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Big Blue defense set for Super Bowl test

Friday, November, 30 By Mike Grenier
Staff writer

Swampscott High nose tackle Brian Palangi had the rare opportunity to walk on the Gillette Stadium turf in Foxboro on Thursday. Something tells you he'll still be talking about it when he's 75 years old.

"It was amazing," said Palangi. "You walk out of the tunnel (to get to the field) and you go, 'This is where the Patriots play.' Awesome."

Palangi is level-headed enough to realize he can't be in awe of the surroundings or, more important, the Medfield High team that Swampscott is playing today in the Division 3 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium (11:30 a.m.).

Swampscott (11-1) is chasing its first Super Bowl title since 1972 and if the regular season is any sort of barometer, Palangi and his defensive teammates will have an enormous say in the matter.

The Big Blue are coming off a sensational 33-7 semifinal playoff win over a high-scoring Arlington Catholic team in which the Cougars' ground game was limited to a paltry 36 yards. Arlington Catholic's lone touchdown game came against Swampscott's backups long after the issue had been decided.

For all the excitement that Swampscott's spread offense creates, it can be argued that the defense has been the steadiest part of the team. The Big Blue have yielded just 39 points over the last four games, with at least a couple of those scores coming against the reserves. Swampscott is lacking a shutout this season but it has allowed just 143 points, or 11.7 points per game.

"This defense is as solid as the one we had on our Super Bowl (finalist) in 2003," said Swampscott coach Steve Dembowski. "We have great players on defense. We have so many good athletes back there."

It all starts with four key seniors. Palangi is a three-year starter who clogs the middle, Justin Mitchell is an extremely versatile outside linebacker, Chris Gioisa is a first-year end who has a knack for making big plays, and Ryan Squires is an end who says he got a new lease on his football life when he transferred from Bishop Fenwick last winter.

"This is the best defensive team I've been on," said Palangi. "We're all about teamwork, speed and making plays."

Dembowski pointed out that Palangi, who is listed as 6-foot-4, 266 pounds, doesn't have to rack up a lot of tackles to be a major influence. "He'll occupy two or three blockers," said the coach, who employs a 3-5 alignment that allows his agile, mobile linebackers to close out opposing running backs and receivers.

The players love the 5-linebacker system.

"Our whole defense is based on speed," said Gioiosa, a rangy 6-3, 220-pound end who made one of the biggest plays of the season when he stopped Bishop Fenwick superstar Bobby Tarr in a critical situation with Swampscott holding a 14-8 lead (in an eventual 22-8 win). "We feel we can get to any spot faster than the (opposing) offense. We have a lot of confidence in what we're doing."

Mitchell is the Big Blue's omnipresent force, playing offense, defense and special times. He plays one of those glamorous skill positions on offense, catching passes from quarterback Peter Kinchley, and had a much talked about 33-yard touchdown reception on the final play of the half (making it 13-0) against Arlington Catholic Tuesday night. Still, he is just as enthusiastic about playing defense, knowing how important it is for a team to have balance.

"We're probably more together on defense," said Mitchell, who plays outside linebacker. "By that I mean when you wrap up a guy on a tackle, you're going to get a lot of help. The guys have my back | we have each other's back on every play."

Squires came to the party late. He switched from Bishop Fenwick in the latter part of his junior year not knowing how, or if, he'd be able to contribute this season. But he proved to be a quick study and earned a spot at outside linebacker. Dembowski praised him for his ability to adapt to the schemes and techniques that Swampscott uses. Meanwhile, Squires is just grateful that he was able to capitalize on his opportunity.

"I've been able to fit in here," said Squires. "It's the best defense I've ever seen. Coming back here is the best thing I've ever done."

Whether they've played one, two or three years, it's been a long road for the Swampscott seniors. They've seen the 1972 Super Bowl ring worn by former players who are still close to the program. They were impressionable middle school kids when Swampscott came close to winning the Super Bowl under Dembowski in 2002 and 2003. They can sense that they're on the verge of doing something that won't be forgotten, and they'd be doing it on a field that's been made famous by people like Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.

They don't want to be distracted by all the hoopla | Dembowski emphasized that point after Thursday's practice at Lynn's Manning Field | but at the same time they want to appreciate everything they're going through today.

"Playing at Gillette is huge, but it's a perk," said Mitchell. "We've been fighting to get to the Super Bowl all season and we'd love to play this game anywhere. But it's a rush to play it at Gillette."

Palangi says he can't wait.

"It hasn't hit me yet," he said. "It'll probably be the best day of my life."