Swampscott works overtime to beat Gloucester

GLOUCESTER – With the post-season at stake for both clubs, Swampscott toppled Gloucester in OT Friday night at New Balance Field at Newell Stadium, 29-27.Big Blue senior quarterback Devin Conroy (6-of-10, 83 yards, 2 TD passes) knifed in from four yards, then flipped a two-point conversion pass to Joey Faia in the first overtime.Gloucester’s John Salvi-Souza punched in from two yards to make it a two-point game but fell a yard short on the two-point rush, sustaining Division 4 playoff hopes for the Big Blue (2-1, 2-4). Gloucester (1-3, 2-5), which completed its seven-game qualifying schedule, is now out of the mix in Division 3.The Fishermen broke a 14-all tie on the first play of the second half when Alex Enes (15 carries, 119 yards) took a counter through the right side, cut left, and raced 52 yards. Jacob Russell’s PAT gave Gloucester the lead, 21-14.Swampscott tied it, 21-21, with 2:24 left in the quarter. After connecting with Ryan Cresta for 24 yards to the Gloucester 18, Conroy rolled right and found Cresta again for a 15-yard score. Jeremy Epstein’s conversion kick drew the Big Blue even. When Enes dashed 30 yards to the Swampscott 18 on the next-to-last play of the third quarter, Gloucester was positioned to take the lead. However, the Big Blue defense stuffed Enes for a one-yard loss on fourth -and-goal with 7:45 to play.Swampscott punter Mike Faia then made a game-saving play after dropping the snap while in the end zone. Faia located the ball, scrambled away from pressure, and boomed a 53-yard punt to the Gloucester 37.Late in the first quarter Gloucester’s Alex Militello launched a 57-yard punt that a Swampscott player unsuccessfully attempted to dive on inside the Big Blue 10.Gloucester recovered at the six, Salvi-Souza plowed in from a yard, and Russell’s PAT gave the Fishermen a 7-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter.On the first play after the ensuing kickoff, Mike Faia (13 carries, 112 yards) sprinted57 untouched yards and Epstein’s kick tied it, 7-7.The Big Blue took a 14-7 lead with 5:26 left in the half. Conroy sold a fake sweep, straightened up and delivered a 34-yard strike to Max Petras 20 yards behind the secondary. Epstein’s kick made it 14-7.Gloucester, which mustered just 65 yards on its first four possessions, stitchedtogether a tying 66-yard drive to close the half. Patrick Goss (17 carries, 100 yards)had four carries for 30 yards and Militello capped it with a leaping 13-yard catchfrom Mike Cody 29 seconds before the half. Russell’s kick sent the teams off tied.