SAUGUS — For some reason, Swampscott coach Bobby Serino says, when the Big Blue go to Stackpole Field, they get a tough game out of Saugus.
“Ever since I was playing here,” said Serino after the Big Blue’s 42-0 win over the Sachems, “we come here and it’s a tough game.”
For one half, that was what happened. Though Swampscott paid many visits to the red zone in the first two quarters, all the Big Blue had to show for them was a 13-0 lead — two field goals by Thomas Frisoli and a 1-yard touchdown run by Dylan January with a Frisoli PAT.
For one half, Saugus’ defense stood tall.
“We had a good scheme and we came out and played it well,” said Saugus coach Mike Mabee. “But Swampscott’s a very good team, and they came out in the second half and really took it to us.”
“They took away our trap,” said Serino, “but we adjusted and went more to the outside in the second half.”
Swampscott kept denting the red zone in the first half thanks to a balanced offense and a couple of big plays. January finished with 64 yards on 12 carries while fellow running back Isaac Andre got 81 yards on 10 carries. Quarterback Graham Inzana threw for two touchdowns — both to Jonathan Oriakhi.
The first half was frustrating for Swampscott, but encouraging for the Sachems, who, offensively, did not get a first down during the game.
The first time Swampscott had the ball, it sliced downfield to the Saugus 13, but couldn’t get past the 8 after that, settling for Frisoli’s 27-yard kick.
Next time, Swampscott got down to the Saugus 5, and the time after that, to the 1. Both times Saugus held on fourth-and-goal attempts.
Finally, its fourth trip inside the 20, the Big Blue got three more points on another field goal from Frisoli, this one from 20 yards out.
Swampscott got one more chance before the half ended, however, and this time the Big Blue made good, getting all the way down to the Saugus 1 with January running in the touchdown.
What Swampscott couldn’t do in the first half it did with no problem in the second. On just its second play from scrimmage, Inzana, from his own 29, hit Oriakhi around midfield, and the speedy junior did the rest himself, weaving outside and then inside all the way to the end zone to make it 19-0. Then, Swampscott’s Zack Palmer took a punt from his own 40 for a 60-yard jaunt to the house and, with Frisoli’s PAT, the score was 26-0. A safety on a fumbled kickoff moments later made it 28-0.
Swampscott scored twice more in the fourth quarter, with Oriakhi catching another pass from Inzana, this one for 21 yards; and Caden Dubiel running it in from the 5-yard line.
Both teams wait now to see where they go next week. Swampscott, 6-1, is hoping for a top seed in Division 5 North, and would look to be in good position. Saugus (2-5) hopes it can sneak in at No. 8 in the same division, but that’s not guaranteed, Mabee said.
The playoff pairings will be announced Sunday.
