RallyNorth.net

Swampscott downplaying Gloucester matchup

Thursday, October, 04 By Mike Grenier
Staff writer

Swampscott High's football team is positioning itself to win the Northeastern Conference South Division title this fall | and the postseason berth that would come with it. Gloucester is trying to do the same thing in the NEC North, but is taking a completely different approach.

Both teams are 4-0 heading into Saturday's contest at Swampscott's Blocksidge Field (2:30 p.m.), but that's where the similarities end.

Swampscott wants this game, but won't be devastated if it loses. Gloucester, on the other hand, wants this game as much as any it plays all season.

"We want to play well against an outstanding team and carry that experience into the (NEC) South schedule in a couple of weeks," said Dembowski. "But this game means nothing in terms of our overall goals.

"We play people because we want to compete and we have a great rivalry with Gloucester. The thing is, we need to win five games and those come at the end of the season (all against the NEC South)."

Gloucester coach Paul Ingram is taking the opposite tack | almost because he has no choice.

"We approach every game like it means something," said Ingram. "We really haven't talked to the kids about the two tiers (North and South) in the conference. This is a huge game for us, a chance to knock off an unbeaten team.

"In our community, there are high expectations every week. It's almost as if we have to go 10-1 or 11-0. The community gets frustrated when you lose one game."

That would seem like an enormous and probably unfair burden for a high school team to carry, but the Fishermen have traditionally done an outstanding job of excelling under pressure.

This year is no different. The Fishermen have scored 28 points or more in every game and are winning by an average margin of 22 points.

Gloucester's Andrew Fulford (22 touchdowns last season) has lived up to his billing as an elite running back in the NEC, piling up 413 yards and 12 TDs (including one on an interception) so far. Yet he's hardly the team's sole threat. Senior Brian Harnish (229 yards), sophomore Taylor Burbine (176 yards), senior Anthony Enderle (165 yards) and junior Luis Hernandez (125 yards) have proven to be effective complementary backs and have combined for six touchdowns.

And because Gloucester has been so good in the running game, junior quarterback Rick Gallant has been able to capitalize in the passing game, hitting 10 of 21 for 230 yards and a touchdown.

"Those (numbers) are pretty typical for Fulford," said Ingram, "but we don't want to depend on one guy." Gloucester's diversified offense could be the ultimate test for a Swampscott defense that has played brilliantly, yielding just 44 points in four games. Brian Palangi (265 pounds) and Dorsey Dobias (235 pounds) have stuffed the middle while rotating at the nose guard position. Justin Mitchell has a total of 17 tackles and has been superb at linebacker, and Shawn Hubauer leads the team in tackles (20).

Don't be deceived by the tackling stats. Dembowski is making a concerted effort to keep players fresh, so he's been using a lot of personnel. It's all about being strong for the stretch run.

Offensively, Swampscott is still waiting for a breakout game, but Dembowski has kept his promise of developing many options for his spread offense. Quarterback Peter Kinchley has already thrown for 623 yards and four TDs and 10 different players have caught the ball.

"It's hard to figure them out," Ingram said of Swampscott's offense. "When they had Jason Blydell (who went on to Dartmouth), you kind of knew they would (pass) to him at key times, but now they just spread it all around. They have a quick-strike offense and play well at home."

It'll be tough for both teams. That's why this is such an attractive matchup.