Swampscott takes a page from Patriots’ playbook

MARBLEHEAD – The Swampscott football squad prepared itself for postseason play by pulling a Patriotesque performance in its annual Turkey Day tilt with Marblehead yesterday at Piper Field.The Big Blue (10-1) scored on their first four possessions of the first half, as well as on their first two drives of the third quarter, as they belted the Magicians, 42-16.Swampscott’s season will extend until at least Tuesday, when it will face Arlington Catholic in the first round of the Division 3 semifinals. Site and time are yet to be determined.The series, when played on Thanksgiving, is deadlocked at 46-46-7, yet the Magicians lead it overall 48-47-7.The Big Blue won the opening toss, but as is their custom, deferred to the second half. The Magicians (4-7) went three-and-out, and Swampscott took over at its 47. Quarterback Peter Kinchley (10-14, 161 yards) set the tone with an eight-yard strike to receiver Trevor Wheeler to put the squad in Marblehead territory. Back Ilya Levin gained a first down on the next play, then Kinchley hit receiver Stephen Moran for 14 more two plays later to spot the ball at Marblehead’s 25. Ilya Levin (8-110) gained seven to the 18, then after a five-yard penalty, Kinchley took off for 12 yards and another first down at the Magicians 11. Kinchley hooked up with Wheeler (3-78) once again, finding the receiver with a high arc in single coverage in the left side of the end zone for the game’s first points.”We came out and executed well on both sides of the ball,” said Swampscott coach Steve Dembowski, who has now led his team to the playoffs for the third time during his stint.”We got the first score, and in this series, that’s key,” Dembowski said.Marblehead, which ended its year on a four-game losing streak, looked as though it would soon even the game. On third-and-nine from the 19, quarterback Ian McKinley (8-13, 54 yards) teamed with tight end Sam Perlow over the middle to the 36. Back Michael Sahagian (11-113) then brought the club to its 49 with an outside cut to the near field, but team was pushed back five yards by penalty. Although Sahagian earned eight yards to move the team into Swampscott real estate (the 49) on second down, McKinley was sacked for a 10-yard loss on the following play by linebacker Shawn Hubauer (one of three sacks of McKinley that he would have) to halt the drive.The Big Blue started their second drive at Marblehead’s 47, and Levin found a huge hole on first down, rambling along the far sidelines before being taken down at the four. He would double Swampscott’s lead on the first play of the second quarter with a two-yard touchdown run.The Magicians, despite beginning their next possession near midfield, were unable to advance past the Big Blue 46. Swampscott would use a bit of chicanery to increase the margin midway through the period. Starting at his 18, Kinchley gained a pair to the 20, then Levin added four. Kinchley ran three yards to the 27, where it became fourth-and-one. Justin Mitchell went back in punt formation, but took off as soon as he received the snap, picking up a first down at the Swampscott 41. Kinchley then connected with Wheeler once again, finding the receiver at Marblehead’s 35. Wheeler then ran from the left side over to the right, outracing everyone to give the Big Blue a 21-0 edge.McKinley brought the Magicians back into Swampscott territory with a 24-yard strike to Perlow on first down to the 45. However, a penalty, a loss of yardage, and another sack of McKinley, only pushed the team back to its own 49, where the possession fizzled.After drawing a five-yard penalty, and placing the ball back at the 10, Shonio (8-65) took off for 39 yards to the 49. Two straight incompletions and another flag moved the ball back to the 44, where it became third-and-15. Shonio added eight to Marblehead’s 48, then took a short screen from Kinchley for 15 more for a first down to the 33. A six-yard pass to Moran was followed by a nine-yard gain by Levin. With the ball at t