Football preview: Road warrior Revere travels once again … to Winthrop

Their respective records might not support the claim, but if the past four years are any indication of things to come on Thanksgiving morning, then the Winthrop (9-1) and Revere (3-7) football teams are in for a battle.Over the last four seasons, the teams have split the Thanksgiving Day series, with the Patriots taking a 13-7 shocker last year.This year?s game — originally scheduled to be the grand reopening of the refurbished Harry Della Russo Stadium — will be played at Miller Field in Winthrop because the Patriots? facility is not ready.For the Vikings, particularly their 17 seniors, this season?s holiday matchup might seem like a consolation game, given how close they were to a berth in the Division 4 state semifinals.?We came up just short of the ultimate goal we set at the beginning of the season but the Thanksgiving game is always a special day for the kids,” said Winthrop coach Sean Driscoll, whose team fell in the sectional title game to Lynnfield, 35-14.?We had some moments of bad luck, but I couldn?t be any prouder of the guys? efforts this season. We haven?t forgotten that Revere beat us on our home field last year so we?re ready to (hopefully) get the trophy back.?A lot of people will talk about how we shut them out in week three (21-0) but that means nothing at this point. Thanksgiving serves as a one-game championship that can really make or break a season.”Driscoll?s son, quarterback Dylan Driscoll, will take the field one last time, along with fellow senior captains linebackers Chris Beaudry and Tyler Gillis and running back Jake Chiudina.?I think that only four or five teams in (Winthrop) history have won 10 games so this group has a chance to leave a lasting mark,” said Driscoll.The Patriots, meanwhile, have endured a strange season that has seen them on the road for all 11 games while the new field is built.?It most definitely has been a trying season due to the existing situation,” said Patriots coach Lou Cicatelli.?Obviously there were a lot more bus rides than we are used to but the kids have handled it very well. They?ve stayed upbeat throughout the season and are looking forward to the challenge at hand on Thursday.”Cicatelli reflected on last season?s victory.?Miller Field is a very tough place to play so for us to come out and steal a win was a special feeling,” he said. “I?m thinking it will take a near-perfect game this time around because Winthrop is as good a team as we have seen.?We?re going to have to get creative to find a way to score. Putting points on the board has been our Achilles? heel and I?m thinking it?s going to take at least 28 points to win. So we have our work cut out for us.”Revere will only graduate six seniors this spring, including the team?s feature back, Kaleb Silva, along with linebacker Mike Norton and cornerback Anthony Berry.?They?ve been a terrific group to coach and will surely be missed,” Cicatelli said. “But the future looks bright with the rest of the roster intact.”