SWAMPSCOTT ― For most of the season, the Swampscott football team’s offense has carried the load. But in Saturday afternoon’s Division 5 quarterfinal game at Blocksidge Field, it was the defense and special teams that made a number of big plays to keep the No. 2 Big Blue in the game in a 23-9 win over No. 7 Dover-Sherborn.
The Big Blue defense came up with three interceptions and forced two turnovers-on-downs in the win, while the special teams unit made a field goal and blocked an extra point attempt.
The Swampscott offense still had a big day, and it was running back Xaviah Bascon leading the way. Bascon totaled nearly 200 yards from scrimmage, rushing for 124 yards and a touchdown while adding three receptions for 61 yards. Receivers Elijah Burns (21 yards) and Jason Codispoti (14 yards) each had three receptions, while receiver Nakaree Davis had one reception for 44 yards. Quarterback Cam O’Brien completed 10-of-18 passes for 140 yards and also rushed for 43 yards and two touchdowns.
After the opening drive of the game, which saw Swampscott march 80 yards down the field in five plays and O’Brien rush one in from 11 yards out, Big Blue fans may have been thinking that another blowout was in the cards.
The next Swampscott drive ended with an interception, and a stalled drive late in the second quarter led to Aydan Wulf knocking a 25-yard field goal through the uprights to give the Big Blue a 10-0 lead at the halftime break.
Things got a little dicey for Swampscott in the third quarter, as Dover-Sherborn went on a nearly 11-minute drive that ended with a 32-yard field goal from Henry Murphy to make it a one-score game. O’Brien then threw an interception on the ensuing Swampscott drive, and Dover-Sherborn capitalized when Dan Sullivan connected with Emilio Cabey on a 28-yard touchdown pass to make it a 10-9 game.
But then came one of the biggest plays of the game, when Davis broke through the line and blocked the extra point to keep Swampscott ahead.
The Big Blue continued to struggle gaining any momentum on offense, stalling out one drive and fumbling the ball away on another.
But, after forcing a turnover on downs to get the ball back in Dover-Sherborn territory, Swampscott finally made it count. Bascon opened the drive with a 21-yard run, then O’Brien finished things off two plays later with a seven-yard touchdown run to make it 16-9.
Bascon then intercepted Sullivan’s pass on the next drive, and the Big Blue were able to run down the clock before Bascon rounded out the scoring with a 23-yard touchdown run in the final two minutes of play.
Swampscott (10-0) now has a chance to get back to its second straight Division 5 Super Bowl, as the Big Blue will take on No. 3 Bishop Fenwick in the semifinal round Friday night (8) at Manning Field in Lynn, with the winner earning a spot in the title game.
