SWAMPSCOTT — It was a good old-fashioned shootout between two strong teams, but only one could deliver a statement win. After four quarters, this one belonged to Melrose, which came into Swampscott and defeated the Big Blue, 34-27. “We knew they had good athletes and they are very well-coached,” said Swampscott coach Peter Bush.
“We just didn’t make enough plays throughout the game to change the tide.” Jack Feeney got things started early for Melrose, keeping it himself for a 20-yard touchdown to open the scoring. Swampscott’s Henry Beuttler punched one in from 1 yard out in response, set up by Liam Keaney who delivered with a handful of timely catches Friday night.
After trailing, 14-7, at halftime, Swampscott needed some juice to start the second half and Nakeylen Davis obliged. He exploded for a big kick return to set up another Beuttler score. The madness continued.
Davis came up huge again with a jump-ball touchdown from 17 yards out, but Melrose answered right back with a touchdown of its own. Then, Nicholas Hitchman came up clutch for Melrose with a huge touchdown catch on the first play of the fourth quarter from 36 yards out. The visitors put the game away with another score – this one from Marco Albanese.
“Coming out of the Peabody week, we were a little banged up. They were coming off a bye week where they had the extra week to get healthy and prepare for us. We came out a little tight,” Bush said.
“We kind of let our foot off the gas and gave.
