Tough tussle, but Swampscott prevails

SWAMPSCOTT ? The game befitted the occasion, and the occasion was pretty special.Chris Cameron threw for two touchdowns, ran for another and intercepted a pass in his own end zone with 10 seconds left in the game to preserve the Swampscott High football team’s 21-13 win over Marblehead.This was the 100th meeting between the two teams and it was played infront of an estimated crowd of 9,000 on Thursday at Blocksidge Field.The win earns the Big Blue (9-2, 4-1) the Northeastern Conference South title and the right to defend its Div. 3 Super Bowl Championship in the playoffs. Swampscott plays Arlington Catholic at a site and time to be announced today.”At least one more game, that’s what I was thinking,” said Cameron, after he intercepted Marblehead’s Nick Haller in the back of the end zone.The Magicians (6-5; 3-2) made Swampscott earn every last bit of their title. Brandon Lee’s 43-yard punt return gave his team the ball at Swampscott’s 26-yard line with 31 seconds to play, and the Magicians moved to the 14 before Haller – a halfback who had to play quarterback because the starter and the backup were suspended – just overthrew Dan Comeau on their last offensive play.”I’m so proud of these kids,” Marblehead coach Doug Chernovetz said. “To overcome what they’ve had to overcome not just this week, but all season long, is a testament to their character.”Haller threw a 28-yard scoring pass to Sam Perlow, after Perlow ran for a one-yard touchdown to give the Magicians a 13-7 lead in the second quarter. Cameron then led Swampscott on a 71-yard drive that ended with a one-yard run by the gritty Big Blue quarterback with just 20 seconds left in the first half. Kyle Barbuzzi’s PAT kick gave Swampscott the lead, 14-13, for good as it turned out.”To come right back down the field after they scored and punch one in was huge,” Swampscott coach Steve Dembowski said.Cameron also tossed a 31-yard TD pass to Stephen Moran in the first quarter and threw a 13-yard scoring strike to Randall Kelleher in the third quarter.”These kids have worked so hard,” Dembowski said. “They’ve had to deal with injuries and off-the-field stuff and they’ve bounced back every time. Hats off to Marblehead. They had a super year. They’re well-coached and they’ve got a great program.”The Big Blue also took advantage of two turnovers, the first on a muffed punt after Swampscott’s opening offensive series. Moran recovered at Swampscott’s 44-yard line, and two plays later, Cameron (11-for-15, 156 yds) hit Kelleher for a 21-yard pickup along the right sideline. On the next play, Moran found a seam in the middle of the field and hauled in a perfect throw for a touchdown. Barbuzzi’s extra point gave the Big Blue a 7-0 lead with 3:43 left in the first quarter.Marblehead answered with a 13-play drive that consumed 63 yards, all on the ground. With the bruising Perlow converted from tight end to fullback, the Magicians were able to pound the ball up the middle and mix in outside runs by Lee and scrambles by Haller.Perlow plowed into the end zone with 7:40 left in the first half and Oliver Kim’s extra point kick tied the score at 7-7.The Big Blue went three-and-out on its next series, setting up the day’s most crucial officiating decision. Lee returned Kyle Shonio’s punt for an apparent score, but it was wiped out due to a block in the back penalty. The call was reminiscent of a similar play in the Magicians’ previous game against Saugus.”It took a little wind out of our sails, seeing another six points get taken off the board on a punt return,” Chernovetz said.Another exchange of punts left the ball at Swampscott’s 28-yard line, after Shonio hooked a kick out-of-bounds. Haller went right on top to Perlow, who hauled in a perfect throw on a post pattern.”Nicky’s a gamer,” said Chernovetz, of his quarterback. “He’s 135 pounds and he’s as tough as nails. We weren’t going to throw the ball too much because of our personnel, but that was a great pass. He didn’t throw like that (in prac