Swampscott beats Marblehead in double-overtime flag football game

SWAMPSCOTT ?The atmosphere was electric with Marblehead students and fans clad in a sea of red on one side while the host Swampscott students were dressed in white and blue. Both sides had flags waving and special chants with cowbells and horns in the stands.View Photo GalleryThe proceeds from the flag football game between Marblehead and Swampscott goes to charity. This year the money is donated to a cancer fund for one of the Marblehead team managers’ mother. Thousands lined up in the stands and along the sidelines to support the girls.In a prelude to the annual Thanksgiving Day game between these two longtime rivals, the flag football game turned in an exciting finish. Swampscott defeated Marblehead, 28-26, at Blocksidge Field after the Big Blue stuffed a running attempt on a 2-point conversio by the Magicians.”This was the craziest game I’ve ever been a part of,” said Swampscott coach Joe Tenney. “The defense really nailed it down. They did a good job pressing at the line.””We called it right up the middle because that play had been working all game except that last play, it didn’t work,” said Marblehead coach Andrew Raisner.Leah Dawley (two touchdowns) scored the go-ahead touchdown on an 8-yard run along the right tackle into the corner of the end zone. Tori Thistle provided the winning points on the two-point conversion as the Big Blue held a 28-20 advantage.Marblehead running back Monica Thorne (three touchdowns) ran along the left sideline on second down and crossed the goal line to cut the Magicians’ deficit to two points.Both teams matched each other throughout the contest. Marblehead stopped Swampscott on the opening series and they were able to drive down the field with some big rushes. The Magicians took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.Swampscott answered as they were helped by a pass interference penalty and they immediately went to work before they evened the score about midway through the second quarter.The game remained scoreless until the fourth quarter.Two big plays occurred in the fourth quarter. Thorne gave Marblehead a 14-7 lead when she ran for a 59-yard touchdown through the interior of Swampscott’s defense with 9:40 left in the game.”I broke through the defensive line and nobody could catch up,” said Thorne. On the ensuing kickoff, Lauren Sullivan scooped up the loose ball at the 30-yard line before she raced down the middle of the field and cut to the left sideline as she went untouched into the end zone. Swampscott kicked the extra point to tie the game once again.”I saw it, I grabbed it, and I just went,” said Sullivan. “I couldn’t stop.”Swampscott and Marblehead traded scores in the first overtime.As the Swampscott girls continued to relish their victory, Sullivan described the win as an “amazing feeling.”The girls on both sides were able to at least know that they left everything on the field.