SWAMPSCOTT — When a team suffers its first loss of the season, the coach usually hopes it moves forward with a short memory.
That was the case Saturday afternoon for the Swampscott football team.
The Big Blue rolled past Revere in a 27-7 win at Blocksidge Field, finishing their fifth win of the season with three unanswered touchdowns after the Patriots claimed an early lead.
Revere trailed 20-7 at halftime and couldn’t find any offensive rhythm in the second half. The Patriots ran just nine plays in the final two quarters, all of which came on three consecutive three-and-out drives.
Big Blue coach Bobby Serino said his team got on the practice field during the week and worked to tighten things up and focused on moving forward after a loss at English- Swampscott’s lone defeat of the season.
“We came out Tuesday with a better focus than we had for English,” Serino said. “The kids came out to practice and my coordinators did a great job. I told my coaches I’d shut my mouth and let them do their jobs and we won.”
Swampscott quarterback Graham Inzana ran one in for the game’s first score, after the Blue got a 55-yard reception by Zack Palmer deep in Revere territory. The Patriots responded with a touchdown scored by running back Darius McNeil. The PAT by Rayan Riazi gave the Patriots their only lead of the day, an early 7-6 edge.
The Blue went ahead for good with running back Dylan January, a Swampscott co-captain, barreling his way in for a score in the second quarter. Thomas Frisoli hit the first of his three PAT’s, putting Swampscott ahead, 13-7.
Inzana hit receiver Andrew Augustin four minutes later for a 14-yard touchdown pass, and Swampscott bumped its lead to 20-7 in the closing seconds of the first half.
Swampscott’s final scoring play came on a 23-yard pass from Inzana to receiver Arturo Vasquez, after the Big Blue successfully converted on a fourth down play earlier in the drive. Frisoli’s PAT finalized the score.
“We have a lot of weapons, for sure,” Serino said. “Isaac Andre was dinged up most of the season but he did a nice job with the ball today, giving Dylan January a breather. The kids ran hard all game. They weren’t picking their spots. We’re going to pound the ball and take what people give us.”
Revere struggled on offense in the second half, picking up just 10 yards and no first downs, stalling three times on their half of the field. Patriots coach Lou Cicatelli said Swampscott’s defense made it hard on his Patriots all afternoon.
“It is what it is for us, we’re the walking wounded with eight starters out,” Cicatelli said. “They were out last week to and we were able to pull out a huge win but it didn’t happen today. We had no push on offense. My hat’s off to Swampscott.
“We’ve got a lot of young kids trying to step in and play for us. I thought the defense hung in there,” Cicatelli said. “I’m happy were 3-3 but a loss is a loss and we don’t like to lose.”
The Patriots (3-3) will aim for a win Friday night (7) at Somerville (0-5). Swampscott (5-1) visits Saugus (2-4) Friday night (7).
