LYNN — When two evenly-matched teams square off, sometimes, the difference is which side wins the turnover battle. Friday night at Manning Field, Swampscott won that contest en route to a 20-14 victory against Lynn English.
The game was even, 14-14, at halftime. Members of both fanbases sat patiently during the break, hoping to see their side pull away come the second half.
Swampscott’s Nakeylen Davis gave the Big Blue excellent field position to start the third quarter, bolting to the Bulldogs’ 21-yard line. On the next play, Henry Beuttler took a handoff and took it to the house, only for the refs to call a holding penalty against Swampscott to negate the score.
The result: Lynn English stopping Swampscott on the 4-yard line, sending the home faithful into a frenzy.
On the Bulldogs’ second drive of the half, they went for a trick play. Quarterback Jaiden Rosario (105 yards passing) threw the ball to Limbert Thomas, who double-passed deep over the middle. However, Swampscott’s Gabe Tripp picked him off, swinging momentum toward the visitors.
That momentum was short-lived, with Lynn English forcing another turnover on downs to earn possession right back.
Continuing the back-and-forth action, Swampscott’s Brian Giarla went unblocked off the edge and blocked an English punt. Swampscott recovered the ball on the 5-yard line.
Then, the big play. Swampscott quarterback John von Barta (150 yards passing, 2 TD) connected with captain Liam Keaney (66 yards receiving, touchdown) for a go-ahead touchdown to put Swampscott up, 20-14, with four minutes remaining in the game.
English got the ball back, but not for very long. Tripp, again, picked off the Bulldogs and returned it to midfield.
Swampscott ran out the clock to earn its first victory of the season.
In the first half, English started the scoring. After an 18-yard reception from Rosario to receiver Shane Knowlton-Simard (93 yards receiving), Rosario took one himself for a 7-0 cushion.
The Big Blue answered immediately, going on a 68-yard drive which was capped off by a 9-yard touchdown run from Beuttler (109 yards rushing) to tie the game.
Later in the second quarter, Rosario found Knowlton-Simard again – this time, for a 75-yard score. Knowlton-Simard broke away from three tackles before showing his speed in the open field (14-7).
Never-say-die Swampscott followed with a 33-yard passing touchdown from von Barta to Noah Bascon (14-14).
Lynn English (1-1) visits Chelsea next Friday, while Swampscott (1-1) welcomes Peabody (2-0) to Blocksidge Field that same night at 7 p.m.
