Sports
Big Blue Brings Depth to the Gridiron
The Big Blue season gets underway Sept. 7 at noon at Blocksidge vs Triton.
Wednesday was Press Day for the 2013 edition of Big Blue football.
Football players and cheerleaders posed for photos, basking in sun and attention as photographers took pictures of them individually and in groups. (This media outlet lost its photos to a computer mistake — ughh.)
The players spent an hour and a half moving around Blocksidge Field in the deep green grass and taking seats in the bleachers.
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Towards the end they joked around with some role reversals, the players sporting pom-poms and the cheerleaders toting helmets.
The roles, however, will be clear on Sept, 7 against Triton with the players roaming the filed with great intensity and the high-flying cheerleaders leading fans to get behind the Big Blue.
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After the photo shoot the some 75 players headed to practice on the far corner field for their third practice of the season.
They have only two weeks and change before their first game so they need to hit the field and practice running.
2013 SWAMPSCOTT FOOTBALL PREVIEW by Coach Dembowski
· Coach: Stephen Dembowski (15th year 106-53)
(Work) 617-690-2582 (Cell) 617-417-1560 CoachDembo@yahoo.com
· Last Year’s Record: 5-6
· Captains; Ben Faulkner, Toby Hale, Brendan McDonald & Justin Nestor
· Returning Starters (7): Justin Chasse, OG, Sr; Mike Faia, LB, Jr.; Faulkner WR, Sr.; Hale, DE. Sr; McDonald, SS, Sr.; Nestor, OG, Sr.; Mark Rittiboon, DL, Jr.
· Returning Letterman: (8)
Tim Costin, WR/DB, Sr.; Devon Conroy, WR/DB, Jr.; Ryan Cresta, WR/DB, Jr.; Jesse Haynes-Lewis, OL/DL, Sr.; Jordan James, LB, Jr.; Christian Llorente, WR/LB, Jr.; Maleek Newsome, RB, Sr.; Nathan Raustad, LB, Sr.
· Strength: Depth on the Lines, Running back and Receiver
· Weakness: Kicking game, Skill Inexperience
Prepared 8/19/2013
Outlook: The team is full of players able to contribute. How to put them together will be the challenge for the 2013 Big Blue. With over 40 players in the junior and senior classes, Swampscott should be able to play with everyone on their schedule. McDonald is ready to assume the quarterback duties surrounded by experienced lineman. The overall depth of the team should allow flexibility in the schemes and the ability to overcome adversity. The Big Blue will need to start putting the puzzle pieces together quickly as every game counts towards the playoffs and the schedule is difficult after being moved up to the NEC North. Leading the way are captains Faulkner, Hale, McDonald and Nestor and the team has shown tremendous dedication in the conditioning program.
On Offense, McDonald is poised to assume the starting quarterback roll and will be supported by Devon Conroy (Jr.) and Devon Wall (So.). McDonaldMcDonald is a dual threat and understands the system. New playmakers will have to emerge from the receiver group which returns Faulkner. Leading candidates are Costin who saw plenty of action last season along with Cresta, Greg Collier, Jeremy Epstein, Cam Frary, Mark Irvine, Trevor Kelly, Llorente, Alex Petras and Anthony Rizzo. The line is loaded with experience as Chasse, Hale, Haynes-Lewis and Nestor all have started games. Others pushing for time include Austin Hamilton, Ryan Bradley, Tyler Scaglione and Barry Tevrow all of whom had excellent off-seasons. The running back position has many candidates and many could see action including Faia, Newsome and senior transfer Desmond Wilhelmsen.
The Defense has some experience up front but needs experience in the secondary. The line will showcase Hale, Haynes-Lewis, Hamilton, Mike McCuish, Scaglione and Rittiboon. This is a deep area so other players could easily surface like; Arena, Albright, Adams, Petrocelli, Bradley and Young. The linebackers have some experience with Raustad and James in the middle. Both saw plenty of action last season. The outside backers’ include Kelly, Llorente, Wilhelmsen and Mike Faia, whom also has varsity experience. The secondary returns several role players including McDonald, Faulkner, Costin, Conroy, Cresta and Joey Faia. This group will be pushed by Collier, Epstein, Petras and Wall.
Special Teams was hit hard by graduation and only McDonald returns as the long snapper. All the other jobs are open for competition.
2013 Football Schedule
Sat 9/7/13 12pm
Swampscott Big Blue vs. Triton
Thu 9/12/13 7:30pm
St. Mary's vs. Swampscott Big Blue
Fri 9/20/13 7pm
Winthrop Vikings vs. Swampscott Big Blue
Fri 10/4/13 5pm
Lynn English Bulldogs vs. Swampscott Big Blue
Sat 10/19/13 2:30pm
Swampscott Big Blue vs. Gloucester Fighting Fishermen
Sat 10/26/13 1pm
Beverly Panthers vs. Swampscott Big Blue
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