SWAMPSCOTT— Beneath the Friday night lights on Senior Night, Swampscott hosted Saugus in its final game at Blocksidge Field this regular season. In the end, the Big Blue played true to their name in a 56-0 thrashing of the Sachems.
Getting the party started, John von Barta found Jay Domelowicz for one of his two receiving touchdowns in the first half (8-0). On the ensuing kickoff, a weird bounce led to a Henry Beuttler fumble recovery. In no time, Beuttler finished the job with a 2-yard touchdown run (14-0).
In desperate need of some momentum, Saugus had its moments in the first half. Those came from interceptions through Ryan Shea and Chris Mazin.
Will Bush and Nakeylen Davis added goal-line rushing touchdowns in the first half – one that ended, 42-0, in favor of Swampscott.
The Big Blue’s final touchdown of the half came after Liam Keaney recovered a fumble with 11 seconds remaining. From there, in a play that looked like it was out of Andy Reid’s playbook, Swampscott dialed up a hook-and-ladder with von Barta finding Joe Marino, who flipped it to Beuttler for a 39-yard touchdown.
Then, the big play to start the second half. Von Barta hit Davis for a 68-yard touchdown through the air to make it 49-0.
Saugus, trying to find the endzone for the first time, came close, but Eli Fialho’s pass was tipped up into the air before Keaney got his hands on it for an interception.
Freshman running back Jameson O’Keefe – much to the delight of Swampscott’s sideline – ran in a 20-yard touchdown (56-0) to cap off a brilliant offensive display from the home team.
Swampscott (5-2) visits Salem at 7 p.m. next Friday, while Saugus (1-6) looks to get back on track the same evening in Chelsea (6 p.m.).
Owen Finn is a student at Endicott College studying journalism
