Swampscott rolls over Crusaders

SWAMPSCOTT ?Swampscott coach Steve Dembowski called his team’s game against Bishop Fenwick Saturday its most complete performance of the season.It was hard to argue with him.Matt Barbuzzi threw three touchdown passes and Kyle Shonio had three rushing TDs as the Big Blue dominated, 41-6, at Blocksidge Field.The Blue (4-1) scored often and economically, needing only 19 plays to score their five first-half touchdowns.”For the most part, (this was) probably our best overall performance, where we played well in all three phases of the game,” Dembowski said. “We caused some turnovers on defense and we were able to finish drives with touchdowns. It’s an improvement – a step we needed to take before we head into conference play.”Right from the get-go, it was clear the Big Blue were in sync. Following a Fenwick three-and-out to begin the game, Shonio (14 carries, 119 yards) got things going with a punt return to the Crusaders’ 30-yard line. He scored five plays later on a five-yard rush to give Swampscott a 7-0 lead.The ensuing Fenwick possession ended with a turnover on downs at the Crusaders’ 46. This time, it took Swampscott only three plays before Shonio dove into the end zone from five yards out to increase the advantage to 14-0.Fenwick (2-3) got a little momentum back on its next drive. A 48-yard run by Alex Crecco (20 carries, 132 yards) put the ball at the Swampscott 11, and Crecco later scored on a four-yard rush to bring Fenwick with 14-6.From that point forward, though, it was all Swampscott. The next Big Blue possession lasted five plays, culminating with Barbuzzi’s 65-yard screen pass to Randall Kelleher for the touchdown.Fenwick coach Dave Woods said his team had the most difficulty defending Swampscott’s spread formation.”They’re a great team; they’ve got weapons all over the place,” Woods said. “They spread the field, and they make it very difficult to defend them.”The Big Blue stopped Fenwick deep in Crusader territory on the ensuing possession, and a short punt gave Swampscott the ball back at the Fenwick 26. Barbuzzi needed only one play this time, finding Patrick Costin in the back of the end zone from 26 yards out.Barbuzzi (7-10, 172 yards) would add a 35-yard touchdown pass to Peter Yasi just before halftime to make the score 34-6 at the break.”Our guys are working hard, and we’re getting better,” Dembowski said. “To come out and play well enough to have a four-score lead at halftime was good, (because) then we were able to come out with our ground game in the second half.”Swampscott’s first drive of the second half was a nine-play, 76-yard march, which Shonio finished with a one-yard dive for his third touchdown of the afternoon.With the game firmly in hand, Swampscott removed its starters, and neither team scored the rest of the way.The Swampscott defense intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble while limiting Fenwick to just the one first-quarter touchdown.”Offensively we really clicked,” Dembowski said. “We learned a lot from the Gloucester game, and we’ve been able to really score during these last four games.”