Big Blue continues to produce quality quarterbacks

SWAMPSCOTT ? Since the Swampscott High football team went to the spread offense about a dozen years ago, the program has produced legendary quarterbacks like Kyle Beatrice, Michael Walsh and Jason Losano. After yesterday’s performance against Marblehead, Brian Santry’s name might be added to the list.Santry passed for two touchdowns and ran for two more to lead the Big Blue to a 25-16 win over the Magicians, in the 107th meeting between the two old rivals, Thursday, at Blocksidge Field.Santry completed 18 of 24 passes for 216 yards with no interceptions, including nine straight completions in the second quarter during the Big Blue’s first two scoring drives. He was also accurate in clutch situations. He was 2-for-2 on fourth down throws, both of which resulted in first downs, and 7-for-7 on third downs. He also rushed 15 times for 45 yards.”Brian is one of the tougher kids we’ve had since I’ve been with this program,” Swampscott coach Steve Dembowski said. “And he’s one of the few quarterbacks we’ve had who also plays defense. He’s just a tough son of a gun who loves to play football.”Santry’s motivation was simple. He and his teammates wanted to prove wrong everyone who predicted they would lose to a heavily-favored Marblehead team.”A lot of people doubted us, but we had a good week of practice, and we came in with a lot of confidence,” said Santry. “Coach Dembowski gave us a game plan, and he’s one of the best coaches in the league, so we knew we had a good chance if we executed.”A lot of that confidence, Santry said, was because the Big Blue were 4-0 this season against teams that run the spread offense.Santry hooked up with his favorite target, fellow captain Robert Serino, six times for 92 yards.”Brian and I have been working together for a long time,” said Serino. “He’s a great quarterback, and he played great today.”Swampscott’s win was one of the bigger upsets in the long rivalry between the two teams, and it will be long remembered by the seniors who played their last high school football game.”It’s unbelievable; surreal,” Serino said. “Never count out the Big Blue. We have a history of winning bog games. It’s what we do.”GAME NOTES – The 1972 Super Bowl champion Swampscott High team was honored during a ceremony at halftime. That year, the Big Blue defeated Catholic Memorial, 28-21, in the Div. 2 championship game at Boston University. It was the first year the MIAA sanctioned Super Bowls ? The gorgeous weather brought out a huge crowd. The stands on both sides of the stadium were filled, and the field was ringed at least two deep by spectators in both end zones ? Swampscott leads the all-time series with Marblehead, 51-49-7, with a 49-48-7 record on Thanksgiving ? Four of the last five games have been decided by nine points or less, with last season’s 21-7 win by the Magicians the exception ? After a best-in-school-history 7-0 start, the Magicians lost three of their last four games to finish the season at 8-3 ? Swampscott finished with an sub-.500 record (5-6) for only the second time in the last 12 years.