With the way they continue to run roughshod over their opponents again this season, this seems like a fair question to ask: will anyone come close to beating mighty Gloucester?
If you said "not a chance", you'd be justified in doing so.
The Fishermen have destroyed any and everything in their path thus far, averaging 37.5 points per contest, while surrendering a little over a touchdown per game. They hold the longest current winning streak (18 games) in Eastern Mass., are coming off of an absolute pasting of Division 1 Barnstable (67-6), and appear to already have a second consecutive unbeaten regular season well within their reach.
Or so it would appear.
Swampscott, however, would like to think otherwise.
The Big Blue (3-1) travel up Route 128 North tonight (7 p.m.) and into the cauldron of pain known as Newell Stadium, where so many teams have come in with upset dreams and watched them die a quick-but-very-painful death at the hands of the host Fishermen (4-0).
This battle of defending Super Bowl champions — Swampscott in Division 3, Gloucester a level up at Division 2A — promises to be one of the marquee games on the North Shore football schedule in 2008. Although they play in different divisions of the Northeastern Conference, beating the other means the world to both squads, a way of measuring themselves and how they stack up against other top talent.
"Gloucester is very good, especially on defense and will present many challenges for us," said Big Blue head coach Steve Dembowski. "For us to be in the game, we need to limit our turnovers and not give up any big plays to their offense. We'll need to continue to have offensive balance and not leave our defense on the field all night."
Undoubtedly, senior quarterback Chris Cameron will need to have a big game. Of course, Swampscott also has its usual cache of outstanding receivers, who spread the field and force defenses to try and cover both underneath routes and deep patterns at once, not an easy task for any high school team.
Of course, Swampscott also has its usual cache of outstanding receivers, who spread the field and force defenses to try and cover both underneath routes and deep patterns at once, not an easy task for any high school team.
Six-foot-3 senior Trevor Wheeler (22 catches, 420 yards, 4 TDs) hauled in three scores vs. Salem a week ago, while captain Stephen Moran (18 catches, 302 yards, 4 TDs) is equally dangerous. Add in Jon Poth (6-87, TD), Patrick Costin (2-55, TD) and Patrick Freemont-Smith (3-45), along with dual threat running back Kyle Shonio (220 rushing yards, 4 TDs), and Swampscott poses all sorts of offensive problems for opponents.
Getting pressure on defense will be a key for Swampscott tonight. Outside linebacker Charlie Gambale can create havoc as a pass rusher or by dropping into coverage. Senior defensive linemen Mike DePippo and Ryan Mihovan have also played well in the trenches lately.
They'll need to be at their best against a Gloucester team that has already rushed for 1,155 yards and has six different players with at least 100 yards on the ground. Ross Carlson (231 yards, 2 TDs), Luis Hernandez (229 yards, 4 TDs), Conor Ressel (218 yards, TD) and Giacomo Romeo (163 yards, 3 TDs) are all capable of burning teams out of the Fishermen's Wing-T offense.
Second-year starting QB Rick Gallant also been keeping teams honest via the pass (12-for-27 for 284 yards and a TD), with Dylan Maki (4-128, TD) and Taylor Burbine (5-103) his primary targets.
What the Big Blue must be wary of is giving up the big play defensively, something that's hurt them at critical junctures this season. For instance, although the game was securely in hand in the final minutes, Swampscott wasn't able to wrap up Salem High sophomore David Kendrick last Friday night and watched him wriggle out of several should-have-been tackles for a 63-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
"We're still inexperienced in some spots defensively, and we're building as we go," said Dembowski. "But we still can't let those big plays keep hurting us."
Gloucester's last loss came exactly 23 months ago tonight, when the Beverly Panthers came into Newell Stadium and stunned the hosts, 20-18.
Meanwhile, Swampscott hasn't won in Gloucester since a 30-21 triumph in October 1996.
"Gloucester's a great opponent to go up against," acknowledged Dembowski. "They're a great football team, and win or lose playing them is going to make us a better football team. We're looking forward to it."
Contact Phil Stacey at pstacey@gloucestertimes.com
