Big Blue Crusaders Crowned Champs

1. Local Champs

Swampscott Youth Football's Big Blue Crusaders picked a good time to do something they hadn't done in six years.

On Sunday at Bishop Fenwick the third and fourth graders beat the previously undefeated Lynn Chargers, 20-12, to capture the league championship, said Coach Fred Dubiel.

It was the same team that had beaten Swampscott in the championship last year and had dealt Swampscott its only defeat in the regular season this year, the coach said.

The Swampscott kids started their season in mid-August and evolved as the season progressed from a tough defensive team to an explosive offensive squad running a spread formation without huddles, the coach said.

After defeating Beverly Black in the first round of the playoffs, Swampscott's Blue crew prepared in a cool, calm and collected manner for the Lynn showdown.

Swampscott coaches framed the game as a David vs Goliath struggle, the smaller and fewer Swampscott squad squaring up against a bigger team in numbers and size, the coach said.

On game day, cool, calm and collected got a rush of adrenaline.

Swampscott ramped up for the game on their own field, at Phillips. They boarded a bus and rolled to Bishop Fenwick behind a police escort.

The game had a big game, Big Blue feel.

The cheerleaders had decorated the players' homes the night before the game.

Swampscott came off the bus ready. 

Even so, Lynn drew first blood, going up 6-0. Swampscott tied the game and went up by a touchdown going into the half. They scored again in the third quarter, leading 20-6.

As the sun lowered and the air got cold at the end of the 4th quarter Lynn's quarterback sprang free for a 60-plus yard TD run cutting the lead to 20-12.

Lynn then tried an on-side kick but Swampscott was prepared and recovered.

The Big Blue killed the clock and captured the championship making the players, cheerleaders and coaches happy and the parents proud.

2. Weather:

Look for sunshine this November day in Swampscott, according to the National Weather Service. Expect a high temperature near 48 today. Tonight should be clear, with a low of 37. Sunrise, 6:33 a.m.; high tide, 8:18 a.m.; low tide, 2:30 p.m.; and sunset, 4:21 p.m.

3. Trash and Recycling:
 
Thursday trash & recycling will be collected Friday, Nov. 15.
Friday trash & recycling will be collected Saturday, Nov. 16.
 

4. Today's Merriam-Webster Word: 

Neocolonialism
:  the economic and political policies by which a great power indirectly maintains or extends its influence over other areas or people— neo·co·lo·nial  adjective— neo·co·lo·nial·ist  noun or adjective