The Revere Patriots got another outstanding rushing effort from senior running back Trae Weathers who rushed for 188 yards and four touchdowns on just 22 carries Friday night, to help Revere get out to its first 3-0 start in 29 years with a 24-15 victory over Danvers.
“Trae has just been huge for us, I imagine he’s got to be one of the leading rushers in the state at this point, I think he’s got close to 50 points already,†said head coach Lou Cicatelli. “But really it was a total effort on the offensive side of the ball.â€
The coach wasn’t just trying to pump his other offensive players. Senior tailback Jose Amaya amassed 80 yards of his own and junior Drew Lauria added 106 yards on the ground as well. The only part of the offense that seemed to sputter was the passing game, where senior quarterback Paul Norton completed only one pass, but the coach put the blame for that squarely on his receivers.
“I actually thought Paul was as sharp as we’ve ever seen him,†said Cicatelli. “He was really putting the ball in great spots, but we had a bunch of dropped passes, which is uncharacteristic of our guys, and it wound up looking like Paul had a tough night, but that wasn’t true.â€
It didn’t matter. With the rushing game, and Weathers in particular going as well as it did, Revere was able to control the ball and the tempo of the game. Late in the game, with Danvers trying to make something happen in its own passing game, Tommy Portrait had two interceptions, including one that came as Danvers was driving for touchdown.
“Offensively, we played very well. Again, Trae put up some big numbers, but all of the guys did great,†said Cicatelli. “On defense, Robert Sasso had another eight tackles, and Jose Amaya had eight tackles as well. So we were able to get to the ball and stop them when we needed to.â€
With the win, the Revere Patriots got off to their first 3-0 start to a season since the 1981 season, when Cicatelli was a senior player on the team, and not its coach.
“It’s really been special to see how well things are going for this team,†he said, focusing on the effort of this year’s squad, rather than the accomplishments of his own team 29 years ago.
“There’s nothing better than teaching and coaching in the community you grew up in and I’m really here because I love working with the kids and these guys have been great,†said Cicatelli. “I’m excited to see people taking an interest in the football team again, not because I’m coaching, but because these kids are really doing everything right and they’re a group of great kids. They deserve what they’re getting.â€
Another group that Cicatelli said he’s very happy for is the assistant and position coaches for the team.
“Our coaching staff has been working very hard to help these kids to their goals and I couldn’t be more pleased than I am for them,†said Cicatelli. “Hopefully we can keep it going.â€
The Revere High football coaching staff includes John DeMarco, Vin Gregorio, Jose Escobar, Dan DeChristoforo and Ben Potter.
The coaches and their players will have their work cut out for them this week, as they face off with longtime NEC Small division powerhouse Swampscott. The Big Blue are off to a 2-1 start this season, but once again boast a talented, athletic and well-coached squad, which will really test the Patriots’ new found self-confidence.
“Swampscott is good, they’re fast and they’re well-coached,†said Cicatelli. “But, I’ll tell you something, we expect to win.â€