DEFENSE CAME up key for the MHS football team who earned a milestone win for their coach last Friday evening by beating Swampscott 34-27. (photo by Raj Das edphotos.com)
After press time:
Melrose falls to Stoneham 21-14 (Oct. 3)
Published October 4, 2024
34-27 Swampscott victory earns Tim Morris 200th win
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—It was a feat that was awaited since last Thanksgiving, but on September 27 at Swampscott High, Melrose High head football coach Tim Morris earned his 200th win as varsity chief of Melrose High football thanks to a 34-27 thrilling win over Swampscott. It was Melrose’s best effort of the season, a gritty win against a tough Big Blue team.
Morris is only the 59th coach in state history to earn 200 career wins (see accompanying story). After the game he soaked it in, but ultimately credited his players. “I’m just happy for the kids tonight,” Morris said. “Swampscott has athletes all over the field with good receivers, running backs and a solid QB. We didn’t have much of a history together but they are a great football town, so we’re proud.”
Melrose (1-2) ran off to an early 14-0 lead but saw Swampscott (2-2) roar back to take a 21-14 lead in the third, but Melrose offense doubled down and their defense were the stars of the game, preventing three goal line stands, two critical ones in the first, to thwart a Big Blue comeback.
Melrose quarterback Jack Feeney (120 yards passing 90 rushing) and Marco Albanese (3 TDs, 155 yards rushing, 190 total) were beasts for Melrose and connected three times for touchdowns.
Feeney scored on a 19-yard keeper to open the game, thanks to 40-yard rush by Marco Albanese to put Melrose up 7-0 early. But it was Melrose defense that really stepped up as they offered up a first half 4th and 1 goal line stand that saw big stops by Nate Geer, Rich Harrison, Nick Hitchman and Rick Teixeira, among others, to thwart a Big Blue keeper and force Swampscott to turn ball over on downs. From there, Melrose launched their own drive, an impressive 11 play, 99-yard march down field on the backs of Albanese, a red hot Max Lanciani and senior captain Nick Hitchman that culminated in an Albanese end zone touchdown pass.
Notes Morris of their defensive stand, “We could have been down early if we didn’t have those stops, especially the two in the first half. If you get one in a game, it’s great, but to have three really showed the commitment of our players.”
That put Melrose up 14-0 early but Swampscott by no means was ready to roll over. They’d score on their next possession and Melrose held a 14-7 lead at the half.
The Big Blue would see Nakeylen Davis and Henry Beuttler both find the end zone in the third to take a brief lead but it would soon be a 21-21 game when Melrose capitalized on a huge Marco Albanese kickoff return for 40 yards, and from there, he and Rich Harrison hoofed it down field and Feeney would connect with Albanese for that score. Melrose made it a 28-21 game in the fourth on a 35-yard pass to Nick Hitchman. Overall it was an example of using every man out on the field and many in Melrose red delivered.
“I thought Jack Casey had a great game with tackles over the night. Rich Harrison came up big. Max Lanciani,” says Morris. “That kind of defense helped our guys do the job. We played every down, there was no giving up.”
Melrose chewed up the clock in the fourth as they grinded out first downs with impressive runs by Lanciani, who broke several tackles on a 20 yard run that set up another 10 yard Albanese touchdown run with 5:20 left to put Melrose up 34-21.
Swampscott’s Jay Domelwicz made it a 34-27 with a completed touchdown pass and Melrose had 3:25 left on the clock to maintain possession. Melrose defense led by Ryan Zhu, Jack McAree and Graham Keamer put tons of pressure on Swampscott to force the quarterback to throw away passes and after forcing the punt, Melrose saw their kick off returner Sebastian Fiore cruise along with an impressive run back. Collectively, Melrose let the ticking clock do the job, to clinch their first win of the season and the milestone victory for their coach.
“The kids are the ones who wins these games,” said Morris. “I thought a lot of players stepped up on defense and offense. Jack [Feeney] played cool and confident out there. He and Marco [Albanese] had big games. Players like Marco and Hitch [Nick Hitchman] don’t get off the field, they were tough on both sides of the ball.”
For Morris, it was a matter of focusing on fundamentals after their earlier losses this fall. Having a week off helped, too. Melrose played considerably clean for the most part, which also helped. “We are just stepping up overall, playing more people. Focusing on fundamentals and getting better every week,” Morris said. “Playing sound football against a strong team is good to see.”
This Thursday (post deadline), Melrose plays Stoneham at host field Woburn High (due to construction at Stoneham High.) Stoneham, not unsurprisingly, is 3-0, which tracks given their recent tradition of winning seasons. Says Morris, “They just always reload. At 3-0 they will be tough.”
Action takes place at 7:00 p.m. at Woburn High.
