The Revere High football team dropped a 14-0 decision to Dracut Friday evening under the lights on the latter’s home field. Dracut, which plays in Division 2 of the Merrimack Valley Conference, entered the contest with the same 1-7 mark as the Patriots. The meeting between the teams is believed to have been the first-ever in the schools’ history, all made possible by the new MIAA football playoff format that places non-playoff qualifying teams into a pool to face each other.
As has been the case throughout the 2013 campaign, the Patriots had many opportunities to score that could have changed the complexion of the contest. But the Revere offense proved unable to apply the finishing touch in their five forays into the red zone, including two that were inside the Dracut seven yard line in the first half.
“It’s been frustrating for us,” said RHS head coach Lou Cicatelli, who saw his team’s scoring chances dissipate in a variety of ways via turnovers, penalties, or poorly-executed plays. “We move the ball up and down the field, but then we get careless in the red zone and can’t finish what we started.”
Running back Kaleb Silva was his usual force with his power running, racking up more than 100 yards on the night. Kaleb scored an apparent touchdown on a 15 yard burst through the middle at the start of the second half, but the TD was called back for a holding penalty.
Quarterback Tom Portrait rushed for 60 yards and made some nice pass connections to tight end Steve Selevitch, including a reception on a 4th and 11 that brought the ball to the Dracut six for a first down in the first half. However, a subsequent offsides penalty set the Pats back to first and 11, a situation from which they were unable to move the ball into the end zone.
Dracut put together one good drive, consisting of 70 yards, in the first half to take a 7-0 lead at the intermission. The home team scored the clinching TD late in the fourth quarter on a 50 yard run.
“Overall we played well defensively,” noted Cicatelli, who noted in particular the outstanding performances of sophomore outside linebackers Steven Noel and Damian Strait and junior defensive back Mike Norton.
“We have a lot of young players on both sides of the ball,” said Cicatelli, who highlighted the fine play of freshman center Anthony DeStefano in his first varsity start. “The season has been a learning experience for them.”
Cicatelli and his crew will host Medford under the lights Friday night at Harry Della Russo Stadium in a rematch of their season-opening tilt, which again is courtesy of the MIAA playoff format, marking the third opponent this season whom the Pats will have met twice. The kick-off is set for the usual 7:00.
RHS girls conclude season at EMass Division 2 meet
The Revere High girls cross country team traveled to Wrentham Saturday to compete in the Eastern Mass. Division 2 meet.
“The team worked hard all season and it paid off,” said RHS head coach Katie Sinnott. “Every girl who ran the same course last week bettered their time, many earning a personal best, despite the very breezy and cold morning.”
The Lady Patriots were led by their senior captain, Nikki Nelson, who finished in 56th place in a personal record (PR) time of 20:29 over the 5K (3.1 miles) course. Freshman Vanessa Puopolo was the next Revere runner across the line in 91st place with a clocking of 21:21. She was followed by Suellen Guerriero (106th overall in a PR time of 22:26), Hayley Mangino (119th overall in a PR of 23:04), Jaclynne Dion (128th overall in a PR of 23:45), Taylor O’Neill (132nd overall in 26:21), and Nicole Paddock (133rd overall in 26:24).
“It’s been a great pleasure to coach these girls all season, and it’s a little bittersweet to see the season come to an end,” Sinnott continued. “I am extremely proud of all of them, including the girls who got up early to come and cheer the team on. We had more supporters than runners!”
Boys cross country team competes at Division 2 meet
The Revere High boys cross country team sent a contingent of varsity runners to Saturday’s Eastern Mass. Diviison 2 Meet that was held at the Wrentham training center over its 3.1 mile (5K) course.
The Patriots’ senior captains, John Della Russo and Jay Mistri, led the way for Coach Mike Flynn’s crew. Della Russo came across the line in 17:51.8, good for 86th place overall in the meet, and bettered by 14 seconds his time on this same course last week in the Coaches Invitational Meet. Mistri also was faster than his race of last week with a clocking of 19:30, compared to 19:41 the week before.
“Both John and Jay have been great leaders for our team from the beginning of the season right to the very end,” said Flynn. “They’re super kids and they’ve been great role models for our younger runners.”
Bounlaing Chea, who did not run last week while nursing an injury, was the next Patriot with a clocking of 20:29. Christ Gentry improved by 33 seconds from his time of a week ago with a run of 20:43.
Patriot freshman Sebastian Mejia had been expected to make the race, but came down ill the day before and was a scratch.
“We had a nice season,” said Flynn. “Everybody got faster week-by-week and improved substantially, which we look for. I’m proud of all of them for the effort they gave all year.”
