Football: Longtime rivals back in action Friday

Two long-standing high school football rivalries resume Friday when Revere travels to Lee Field to take on Peabody and Saugus goes to Miller Field in Winthrop.Expect the Peabody-Revere game to be surreal. The Tanners will be playing under interim coach Matt O’Brien, who stepped in after Scott Wlasuk resigned Tuesday.”I don’t know what to expect,” says Revere coach Lou Cicatelli, who is good friends with Wlasuk. “It’s a situation where their kids might have a little extra oomph.”But,” he said, “I like the way our team is playing. Even the game we lost, we were knocking on the door and they take one back 102 yards. What are you going to do?”Last year, in Revere, Peabody jumped out to a big lead only to see Revere come back and win it thanks to two perfectly-placed onside kicks, both of which the Patriots recovered.Saugus at WinthropAt Miller Field (7), the Vikings come into the game after last week’s 9-7 win over Arlington Catholic that snapped a two-game losing streak. The Sachems are riding a four-game winning streak, including last Saturday’s win over Georgetown.It’s been a different hero for Saugus virtually every week ? from quarterback C.J. Randolph to Nick Benoit to Ismael Minaya. Through it all, coach Mike Broderick has found an experienced, efficient line to lead the way.Salem at EnglishAt Manning Field (7), the Witches are 3-2 and have been playing some good football. Even in their loss last week to Classical, they gave the Rams fits.English is also 3-2, but the Bulldogs have won two straight, including last week’s victory at Malden.Isaiah Davis scored twice in the Bulldogs’ win over Malden.Malden Catholic at MarbleheadAt Piper Field (7), this should be the best test possible for 5-0 Marblehead as the Magicians head into the league portion of their schedule next week. The Lancers are 2-3 (having won their last two) but, more important, they are a Division 1 school from the powerful Catholic Conference.The Magicians have taken on – and beaten – all comers, including Newburyport (23-20 in two overtimes) last week.Hamilton-Wenham at FenwickAt Donaldson Field (7), the Crusaders vie for their sixth in a row against the defending Cape Ann League Tier 4 champs. Thus far, the Generals are 2-2, with losses to Pentucket and Amesbury.The Crusaders are led by Lynn’s Rufus Rushins, quarterback Fran Hannon, and a senior-laden interior line.Beverly at MasconometAt Masconomet (7), the Panthers’ wagon rolls into Boxford for a date with the Chieftains. After losing their opener to Lowell, the Chieftains have put together four straight wins, including victories over two league foes of Beverly’s, Salem and Gloucester.The Panthers are in the middle of a season for the ages. The Panthers are 5-0, and the closest game out of them all came in week one, and that was 34-7 over Concord-Carlisle.Danvers at TritonAt Triton (7), after a promising 2-0 start, the wheels have come off the wagon for the Falcons, who are now 2-3 after last Saturday’s 21-0 loss to Lynnfield.Triton fell to Swampscott last week.Steve Krause can be reached at [email protected].