen Moran for seven more to the 39. After an incompletion, Kinchley again found Kelly, this time in open coverage. Kelly would outrace the Falcons secondary to the end zone, and Swampscott held a 19-3 halftime edge.”We didn’t tackle in that second period, and that cost us a couple of scores,” Sullivan said. “And the game turned when they scored with 15 seconds left (in the half). I think we corrected what we had been doing wrong in the second half, and did well defensively.”The Big Blue added their final score mi