Football: Swampscott hopes to build on momentum

There are only three football games on the menu Saturday, but all of them have ramifications in one sense or another.The most important one, for a number of reasons, concerns the Beverly-Swampscott game at Blocksidge Field (noon).The Big Blue got off to a tough start, losing their first four games. They seemed well on their way to losing No. 5, too, when English sprinted to a 23-9 halftime lead on Thursday, Oct. 2.However, the Big Blue rallied in the second half of that game, and ended up winning, 29-23. Then, after a bye, Swampscott went up to Gloucester’s Newell Stadium – a notoriously tough place for visiting teams to play, and came home with a win in overtime.Oddly enough, for a 2-4 team, the Big Blue can finish second in the Northeastern Conference/Large with a win over the Panthers. That’s because three of those four losses came outside the league, with only one – to Marblehead – being an intra-league affair. Second place means an automatic bid for the Big Blue, and potentially would also mean Saugus – at 5-2 by playing an independent schedule – could miss the playoffs.A loss would significantly damage Swampscott’s chances of making the post-season playoffs, which start next Friday night, and boost those of the Sachems.Should the Panthers win, it would be them, and not Swampscott, finishing second in the league by virtue of wins over every team except Marblehead – and the Panthers getting an automatic bid in Division 3 Northeast. Last week, the Panthers withstood a game-for-the-ages by English’s Lucas Harris before shaking off the Bulldogs, 37-24.Chelsea at TechAt Manning Field (7), the Tigers could have clinched a spot in the Division 6 playoffs last week with a win over Mystic Valley. But it was not to be, and the Tigers lost, 27-6.Still, Tech has a shot, coach James Runner says.”A lot would have to happen,” he said, “for us not to qualify if we win our game.”Right now, Tech is No. 9 in Division 6, but less than a half point behind No. 8 New Mission.”Some of the teams ahead of us have real tough games to play this weekend,” Runner says.The Red Devils, coached by former St. Mary’s coach Mike Stellato, are 2-4.St. Mary’s at Arl. CathAt Arlington High School (2:30), the Spartans started out like gangbusters, but have tailed off with three straight losses.They are less than a point ahead in Division 5 of No. 9 Austin Prep. St. Mary’s would appear to also be out of the running for an automatic bid because they can do no better than 3-3 in the Catholic Central League/Large.A win over the Cougars could cement the Spartans’ post-season spot while a loss could, under certain circumstances, leave them on the outside looking in.