Thanksgiving preview: Swampscott has overcome much to finish strong

In a season flooded with adversity, the Swampscott football team has fought their way to a respectable 4-6 record and is currently sitting on a three game winning streak. Extending the solid stretch will all but certainly prove difficult with Division 3 Northeast finalist Marblehead playing host to the Big Blue on Thanksgiving Day.View season’s photos from throughout the fall season on the North Shore?We saw them back in late September and things didn?t go our way,” explained Swampscott coach Steve Dembowski of the 35-7 setback. “We lost our quarterback (Brendan McDonald) on the third play of the game and our game plan pretty much went out the window.”The unfortunate circumstances faced on that day were just one of several. Issues ranging from injuries to MIAA transfer policies haltered the Big Blue in 2013.?We?ve come across some difficult situations for sure,” said Dembowski. “Our running back Desmond Wilhelmsen had to miss our first two games after transferring in from Lynn English. We currently have nine players out of action that saw significant time.”Problems aside, the Big Blue have refused to fold and drew a lot of praise from their coach. “I have nothing but praise for the way they have stuck with the program and grinded things out. We’ve had a lot of hard fought, close loses but have really rallied down the stretch.”The Big Blue fought gallantly in losses to English who they stuck with into the fourth quarter, and Gloucester who they took to overtime before succumbing. Their latest victory over Saugus saw the Big Blue surrender 21 first half points before bearing down to grind out a 28-21 win.?We had a very tough schedule filled with playoff teams,” said Dembowski. “We?re a small school and have to play every week with a chip on our shoulder in order to compete.The current win streak would not be possible without contributions all over the field, including the efforts of the aforementioned Wilhelmsen, a senior, who is just 15 yards short of the 1,000 yard mark.?Desmond has been a very nice addition to our team,” explained Dembowski. “He has done absolutely everything we have asked of him and obviously plays the game at a very high-level caliber.”Dembowski also lauded the efforts of McDonald, a senior co-captain, for his efforts under center as well as a deep receiving corps that saw several members reach double digits in catches. The Big Blue also relied on a late-season defensive surge to achieve more success.?Our linebackers were big for us with Jordan James and Christian Llorente,” said Dembowski of the junior tandem. “Cam Frary really solidified out secondary along with co-captain Toby Hale. A lot of different guys have pitched in, every week it?s somebody different.”The majority of the defense will be returning next season, a fact Dembowski is most happy with. Along with James and Llorente, the Big Blue will welcome back Michael and Joey Faia, Mark Rittiboon will all be back for one more season.?I believe that with another offseason of strength and conditioning, we will be in a position for more success next year,” said Dembowski. “We are losing some great players to graduation but I think we have a great junior class who will lead us as seniors.”But first comes a meeting with a dangerous Marblehead team fresh off a loss in the championship game. So how can the Big Blue manage to stay competitive??We obviously know they are a very good team all over the field and are very well coached,” said Dembowski of the Magicians. “We need to score when we can and keep their offense off the field, especially Brooks Tyrrell who is as good a running back as you?ll see in the area.”Should the Big Blue manage to do so, they have an exceptional running back of their own who they?re hoping can keep the waves of momentum going heading into 2014.