Sports 09-30-2015

RHS football team tops Classical, 19-14

The Revere High football team earned one of the biggest victories in the program’s history with an historic 19-14 triumph at Lynn Classical Friday evening under the lights at the Manning Bowl before a large crowd of fans on both sides.

Indeed, the final score of “19-14” figuratively represents 100 years or so of frustration for Patriot football teams at the hands of the Rams. A serious student of Revere High sporting annals may be able to point to an RHS victory among the teams’ meetings over the course of the past century. If a Patriot team ever did get the better of Classical, it probably occurred in the mid-1960s when Revere was coached by Silvio Cella and led by future Syracuse and Miami Dolphin quarterback Jim DelGaizo. The Patriots played in the Greater Boston League in that era and may have met Classical as a non-league opponent — but we’ll leave it to the history buffs to let us know.

In any event, the Pats have not defeated Classical on the gridiron since Revere left the GBL and joined the Northeastern Conference beginning in 2005 — so at least by that measure, Friday night’s victory represented a first for Coach Lou Cicatelli and his crew.

Ironically, the evening began in the worst possible way for Revere. After the Patriot offense went three-and-out upon receiving the opening kickoff, the first Classical play from scrimmage turned into a 44 yard touchdown run for a quick-as-a-flash 7-0 LC lead.

However, unlike last week’s scenario for the Patriots in which Revere did precisely the same thing to Chelsea en route to a 41-0 victory at Harry Della Russo Stadium, Friday night’s tilt did not follow the same script for the home team Rams.

The Patriots got the ball back and launched a long, time-consuming scoring drive that culminated with RHS senior quarterback and captain Dan Murphy going over from one yard out. A successful PAT kick by Steve Noel evened the count at 7-7 midway through the second period.

However, the Rams responded forthwith with an 82 yard kickoff return that placed Classical back into the lead, 14-7.

“That appeared to be a real momentum-breaker at the time,” said Cicatelli. “We had just scored on a long drive and appeared headed to take control of the game, but our coverage broke down on the return and the momentum seemed to shift back to them.”

However, the Patriots did not dwell upon their misfortune and, led by Murphy directing the offense, patiently and methodically marched down the field with an 80 yard drive that ended with Murphy going in again from a yard out. Key plays on the drive came from Jake Noftle on a reverse and passes from Murphy to wide receiver Oscar Lopez.

Although the PAT attempt was no good, leaving matters at 14-13 in favor of Classical, Revere had climbed back into the fray as the teams headed into the locker room at the half.

“That touchdown was huge,” said Cicatelli. “It brought us back into the game and turned the momentum solidly in our favor at the half. Danny did a great job with clock management as the half wound down.”

The Patriots came out with a surprise to start the second half — a successful on-sides kick (Revere’s second of the season) — and though the Pats did not get into the end zone, it gave the Pats an edge in the battle for field position. When the defense held firm on the ensuing LC possession, Revere got the ball back near midfield.

Murphy and Co. then embarked on another grinding drive that ended with Noel going in from three yards out with about five minutes to go. A Revere two-point attempt fell short, leaving matters at 19-14.

Classical refused to give up and drove as far as the Revere 30 in the closing minutes. However, a Ram fumble was recovered by Revere’s Jovan Salcedo with about 1:30 to go, from where the Patriots were able to run out the clock.

“Other than our two breakdowns that led to their touchdowns, we played very well defensively,” said Cicatelli, who cited the efforts of Anthony DeStefano with 10 tackles, including four sacks; Pho Tran, who was in the Classical backfield all night; Victor Rivera, who made a key interception; and Noel, who turned in his usual stellar effort at linebacker.

Cicatelli and his squad return home for another Friday Night Lights affair, hosting Gloucester (2-1), which figures to be the Pats’ chief rival for a title in the Northeastern Conference’s South Division.

“Gloucester is an excellent team and we’ll have to be ready for them,” said Cicatelli.

Kick-off time is the usual 7:00 p.m.

Attioui wins tri-meet for boys cross-country

Senior captain Zakaria Attioui took first place for the Revere High boys cross county team in a recent tri-meet with Beverly and Lynn Classical. Zakaria, who is running cross-country for the first time this season, finished the 2.95 mile course in Beverly in a time of 17:27, which was 30 seconds faster than his closest rival.

Teammate and fellow captain, junior Sebastian Mejia, was the next Patriot runner across the line in 19:04, good for sixth place overall. Zack Gentile, competing in his first cross country meet, came across in eighth place with a strong showing of 19:50.

Arthur LaCerda in 20th position in 22:09 and Fernando Aguiluz in 21st spot in 22:19 completed the RJS scorehseet.

Other Patriots who competed in the meet were Hassan Barhoum in 24:38, Jonathan Nushi in 25:05, Domenic Crespo in 25:25, and Othman Farmi in 28:09.

The final score showed both Beverly and English edging the Patriots by scores of 25-34 and 26-33 respectively.

“The team is working hard and we’re improving every week,” said RHS head coax Mike Flynn. “Zakaria ran a great race and has become a real leader for our team in his first season running cross-country.”

The Patriots will travel to Marblehead, one of the top teams in the Northeastern Conference, for a meet tomorrow (Thursday).

Girls cross-country

team defeats English

The Revere High girls cross country team split its tri-meet last week, falling to Northeastern Conference powerhouse Beverly, but defeating Lynn English on the course at the Phillips Nature Preserve in Beverly.

“It is a beautiful and very challenging course,” said RHS head coach Katie Sinnott. “Runners face numerous hills and can easily get lost, as several runners did.”

Two Lady Patriots improved on their paces from last week, with junior Monica Posada and freshman Leila Cesic shaving seven and 44 seconds respectively off their per-mile pace.

Hannah Fitzpatrick continues to run extremely well, finishing first for Revere, and senior Trisha Cheever has become a force for Sinnott’s squad, bringing much-needed depth.

The Revere finishers were:

Hannah Fitzpatrick – 22:53 – 8th overall

Leila Cesic – 23:45 – 12th overall

Suellen Guerreiro – 24:00 – 13th overall

Trisha Cheever – 24:03 – 15th overall

Monica Posada – 24:27 – 16th overall

Jaclynne Dion – 26:11 – 24th overall

Joanna Severino Perez – 27:53 – 29th overall

Nicole Paddock – 28:00 – 30th overall

Megan Erwin – 29:44 – 33rd overall

Angelina Nguyen – 31:43 – 34th overall

Lori Brizuela – 34:23 – 38th overall

Adela Mendoza Arias – 34:24 – 39th overall

Justyne Pennachio – 41:36 – 40th overall

Hawa Barry – 41:37 – 42nd overall

Cindy Peraza – 41:37 – 41st overall

Sabrina Elouardi – 44:51 – 43rd overall

Catherine Monroy – 49:05 – 44th overall

Meloee Nazaire – 49:34 – 45th overall

Sinnott and her crew travel to Marblehead tomorrow (Thursday). “Marblehead is very strong and the girls will face a tough challenge,” said Sinnott, “but I know they will give their top effort.”

RHS soccer girls

duel N.E. Voke, nil-nil

The Revere High girls soccer team battled Northeast Regional Vocational School to a 0-0 (or nil-nil, as the announcers on the English Premier League games might say) deadlock Monday afternoon.

“All the girls played great,” said RHS head coach Megan O’Donnell. “To have a high school game go 0-0 means that there was a lot of hard work played.”

The Lady Patriots had many scoring opportunities, most notably by Gaberila Ortez, Estefina Flores, Vivian Aguirre, Yelsi Pelsi and Samantha Harrington. The Revere midfield group of Marinna Hiccupe, Amina Mansouri, Danela Ortez, and Sarah Lujan Balbin played superbly, while the Lady Patriot defense was held together by Joseline Argueta, Luana Santos, Katherine Ramos and Jade Subervi.

“The girls worked hard ’til the very end and they are coming together as a team. I am seeing a lot of great hustle and work from all the girls and that’s all a coach can ask for.”

The Lady Patriots faced Marblehead last week and though they came out on the short end of an 8-0 decision, O’Donnell commended the “great goaltending of Jade Subervi and Deyli Landaverde Vasquez.” She also lauded fine performances  by Danela Ortez, Amina Mansouri, Joseline Argueta, Madison Cunningham, and Mackenzie Cunningham. “We had our chances to score by Vivian Aguirre and Susan DeLeon, but we could not finish,” added O’Donnell.

The Lady Patriots took on Swampscott yesterday (Tuesday) and will host Salem tomorrow (Thursday) and Peabody Friday. They trek to Winthrop Monday and entertain Saugus next Wednesday.

Hector scores two goals

for RHS field hockey team

The Revere High field hockey team dropped its three contests this past week to Swampscott, Gloucester, and Everett.

In a 3-2 loss to Everett, senior captain Adanna Hector scored both goals and Amy Ly had one assist.

The Lady Patriots suffered a setback with the lost of center midfielder and captain Sam Woodman to an ankle sprain.

“The girls are working hard,” said RHS head coach Erin Parker. “Shateya Travis and Sam Karl have been doing a good job in goal for us.”

Parker and her crew travel to Peabody today (Wednesday) and to Beverly Tuesday.

Middle School cross country team rolling on

By Peter DiGiulio

The Revere Middle School Boys Cross Country team, coming off what amounts to a Cross Country shutout at Lynn last week, came home (at Belle Isle Marsh) and defeated Swampscott, a perennial NEC track powerhouse 23-32.

A Swampscott runner actually came in first, but Revere’s boys took five of the next nine places to secure the victory.

Sal Giuliano (RMA) led the way for the Jr. Pats, finishing second overall in 9:57 – only six seconds behind the leader. SBA 7th grader Marco Cerbone continued his fine running, gliding in 3rd in 10:09. Next up in 4th was Victor Pelatere, an RMA 6th grader, in a very respectable 10:23. The remaining two scorers for the home squad were Matt Gallego, who was 5th in 10:38, and Dante D’Ambrosio who took 9th in 11:41.

The other Revere runners finishing were Coby Everton, William Le, Eric Cogan, and Brody McNair. The team now stands at 2-0.

The Revere Girls Middle School Cross Country team made it 2-0 on the season with a hard fought win over a talented Swampscott group.

Once again they were led by the incomparable Grace Dow (SBA) who streaked to the lead (as usual) from the beginning and ran away from the field in an excellent time of 11:05 – which was a full 30 seconds faster than her best time on the 1.6 mile Belle Isle course.

Revere girls finished 3rd ( Erika Cheever), 4th (Caroline Stasio), 5th (Frankie DeAngelis), and 11th (Soliel Young) and that added up to a 24-32 hard fought triumph for the Lady Patriots.

Other Revere finishers were Reilly Giordano, Chloe Giordano, Tiffany Scoppetuolo, Zoe Skillin, Sonia Salazar, Salome Gezeghan, Trish Le, Shealyn Spolsino, Elicia Echavarria, Erica Anderson, Angela Rojas, and Patricia Rivera.

Coaches Mary Feeley and Sam Ros prepare their runners by running with them through the streets of the city daily and the results show that their way of training their teams works.

The teams will take their unblemished records on the bus for the long trip to Gloucester on Wednesday, September 30, to take on the Middle School Fisherman.

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