RallyNorth.net

Fri, Sep 29, 2006 07:00 PM @ Salem (MA)

Team	Final
Swampscott	7
Salem (MA)	21

Salem stays unbeaten, runs over Swampscott

Thursday, August, 23 By Jean DePlacido
Correspondent

SALEM | It's hard to believe, but after just three games the Salem High football team now has the same number of victories the program recorded over the last three seasons | combined.

The surprising Witches improved to 3-0 on the season with a convincing 21-7 win over Swampscott before a large crowd at Bertram Field last night.

Right from the opening drive, the Witches established the running game and controlled the clock with a six-and-a-half minute drive, capped by a 3-yard blast up the middle by fullback Cris Chalmers. The senior transfer student from New York City had an outstanding two-way performance with two big interceptions to lead an outstanding defensive effort by the hosts.

That opening drive went 60 yards on 11 plays (all on the ground) featuring the running of super sophomore Melikke Van Alstyne (19 carries for 126 yards), Danny Murray (15-68) and Chalmers (12-46).

"Our offensive line did a great job opening up the holes to get our running game going," said Salem coach Scott Connolly. "We knew what Swampscott was all about, and our defense had to play physical in order to prevent them from making big plays. Even when you have a lead, they can answer very quickly."

The Witches' punishing ground game resulted in 248 yards rushing and all three touchdowns.

Salem struck again on its second possession on an 87-yard drive, all of which came on the ground except for a 33-yard pass across the middle by quarterback Nick Charlton to Franklin Abreu.

Van Alstyne scored on a great individual effort. After cutting to his right but finding no running room, he changed directions and outran the Big Blue defense for a 24-yard TD up the left sideline. T. J. Larivee, who booted all three extra points, gave the Witches a 14-0 lead with 10:12 remaining in the first half.

"That run was the biggest play of the game because we had them stopped on third and long when he broke three tackles. We over-pursued and it cost us,"said Swampscott coach Steve Dembowski, whose team is now a disappointing, 1-3.

"When we had our chance to tie it up before halftime, we couldn't do it. Every time we had chances, they came up with interceptions. They were able to get pressure on our quarterback (John Cassidy), but we're not playing well anywhere on offense. We were making mistakes all over the place, and they outhit us tonight, too."

Cassidy was just 5-for-26 passing for 53 yards, had five passes picked off.

Swampscott's only score came with just over two minutes remaining in the half when Ilya Levin barreled in from 3 yards out, and Matt Barbuzzi kicked the extra point, 14-7. The Big Blue got a huge break when Justin Mitchell's punt hit a Salem player's leg, giving them a first down at the Witches' 19-yard line. But on the next play, Murray came up with an interception.

It was more of the same to start the third quarter when Chalmers set up his team's final score with an interception at the Swampscott 32-yard line. Four plays later, Murray broke loose for a 6-yard score.

Any chance for the Big Blue to get back in the game ended when Salem put together a 79-yard, 16-play ball control drive. Although they didn't score, they ate up eight-and-a-half minutes of clock time.

Two more interceptions did the visitors in. Chalmers picked up his second of the game at his own 11, and captain Anthony Silva picked off a pass and ran it back to the Swampscott 15 in the final minute.