Revere cannot convert in loss to Medford

MEDFORD – Revere was unable to cash in on opportunities in the red zone and contain Medford’s rushing attack in their 35-22 season-opening loss to Medford at Hormel Stadium.The Patriots had four turnovers, including three fumbles when they reached Medford’s 20-yard line. Medford quarterback Reggie Thelemaque ran for 162 yards and three touchdowns with all of them coming in the first half. Mustangs’ halfbacks Malik McLaren and Xavier Gibson added scores in the second half to clinch the game.”I’m very disappointed to say the least,” said Revere head coach Lou Cicatelli. “My hat goes off to them.”Medford opened the game with a 30-yard completion from Thelemaque to wide receiver Myles Olivier. The Mustangs capped the eight play drive with an 18-yard scamper by Thelemaque.Revere traveled inside the Mustangs’ 10-yard line before a failed pitch was recovered by Medford. The Mustangs gave the ball right back when Thelemaque threw an interception at their own 34-yard line. The Patriots drove 34 yards and finished the drive with a nine-yard touchdown run by halfback Tommy Portrait (183 rushing yards) with 28 seconds left in the opening quarter. The score stayed even at six after Revere was unable to convert the extra two points.Medford received the ball and they were able to capitalize on the ensuing possession. Thelemaque scored his second touchdown on a 17-yard jaunt. The Mustangs were able to get the two-point conversion to take a 14-6 lead early in the second quarter.The backbreaker for Revere occurred late in the second quarter. The Patriots had the ball at Medford’s 19-yard line. They lost four yards on first down. On the next play, the Patriots coughed up the ball again and Medford recovered at their own 25-yard line. With the clock winding down to halftime, the Mustangs held the ball at Revere’s 25-yard line with nine seconds left. Thelemaque dropped back to pass before a lane opened up the middle. He scrambled and cut to the left to elude a Revere linebacker before he crossed the goal line. This gave Medford a two-possession advantage (20-6) as the teams headed into the locker room.”We had a breakdown on the edge,” said Cicatelli. “We had a guy come inside, a linebacker who was out of alignment.”Revere was able to score on a couple of late possessions in the final frame, but the time ran out on them. Both teams matched scores in the second half.”We were out-hustled,” said Cicatelli. “When you can’t tackle and you make turnovers, you are not going to win.”