MARBLEHEAD — Entering Thursday’s highly-anticipated Thanksgiving matchup between Marblehead and Swampscott, spectators knew they were in for a good game — but how good?
This year’s edition didn’t disappoint. Marblehead defeated Swampscott 29-22 at SSG Christopher N. Piper Field in a late, dramatic game to make it 13 consecutive victories for the Magicians against the Big Blue.
With 8:58 remaining in the fourth quarter, Swampscott’s John von Barta connected with Chase Groothuis (7 receptions, 163 yards) for a 64-yard touchdown — their third score of the day.
The touchdown cut Marblehead’s lead to 21-20 and on the ensuing extra-point attempt, the snap was fumbled. From there, Barta picked up the ball and found Luke Michigan in the corner of the end zone for a two-point conversion to give the Big Blue a 22-21 lead.
After a few exchanges of possession, Marblehead took over on its own 8-yard line with 1:52 remaining.
Marblehead’s Finn Gallup produced a moment of magic. Under pressure, Gallup fumbled the ball, but it bounced right back to him. He picked it up and found a wide-open Landon Dosch for a big gain into Swampscott territory.
“We got the kid wrapped up. The ball falls out of his hands and bounces right back into his hands. He stuck with the play and made a play,” said Swampscott coach Peter Bush. “They executed down the stretch and we didn’t.”
On the next play, Gallup faked a spike and passed to Trent Brown, who made a remarkable catch with a defender on him at the 2-yard line, drawing a defensive pass interference with 22 seconds to go.
Marblehead punched in a touchdown on its next play, courtesy of James Machado. The Magicians converted the two-point attempt (Timmy Wales completion) to make it 29-22.
“We had two great catches. Timmy Wales had a great catch for the conversion and the catch in the other corner (by Brown) was just tremendous,” said Marblehead coach Jim Rudloff. “Big players in big moments — it was nice to see.”
Swampscott got the ball back with 22 seconds remaining at its own 20-yard line, but couldn’t go 80 yards in time.
“I didn’t think we were going to win. I have to be honest. The last two minutes of the game, my mind was racing like, ‘Wow, this is how the streak ends.’ I didn’t think that we were going to prevail in those last minutes,” Rudloff said. “Coach Bush and his team played hard and they really had our number today. Honestly, it didn’t feel like a victory until the very end.”
One of the biggest moments of the game came at the start of the second half, when Marblehead’s Owen Coyne returned the opening kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown.
“It was huge. One, it was unexpected . . . for us, more emotionally, it was a nice lift,” Rudloff said. “I went 13 straight years with Swampscott answering one of our touchdowns with either a kick return or a punt return — they consistently hurt us on special teams. I give them all the credit in the world. They are probably one of the best special-teams high school teams we have ever faced.”
It wasn’t the start Swampscott was hoping for to begin the second half.
“Giving up the second-half kickoff for a touchdown hurt. We shut them out in the second half except for the kick return and their last possession. I thought we played well enough to win,” Bush said. “Sometimes, it’s just not your day.”
The game started quickly. On Swampscott’s first possession, Barta found Groothuis for a 49-yard touchdown pass. Marblehead responded on its first possession when Gallup hit a streaking Dosch to tie the game 7-7.
Gallup scored the Magicians’ next touchdown with a 12-yard rush, which was answered by Swampscott’s Groothuis on an 11-yard touchdown reception to send the teams in to halftime tied 14-14.
“I’m proud of the guys. They fought for the full 48 minutes,” Bush said. “Sometimes, the ball bounces your way and sometimes it doesn’t.”
