Fourmen: Patriots Improve to 4-1 with a High-flying Win over Cambridge

The Revere High football team roared back from a 20-6 deficit in the first half to post a 42-33 triumph over Cambridge Friday evening at the Cantabs’ home field. Coach Lou Cicatelli’s Patriots (who for the fifth consecutive week once again set the standard for their professional namesakes) improved to 4-1 on the season, the best start for an RHS football team in many years.

The game was a tale of two halves, with Cambridge taking control on their home turf from the outset en route to building a 20-6 advantage in the second quarter. “We came out a little bit flat,” said Cicatelli. “I was a bit disappointed in the way we started, but the team showed a lot of character and resiliency in shaking off the slow start.”

Two Revere scoring drives to bookend the intermission proved crucial in turning the momentum in Revere’s favor. Captain Drew Lauria, who enjoyed a career day with five touchdowns and 175 yards rushing, scored his second TD of the game on a 68 yard pass  play and then added the two point conversion to draw the Pats within 20-14 before the half ended.

Revere defensive end Oscar Desjardins then recorded a key turnover when he pounced on a Cambridge fumble on the second play of the second half to give the Pats the ball at their own 40. Five plays later the Pats hit paydirt and Jeff Simbert, who had a fine night hitting on five of six PATs, kicked the extra point to give Revere a 21-20 advantage, which would prove to be a lead they never would relinquish.

In addition to Lauria on the offensive side, other Pats who played key roles were sophomore tailback Tom Portrait, who scored a TD on a 26 yard scamper and picked up more than 100 yards on the night, and quarterback Joe Ritchie, who tossed the 68 yard TD pass to Lauria and who did a fine job all evening directing the Revere attack.

On defense, Cicatelli lauded the play of middle linebacker and captain Rob Sasso, whose tackle stats reached double digits, and Ritchie from his defensive back post.

“I’m very proud of the way this team played against a tough opponent who never gave up,”said Cicatelli, referring to Revere’s former Greater Boston League rival Cambridge. “This was a huge win for us and gives us a lot of momentum as we head into our league schedule.”

Friday night brings Peabody, the first of the Pats’ conference foes, to Harry D.R. Stadium for a contest under the lights. The Tanners, who also were in the GBL with Revere before both schools jumped to the Northeastern Conference, have engaged in some storied battles over the years and Friday’s night’s encounter should prove no exception.

“We know we’ll be playing a good football team and we’ll have to be ready,” said Cicatelli of the Tanners, who started the season 3-0 before falling to defending Division 3 Super Bowl champ Beverly, 34-0, Saturday.

Kick off time Friday evening is 7:00.