GLOUCESTER — It was a good night for Thursday night football, especially if you were a Swampscott fan. The Big Blue rolled over Gloucester from the start and won, 27-6, in enemy territory.

After a couple of three-and-outs for the Swampscott offense, it found the scoreboard first with Henry Beuttler running up the gut for a 24-yard touchdown (6-0). Fellow running back Will Bush added to the scoring with a 27-yarder on the first play from scrimmage to start the second quarter.

“On offense, we ran the ball when we had to,” said Swampscott coach Peter Bush. “All-around great team effort.”

After multiple defensive stops, the Big Blue forced a punt and took over at the 15-yard line, where Henry Beuttler took an 85-yard handoff to the house. He broke multiple Fishermen tackles and gave the visitors a 20-0 halftime cushion.

Gloucester’s Thomas Cribbs punched in a 1-yarder to bring the score to 20-6, but that would be it for the home-team offense. Bush and Gabe Tripp recorded fourth-quarter interceptions, and Vaughn Hazell went home with a fourth-down sack. 

“I thought our defense played great,” Bush said. “I thought Vaughn Hazell, who was out against Melrose, was all over the place on defense. Again, I thought the defensive line held their gaps and I thought the linebackers tackled well. We kept everything in front of us in the secondary.”

Call it a knockout punch. With 54 seconds remaining, Swampscott quarterback John von Barta found Joe Marino for a 4-yard touchdown to seal it.

“At times, I thought we looked good. There are definitely some moments in there that we have to clean up moving down the stretch here, but it’s good to come up here and get a win,” Bush said. “It’s a tough place to play, their coaches do a great job, and their kids play really hard, so I’m obviously happy with the win.”

Swampscott visits Winthrop next Thursday with kickoff slated for 6:30 p.m.

Owen Finn is a student at Endicott College studying journalism