Vikings Rally in Second Half To Beat Swampscott, 21–14: Cappuccio, Rich Furnish the Firepower

 Whole seasons can change on one play, one quarter, one half.

Trailing by 14 points at the half, the Winthrop High football team scored three touchdowns in the second half to stun Swampscott, 21-14, Friday night at Blocksidge Field.

Junior running back Nick Cappuccio launched the stirring comeback with a 53-yard TD run on a buck sweep. Cappuccio would strike again for what would prove to be the winning touchdown on a 64-yard run in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.

All told, Cappuccio accounted for 185 yards rushing on 15 carries. He also caught a 2-point conversion pass from quarterback Matt Noonan to the tie game at 14-14.

The Vikings’ middle touchdown came on a sensational 49-yard run by senior captain Robert Rich (14 carries for 93 yards), who evaded four tacklers behind the line of scrimmage before outrunning several more defenders to the end zone (see related story).

Winthrop’s defense also excelled in the second half, keeping Swampscott off the scoreboard. Rich provided the final gem on a leaping interception on the Big Blue’s final possession.

 O-Line Blocking a Key to Victory

The blocking by the Winthrop offensive line and the receivers was crucial in the Vikings’ Big Four of Nick Cappuccio, Robert Rich, George Galuris, and Demetri Koutsouflakis combining for close to 300 yards rushing.

Cappuccio’s second TD was illustrative of the teamwide blocking. “That’s our jet sweep. Dan Thomai is trying to seal inside. Mark Johnson is going down to block a safety or a linebacker or whoever shows up first inside. Robert Rich and George Galuris helped seal the edge. And [offensive guard) Matt Reardon got the final block.”

Thomai truly took his opponent out of the play, while Johnson held his ground – and Cappuccio did the rest, extending his distance from the secondary over the final 20 yards to paydirt.

Guards Alessio Marcoccio and Matt Reardon, George Galuris, and Mark Johnson (who blocked the safety 1-on-1) were the key blockers on Cappuccio’s first touchdown.

Marcoccio Wins Defensive Player of the Game Award

 Alessio Marcoccio earned the Vikings’ Black Shirt Defensive Player of the Game Award.

Marcoccio had eight tackles and three assisted tackles.

“Alessio made a bunch of impactful plays in the game,” said Coach Cadigan. “I think defensively as a team, we were tremendous.”

Swampscott came into the game with a 1-0-1 record. And if one had to prognosticate,  Swampscott will likely defeat a surprising 3-0 Saugus team and Northeast Regional in the next two weeks. So the Cadigan Crew likely spoiled a 4-0-1 start for its’ divisional foe.

Linebackers Were Key

Philip Boncore’s successful blitz of the Swampscott quarterback (and he almost made the tackle of the receiver on the play) was part of an excellent performance by the Winthrop linebackers.

“Our linebackers did an excellent job of blitzing all game. Demetri Koutsouflakis had a great game blitzing. Philip Boncore was outstanding. Donovan Cassidy and Matt Noonan also did a really good job. They pressured the quarterback all night.”

On the Road Versus Danvers

Winthrop (2-1) plays Danvers (1-2) Friday (6:30 p.m.) The Falcons are coming off a confidence-building 22-20 decision in overtime over Reading, a perennial Middlesex League contender.

The Falcons are led by senior running back Owen Gasinowski, whom the Salem News described as an early candidate in the MVP race. Danvers also has a very capable four-year starter at quarterback, Travis Voisine.

 A Big Shoutout to Lenny Riley Sr.

A big shoutout to the great Lenny Riley Sr., who was the leading scorer on the 1963 state champion Winthrop High boys basketball team who claimed its crown at the Boston Garden.

Mr. Riley is the grandfather of the Vikings’ superb running back (and NEC sprint champion) Nick Cappuccio. We can only imagine the joy that Nick and his teammates are bringing to Nick’s Hall of Fame inductee grandfather with their excellence on the football field.

Mr. Riley was always at the games when his son, Len Riley Jr., was playing for some of Winthrop High’s most outstanding basketball teams in the 1987 and 1988 seasons.

It’s great to see Nick Cappuccio carrying on the eminent Riley sports tradition in Winthrop.