RhS sports Roundup
Rivera scores three TDs to lead football team to 35-28 win
Senior captain Victor Rivera scored three touchdowns, two of them on electrifying kickoff returns, to lead the Revere High football team to a pulsating 35-28 victory over Westford Academy Friday evening under the lights of a gleaming Harry Della Russo Stadium.
Both the Patriots and the visitors from Westford had qualified for the MIAA state football playoffs, but both had dropped their quarterfinal matches in the Division 1A North sectional, with Revere falling to Chelmsford, 25-14, and Westford dropping a 35-19 contest to Peabody.
Though both teams were eliminated from further playoff competition, they still had a lot on the line, with the shot of a winning record for the 2016 season hanging on the outcome for both squads, who entered the fray with identical 3-5 records.
Westford seized the initiative, moving 80 yards on a long drive after taking the opening kickoff to grab a 7-0 lead. However, the Patriots struck back immediately, launching a long drive of their own that culminated with a 30 yard burst into the end zone by Rivera, who rushed for 150 yards from scrimmage in addition to his kick returns.
Badr Haou, who has been more solid than Steven Gostkowski lately with his PAT work, split the uprights for the first of his five successful PATs on the night to knot matters at 7-7.
Oscar Lopez (who, it should be mentioned, takes over at center and snaps the ball to holder Eddie Sullivan on the Revere PATs) then gave Revere a lead with a 40 yard jaunt on the next Patriot possession to make it 14-7 early in the second quarter. Oscar would end up with 110 yards rushing and 50 yards receiving for the night.
Westford struck back quickly with a 60 yard TD pass thanks to a breakdown in the Revere secondary to bring matters back to level once again, but Rivera then hauled in the ensuing Westford kickoff and broke loose for an 80 yard return to restore both the lead and the momentum to the Patriots.
Westford threatened to deadlock the contest before the intermission, but Lopez picked off a 25-yard Westford pass in the end zone to finish off the first half.
Victor reprised his rendition of the Galloping Ghost (long-time football fans know that was the nickname for the fleet-footed Red Grange, a football star from the 1920s, who was named the best collegiate player of all time in 2009 by ESPN) to start the second half with another electrifying kickoff return for a TD.
Westford struck back to slice the margin to a one-score game, 28-21, but Revere quarterback Sullivan, who turned in a nice game through the air, completing 8-of-14 passes for 120 yards, found a hole in the middle of the Westford line on a third-and-inches keeper and bolted 35 yards to pay dirt to make it 35-21.
Westford refused to yield however, and made things interesting with a touchdown with about 6:00 to play. The visitors appeared ready to get the ball back with about 3:00 to go when Revere went into a punt formation on a fourth-and-seven from the Westford 40. However, Lopez, the Patriot punter (Is there anything Oscar doesn’t do?), opted to fake the kick and to make a dash for the first-down marker. Oscar gained the necessary yardage to keep the ball in Revere’s possession and Sullivan and Co. ran out the clock from there.
“It was a great game and great win,†said RHS head coach Lou Cicatelli. “Our offense played very well, but our defense was a huge factor for us against a talented Westford team.â€
Cicatelli in particular praised the play of junior linebacker Jimmy Kiousis, for what the coach termed Jimmy’s “spectacular performance off the edge†that resulted in 12 tackles, four sacks, and a fumble recovery after he had forced the fumble.
Cicatelli also had high words of praise for sophomore lineman Frank Simms, who accounted for nine tackles and a sack and who in Cicatelli’s words “was all over the field.â€
The Patriots now will host Lynn English with hopes of getting to the .500 mark before the big Thanksgiving Day game with Winthrop. The contest with English is set for Friday, but whether it will be in the afternoon (there no school Friday because it is Veteran’s Day) or at the usual 7 p.m. had not been decided as of the Journal’s press time.
RHS girls compete at State Coaches Meet
A handful of Revere High girls participated in the State Coaches Meet Saturday at the Wrentham training facility on a beautiful day that was perfect for a cross-country race.
“While we didn’t take home any medals, I am still proud of the dedication these ladies show to the team,†said RHS head coach Katie Sinnott. “Leila Cesic finished just outside the medals in the sophomore race by a few seconds. Monica Posada and Hannah Fitzpatrick finished in the top third in a very large (nearly 400 runners!) and very competitive junior/senior race. Gabrielle O’Brien, our only freshman entry, ran her personal best, despite being quite nervous to be in such a large race.â€
Full results for the Revere girls are as follows:
Freshman Race (3 K)
Gabrielle O’Brien – 16:37, 202nd
Sophomore Race (5 K)
Leila Cesic – 22:39, 55th
Junior/Senior Race (5 K)
Hannah Fitzpatrick – 22:28, 108th
Monica Posada – 22:55, 133rd
Sinnott and her squad will be traveling to Wrentham again this Saturday for the Eastern Mass divisional races.
RHS boys run in State Coaches Meet
A contingent from the Revere High boys cross country team competed in Saturday’s State Coaches Meet that was held at the Wrentham Training Center.
In the junior-senior race, which was comprised of a huge field of 578 runners, Zach Gentile was the top Patriot performer with a time of 19:41 over the 5K course that placed him in 241st position.
Teammate Arthur LaCerda, running in his first invitational meet, came across with a fine clocking of 20:13, good for 307th place.
In the sophomore race, Kevin Nguyen clocked in at 20:29, good for 207th position in the field of 379 runners, and Jonathan Nushi finished in 284th place with a time of 21:34.
RHS head coach Mike Flynn and five members of his varsity squad will compete in the Eastern Mass. Division 2 race this Saturday, also at Wrentham.
RHS volleyball team falls in tourney
The Revere High volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to Needham last Thursday in an opening round contest of the MIAA Central-East Division 1.
The Patriots were seeded 11th in the 13-team CE D-1 with a 10-8 record, while Needham was the sixth seed with a 12-6 mark.
“We got stronger in each set, but it was unfortunately not enough,†said RHS head coach Brenna Suslak. “We are looking forward to next year.â€
RHS sports Through the Years
10 years ago
November 8, 2006
The Revere High football team dropped a 35-6 decision to Marblehead Friday night at Harry Della Russo Stadium. RHS quarterback Steve Ennamorati scored the lone Patriot TD on a 14-yard run.
20 years ago
November 6, 1996
An underdog Revere High football team held a 10-7 lead over a heavily-favored Peabody squad, but the Patriots eventually dropped a 20-10 decision. RHS head coach Mike Cella, who has been at the helm of the Patriot football program for 10 years, said this was the best game a Revere team has played in many years. The contest had added incentive for the Patriots because of the presence of former RHS halfback Frank Candela, who transferred to Peabody a year ago. Candela, an all-scholastic, rushed for 191 yards on 21 carries and made a 42-yard interception return. Revere’s star halfback, Marc Silvestri, gained 123 yards on 23 carries. Cella added to the intensity of the battle afterwards when he was quoted as saying, “I would take Silvestri any day over Candela.†Dave Caramanica scored a TD from two yards out and Ratha Mon kicked a 28 yard field goal to account for the Revere scoring.
30 years ago
November 12, 1986
Brian Walker made a circus catch for a 24 yard touchdown and Mike Hinojosa booted the extra point to lead the RHS football team to a 7-6 win over Malden. The victory marked Revere’s first GBL victory in 15 games and first win over Malden in five years.
40 years ago
November 3, 1976
John Festa scored two touchdowns and a tough Revere defense stifled Everett in a 14-6 victory. Both Festa and running back mate Steve Castaldo churned up big yardage all day for Revere.
50 years ago
November 10, 1966
Coach Ron Corbett’s Immaculate Conception High football team demolished St. Mary’s of Cambridge, 45-8, to remain undefeated this season and extend its unbeaten streak to 20 games. All-star quarterback Mike Carabba had a hand in four of the IC touchdowns, tossing TD passes to Jim Fahey and Roger Stanlake. Eddie Nelson scored two TDs on a  40 yard run from scrimmage and an 80 yard punt return. Many of the IC subs also got into the scoring act in the rout.
60 years ago
November 8, 1956
Coach Ron Corbett’s Immaculate Conception High football team once again has captured the Suburban Catholic League title after a 6-0 win over St. Mary’s of Brookline Sunday. IC students were given the day off on Monday to celebrate the championship. Al Cassidy ran 41 yards for the touchdown. Marty Rizzo also shone in the IC backfield. John McSweeney was the lineman of the week. The Revicon defense did not allow a touchdown all season against its league rivals.
