Patriots Christen New Field with 35-0 Win Over Medford

The Revere High football team christened the beautiful, new Harry Della Russo Stadium and field in fitting fashion with a dominating 35-0 win over Medford Friday evening.

What had been a dreary and rainy Friday turned into a beautiful evening for football and the opening ceremonies for the new stadium, which features a turf field that was in perfect playing condition despite the rains during day, which would have made the old grass field at HDR a mosh pit by halftime.

A superb, pre-game, dedicatory program that featured appearances by luminaries and elected officials led by Speaker of the House Bob DeLeo, a tribute to the 1972 Super Bowl team, and the dedication of the locker room to the memory of Silvio Cella, the legendary RHS football player, coach, and Athletic Director, was climaxed by the singing of the National Anthem by Rene Rancourt, the famed singer of the anthem for the past three decades at Boston Bruins games.

By the time the teams were ready to play some football, it was evident that the big hometown crowd and the Patriot players themselves were energized and ready for action from the opening kickoff.

RHS head coach Lou Cicatelli opened the game by drawing a masterful trick from up his sleeve with an onside kick that was recovered by Revere at midfield. The Patriots proceeded to march downfield as far as the Medford one yard line, but they were unable to punch the pigskin into the Medford end zone.

However, that would prove to be the only setback that the Patriots would encounter on the night. Two plays later, Revere defensive lineman Jordy Palma burst into the Medford backfield to sack the Mustang quarterback for a safety — thus marking in the history books the first points to be scored in the new HDR stadium — and from there the rout was on.

Revere’s next possession on the ensuing free kick saw junior tailback Victor Rivera scamper 60 yards to paydirt. The successful PAT kick by Steve Noel gave the Patriots a 9-0 lead.

The second quarter proved to be more of the same, with the Revere defense, led by the linebacking trio of Noel, John DeSimone, and Jake Noftle and lineman Pho Tran, stifling the Mustang offense and forcing turnovers. DeSimone and Oscar Lopez both picked off Medford aerials and Noftle recovered a fumble.

“Our defense was flying all night to the ball,” said Cicatelli. “We really played hard and never let up. It was an all-out effort by the entire defensive unit.”

The Patriot offense meanwhile, continued to move the ball at will against a Medford defense that never quite figured out how to stop the Pats. Fleet-footed senior quarterback and captain Dan Murphy sprinted 72 yards for a score and Rivera burst to the end zone on a 42 yard jaunt — both of which were capped by PAT kicks by Noel — to leave matters at 23-0 at the intermission.

The third quarter saw Revere continue to build its advantage. Junior Oscar Lopez, working out of a double tight end formation, took a pass over the middle from Murphy that covered 65 yards to make it 29-0. Before the third period expired, lanky (6’-3”) senior split end Frank Antrim hauled in a 30 yard strike from Murphy to account for the 35-0 final score.

Quarterback Murphy put up all-star numbers with 150 yards rushing, 105 yards passing, and accounted for three TDs. Rivera rushed for 125 yards on 10 carries and scored twice.

“I was as nervous coming into this game as any I’ve ever coached,” admitted Cicatelli afterwards. ”There was no way we wanted to lose this game. The team came out pumped up and responded to the big crowd. It was a great night for Revere High football and for our city and I was proud to be a part of it.”

Cicatelli and his crew next will host Chelsea for another Friday Night Lights affair with a 7:00pm kickoff. The contest will mark the renewal of the schools’ ancient rivalry which has been reignited — after an absence of about 20 years — during the past few winter seasons thanks to the basketball teams’ games that have featured packed crowds in the schools’ gymnasiums. The atmosphere of Friday night’s Battle of Broadway no doubt will remind old-timers of the schools’ legendary battles more than a half-century ago when more than 5,000 fans would fill the stands and surround the fields at the old Chelsea Memorial Stadium and the former Paul Revere Stadium for the schools’ annual match when they both were members of the Greater Boston League.

RHS girls soccer team

defeats N.E. Voke, 1-0

The Revere High girls soccer team posted its first win of the season with a 1-0 triumph over Northeast Regional Vocational School Monday. The winning goal was scored by Luana Santos, assisted by Amina Mansouri.

Although the Lady Patriots opened their season last week with losses to perennial Northeastern Conference powerhouse Danvers and Beverly, RHS head coach Megan O’Donnell saw some good signs in her team’s performances.

“Both games were close through the first half,” said O’Donnell, “and we played hard and with heart all the way. We have a lot of newcomers and we’ve also had some injuries, but the girls are coming together and are looking forward for some big wins this week.”

The coach praised the efforts of Danela Ortez, Gabby Ortez, and Katherine Ramos, “who have played great in every game so far.”

The Lady Patriots, who are led by a trio of captains, Vivian Arguata, Luana Santos, and Joseline Arguata, were set to host Lynn Classical yesterday (Tuesday) and will entertain Lynn English tomorrow (Thursday). They will meet Northeast Regional in a rematch Monday on the local field and then welcome Peabody next Wednesday.

RHS boys soccer

team gets underway

The Revere High boys soccer team opened its season last week with a 0-0 draw with Danvers and a 4-1 loss to Beverly. The Patriots trekked to Lynn Classical yesterday (Tuesday) and travel to Lynn English tomorrow (Thursday). The Patriots will host Northeast Regional Vocational Monday at 6:00 on the turf field at the high school.

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