SWAMPSCOTT– When Swampscott football coach Bobby Serino watches film from Saturday’s Division 5 North final, he’ll see that the Big Blue executed big plays in all three phases of the game.
Offensively, quarterback Graham Inzana threw four touchdown passes and receiver Andrew Augustin caught three. On special teams, Zack Palmer returned a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown. Defensively, Palmer intercepted a pass at his own 9-yard line with minutes to play to squash Amesbury’s final drive and seal Swampscott’s 34-26 win at Blocksidge Field.
With the victory, Swampscott earned the Division 5 North crown. The Big Blue will clash against South champion Scituate Friday night (7) at Westwood High. The winner goes to the Super Bowl next month at Gillette Stadium.
“These kids are having fun,” Serino said. “These kids deserve it. They’ve been working hard and I’m so proud of these guys.”
No. 1 Swampscott got things started in the first quarter when Inzana (12-for-18, 155 yards) hit Augustin (5 catches, 65 yards) for a 5-yard touchdown pass (Thomas Frisoli PAT). Midway through the second quarter, Augustin hauled in a 25-yard touchdown toss from Inzana (Frisoli PAT) and the Big Blue led 14-0. No. 2 Amesbury returned the ensuing kickoff into Swampscott territory and the Indians made the most of the short field. Blake Bennett put Amesbury on the board, down 14-6, with a 1-yard touchdown plunge (conversion failed).
Wasting no time, Swampscott answered on the ensuing kickoff with a Palmer’s 86-yard return to end zone (PAT failed). The Big Blue led 20-6 at halftime.
“Our special teams have been good all year,” Serino said.
The Indians scored on the opening drive of the second half, capped by Patrick Birmingham’s 2-yard dash (conversion failed). Needing a big play to answer Amesbury’s score, Swampscott called on Augustin, again, and he delivered with a 23-yard touchdown reception-his third of the game (Frisoli PAT).
“Andrew’s a beast,” Serino said. “We have six other beasts. Our line gives Graham time throw. Our coaches pick teams apart upstairs and call the plays.”
Swampscott led 27-12 at the end of the third quarter.
Things got interesting the fourth quarter. Birmingham, with help from his blockers, carried a handful of Swampscott defenders into the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown run to make it a one-possession game, 27-20, after Logan Burrill’s conversion rush.
With 8:10 to play, Inzana connected with Arturo Vasquez (two catches, 57 yards) for a 48-yard touchdown toss (Frisoli PAT) to boost the Big Blue’s lead to 34-20.
Not so fast, said Amesbury.
Showing no quit on fourth-and-long, Amesbury executed a fake punt to perfection and slimmed its deficit to 34-27 after Blake Benett’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Ethan Catania (conversion failed).
Swampscott’s next drive stalled as a botched fake punt allowed the Indians to take over on downs in Big Blue territory.
Amesbury moved the chains but Palmer’s interception on a Bennett heave to the red zone ended the threat. The Big Blue ran out the final two minutes and sealed their bid in Friday’s state semifinal.
“I told our guys, ‘you know something, these are high school kids'” Serino said. “I think they have 16 seniors on their team. We knew they weren’t going to quit, 100 percent, and they didn’t. “They’re high school kids,” Serino added. “Anything can happen at any time.”
On the ground, Dylan January (18 carries, 78 yards) did the heavy lifting and Izana tallied 54 yards on three carries.
