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3 keys to victory

Swampscott

1. Maintain good run-pass balance. For all the talk about Swampscott being a passing team, Big Blue coach Steve Dembowski really strives to make his running game a threat and not just something that sets up quarterback Peter Kinchley's aerial attack. More than ever, said Dembowski, they're getting the kind of balance that will keep the opposing defense guessing.

MARBLEHEAD | The unbeaten New England Patriots were resting comfortably at home on Thanksgiving but Swampscott senior quarterback Peter Kinchley still did his best Tom Brady impression as he led the Big Blue (10-1) to an impressive 42-16 win over rival Marblehead (4-7). Marblehead now leads the Thanksgiving series 48-47-7.

Danny Sullivan was emphatic, even 55 years after the final whistle of his last high school football game.

The 1942 Marblehead High School graduate and former Magicians' quarterback was as boisterous as he was proud, talking about his team's annual Thanksgiving Day Game vs. Swampscott.

Where: Piper Field, Marblehead

Date: Thursday, Nov. 22

Time: 10 a.m.

Coaches: Steve Dembowski, Swampscott; Doug Chernovetz, Marblehead

Captains: Swampscott: Peter Kinchley, Sr. QB/DB; Brian Palangi, Sr. OL/DL; Dorsey Dobias, Sr. OL/DL; Marblehead: Mike Sahagian, Sr. RB/DB; Eric Fader, Sr. C/LB; Drew Guzowski, Sr. OL/DE; Sam Perlow, Jr. TE/DE.

Clemson's Death Valley has been a pit for Atlantic Coast Conference football opponents over the years. Danvers might be inclined to think of Blocksidge Field in the same terms. The fact the Big Blue (9-1) had an opportunity to clinch the Northeastern Conference's small division championship and an MIAA playoff berth didn't help Danvers in its latest bid to snap the Blocksidge Hex.

Peter Kinchley was on fire for the Swampscott High football team last Saturday, connecting on 20 of 27 passes for 225 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Big Blue's 34-13 win over Beverly.

According to Swampscott head coach Steve Dembowski, Kinchley's numbers should've been even better. "Two of those incompletions were dropped by our receivers," noted Dembowski.

Beverly's Greg Pierce owned the first 12 minutes of yesterday's Northeastern Conference Small football showdown between his Panthers and host Swampscott at Blocksidge Field.

The final 34 minutes, however, belonged to Big Blue quarterback Peter Kinchley.

Beverly (5-3, 3-0 NEC Small) at Swampscott (7-1, 2-0 NEC Small)

What's at stake

With the new two-tier system in the Northeastern Conference, there's a high probability that the winner of this game will secure a spot in the postseason playoffs. If Beverly triumphs, it would clinch its first league championship in 19 years. If Swampscott comes through Saturday, it still must beat divisional foes Danvers and Marblehead to claim the crown | but those two teams have a combined record of 4-12 heading into this weekend.

On an afternoon that featured mishaps of every sort | from penalties and turnovers to sloppy play and even two inadvertent whistles | the Swampscott High football team showed why it is in good position to capture the Northeastern Conference Small championship.

Who's the best road team on the North Shore? You'd be hard pressed to argue against Swampscott, which has won five straight away from home and will have an opportunity to make it six in a row tomorrow at Saugus (2:30 p.m.). This is an especially big game for the Big Blue because it impacts the Northeastern Conference Small division. Swampscott is 6-1 overall, 1-0 in its division. Coach Steve Dembowski's team has played six of its last seven games on the road.