Cameron, Swampscott defeat Danvers

DANVERS ? Most games this season, Swampscott quarterback Chris Cameron used his potent throwing arm to beat opponents. Friday night at Danvers, the Big Blue signal-caller relied on his feet to get the job done.Cameron rushed 23 times for 121 yards and two touchdowns to lead Swampscott to a 14-3 win over Danvers at Danvers High School. The Big Blue improved to 8-2 (3-1 Northeast Conference/South), while the Falcons fell to 1-9 (0-5 NEC/South).The Swampscott victory also sets up a Thanksgiving Day matchup with Marblehead to decide the conference’s playoff representative.”Danvers always plays us tough,” Swampscott coach Steve Dembowski said. “They had a great defensive game plan. We blew some opportunities in the first half, but we stayed focused. Chris (Cameron) showed he’s the type of player who can will us to a win.”Trailing 3-0 at halftime, Swampscott came out of the break and dominated the third quarter. The Big Blue began with an 11-play, 75-yard drive that consumed five minutes and ended in Cameron’s one-yard scamper into the end zone. Matt Barbuzzi’s extra point made it 7-3, Swampscott.Danvers looked to be moving downfield to answer, but a fumble by the Falcons gave Swampscott the ball back at Danvers’ 41-yard line.The Big Blue knocked on the door again with a first down at the Danvers 15, but a Danvers sack on second down and an incompletion two plays later ended the threat.”I thought our kids played really well on defense,” Danvers coach John Sullivan said. “The secondary had a great game.”With just under nine minutes to play in the game, Swampscott took control of what turned out to be the contest’s key drive. Danvers initially forced Swampscott into a three-and-out, but a penalty on the Falcons for having 12 men on the field negated a Big Blue punt and gave Swampscott the ball back at the Danvers 42.Swampscott wasted no time capitalizing. A 33-yard rush by Jake McDougall gave the Big Blue a first and 10 at the Danvers 11, and Cameron followed on the ensuing play with an 11-yard touchdown run. Barbuzzi’s kick made it 14-3, Swampscott.Danvers had one final chance when a Swampscott penalty gave the Falcons first-and-10 at the Swampscott 45, but a fumbled snap on second down and an incompletion on fourth down ended the drive and the game.Danvers dominated the clock in the first half. The Falcons took the opening drive to the Swampscott 19, which Nick Pellino ended with a 36-yard field goal for the team’s only points.Swampscott missed a golden opportunity on its first possession. The Big Blue moved for a first down at the Danvers 12, but a holding penalty pushed the team back and Barbuzzi missed his field goal try from 32 yards.Danvers embarked on a 19-play drive early in the second quarter that lasted almost seven and a half minutes. However, with first-and-goal at the 6, the Falcons couldn’t punch it in and failed to score when they attempted a fourth-down try.Steve Moran had four catches for 25 yards for Swampscott, while McDougall rushed five times for 39 yards. Eric Burgos paced Danvers with 15 carries for 95 yards.With a Thanksgiving showdown with Marblehead looming, Dembowski made clear his team’s goal for the outcome.”We want to be the conference champs,” Dembowski said. “If we have the opportunity to play on Thanksgiving for a conference title and a playoff spot, we’ll be back where we were (last year).”