Relentless Beverly breezes past Swampscott

SWAMPSCOTT – The Beverly High football team cashed in on its opportunities Saturday in a 40-6 victory at Blocksidge Field over Swampscott.Beverly rolled up 415 yards on the ground with four running backs (Kenny Pierce, Isiah White, Luke McDonald, and Joey Kozlowski) piling up 80-plus yards. Meanwhile, the Panthers’ defense stopped Swampscott’s spread offense on four occasions in the red zone.”I was really proud of the guys,” said Beverly head coach Dan Bauer. “They played hard.”After Beverly (9-0, 3-0) forced the Big Blue to punt from their own 30-yard line on the opening possession, the Panthers went four plays for 57 yards. Pierce capped the drive with a 43-yard run on a sweep along the left sideline.Swampscott (4-5, 1-2) recovered a fumble on a Beverly muffed punt at the Panthers’ 35. The Big Blue offense, led by quarterback Brian Santry, could not convert on fourth and four from the Beverly 18.The Panthers then drove down the field, with Brendan Flaherty taking it in from four yards out to put Beverly up 12-0 early in the second quarter.Pierce picked off a pass on the first play of scrimmage on Swampscott’s ensuing possession at Beverly’s 36-yard line. Two plays later, White found the end zone from 24 yards out. Dom Abate’s run provided the extra two points to give Beverly a 20-0 lead.In the second half, the pattern continued. Beverly took the ball to open the third quarter. Swampscott attempted an onside kick, but the Panthers recovered at midfield. After five plays and 49 yards, Abate plunged past the goal line. McDonald got the two-point conversion.McDonald (68 yards) and Kozlowski (45 yards) added two more touchdowns for the Panthers.Swampscott got on the scoreboard with a five-yard keeper by Santry. The Big Blue finished 1-for-5 in the red zone.Next week, Beverly looks to avenge its defeat to Marblehead in a crucial game that would put the winner in the driver’s seat for the NEC/CAL Tier 2 crown.”We are going to go back to the drawing board tomorrow,” said Bauer. “We will have a good, hard week of practice.”