NAHANT — Xaviah Bascon and some of his Swampscott football teammates took a trip down memory lane on Tuesday afternoon.
Bascon, along with Cole Hamernick, Yorlan Herrera Gil, Braedan Bozarjian, Joe Marino, Korey Stevens, Jackson Wrenn and Luke Siriani, returned home to the Johnson Elementary School in Nahant — this time as winners of the Division 5 Super Bowl.
The Big Blue took home a 14-7 Super Bowl win over top-ranked North Reading last Wednesday at Gillette Stadium behind a full-team effort. Bascon was kept off the scoreboard but remained effective in the win, totaling 170 yards from scrimmage and also throwing a 38-yard touchdown pass to Hamernick. Quarterback Cam O’Brien completed 11-of-19 passes for 113 yards and also rushed for 60 yards and a touchdown.
Students of the elementary school lined up, waiting for the chance to meet the stars. Some even took advantage and got some autographs.
Bascon, who earlier in the day was selected to the Northeastern Conference All-Conference Team, said that it was a special moment for him.
“Being able to come back and see all the little kids like I was once was really cool to see,” said the running back.
For some, recess birthed their love of the game. Hamernick stated that he still remembers his early days of playing football at school with his friends, and that it was good to reconnect where it all started for him.
“Every day at recess, we used to play a pickup game of football and that’s just where my love for football started, ” Hamernick said. “To go all the way and win it, and then to come back here, it’s just great to come back and reconnect with the roots.”
Also present at the event was Town Administrator Antonio Barletta, who said the town was proud of the players for their accomplishments.
“What a great program they have over there with coach (Bob) Serino and the athletic department,” Barletta said. “Between Swampscott and the Nahant kids, they always come together, our two towns together, to create such a talented team of student-athletes. We’re just very happy to have them here today, showing our elementary students what is at the next level.”
While the school was in Nahant, there was plenty of love for the Big Blue.
“If you look at some of the kids here, they are wearing the Swampscott uniforms for youth (football) and I think you just get to come and inspire them to just keep on going with football,” said Hamernick.
Bascon also added that it was a special moment for him to give back to the younger kids, since he looked up to the older kids in the same way when he was a youngster.
“I always looked up to the older kids, especially the football players,” said Bascon, who rushed for more than 1,500 yards this season. “Even from when I was like 4 years old I had dreams of going to the NFL and of winning championships.”
