SWAMPSCOTT — Any thoughts of the Swampscott football team being rusty after a 26-day layoff were put to rest very early on Friday night, as the Big Blue started fast and never looked back in a 41-0 win over Northeastern Conference foe Saugus at Blocksidge Field.
Friday’s win was the first game action for the Big Blue since March 13 after the school shut down all athletic activities for two weeks due to an increase in COVID-19 cases. Swampscott actually missed three games over the two-week stoppage, as it began while the Big Blue were preparing for their March 19 game against Danvers.
Swampscott quarterback Cam O’Brien led the way in the win, completing 16-of-23 passes for 184 yards and four touchdowns and adding a rushing touchdown as well. Receiver Cole Hamernick was the main beneficiary of O’Brien’s big day, catching five passes for 82 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Xaviah Bascon totaled 100 yards from scrimmage (60 rushing, 40 receiving) and added a rushing touchdown, while Elijah Burns had three receptions for 31 yards and one touchdown. On the defensive side, Thomas Frisoli had three sacks and a forced fumble in the victory.
The Saugus offense was largely held in check, with Kyle Surette rushing for 46 yards and Sal Franco rushing for only 19 yards.
The rust didn’t seem to affect Swampscott, and the Big Blue showed it right off the bat. After taking the opening kickoff, the Big Blue went on a four-play, 52-yard drive to get on the scoreboard. O’Brien perfectly read a zone-read option, taking the ball up the middle himself and busting a 26-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0.
Then the Big Blue defense got involved, as Frisoli notched a strip sack on the ensuing possession to give Swampscott the ball deep in Saugus territory. Four plays later, O’Brien connected with Hamernick for the first time on a 12-yard touchdown to make it 14-0.
The score remained there until late in the second quarter, when O’Brien found Burns on a 16-yard touchdown connection to go up three scores at 20-0. The Big Blue forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, then only needed two plays to score again when O’Brien and Hamernick hooked up on a 14-yard connection. O’Brien and Hamernick found each other one more time before the half was over, and Swampscott took a 34-0 lead into the halftime break.
It didn’t take long for the Big Blue to round out the scoring, as Swampscott forced a fumble on the opening possession and quickly capitalized with a nine-yard touchdown run from Bascon.
From there, Swampscott was able to coast to a victory in its return to the gridiron.
Saugus (1-4) hosts Salem next Saturday (11) at Stackpole Field.
Swampscott (3-0) hosts Beverly Friday evening (6) back at Blocksidge Field.
