Big Blue, Walsh do a number on Falcons

DANVERS – Eventually the game revealed itself to be the slaughter it started out as. Swampscott started the game with fireworks and finished with a clean and devastating offensive performance in its 42-20 win over the Falcons at Danvers High SchoolDespite a strong first half performance that had the Danvers home crowd thinking upset, the Big Blue were able to stay within their game and walk away on a cold October night with the win.Swampscott42Danvers20 At the start of the game Swampscott came out punching. After forcing a quick three-and- out, the Big Blue scored in five plays culminating in Phil Larkin’ s touchdown from four yards out. A second quick series for the Falcons led to AJ Baker’ s punt return of 65 yards for a score. Four minutes and 13 seconds into the game and Swampscott was already sitting on 14 points.Danvers managed to pull itself off the mat before the quarter ended. After a long kick-off return by TJ Stanley was called back on a penalty, the run still provided Danvers with a spark. The Falcons moved 75 yards down field mixing passes and rushes and scored on an Alex Valles touchdown run of 10 yards.After Swampscott junior quarterback Michael Walsh scored on a 20-yard rush to give the Big Blue a 21-8 advantage, Danvers stumbled a bit, but then came up with an nterception with just 1:19 remaining in the half. Two quick passes from Greg Little to Zach Ryan moved Danvers 43 yards downfield, setting up a Nick Valles plunge from two yards. When both teams headed to the locker room for halftime, Swampscott was leading 21-20.In the second half Swampscott showed its composure, and Walsh conducted the Big Blue in an offensive show. Walsh found Zach Beerman twice for touchdowns, first for 21 yards and then again for 55. In the fourth quarter, Walsh capitalized on hard running by Larkin by finding the end zone from five yards out.” We settled down nicely in the second half,” said Swampscott coach SteveDembowski. ” We had some dropped passes in the first half, (Danvers) was able to score a quick 14 on us. We came back with efficiency and execution in the second half.”Walsh finished the game with 82 yards rushing. He also completed seven passes for 110 yards. The quick Larkin finished the game with a total of 127 yards rushing on 15 carries. ” There were turnovers on our end in the second half that hurt us,” said Danvers coach Sean Rogers. ” Overall our execution is not where it needs to be. That will come with a young team that needs to mature.”