MALDEN — The well-earned awards keep coming for Revere football coach Lou Cicatelli.
Cicatelli was honored at the Association of New England Football Officials’ annual banquet with the Mark T. Crehan Coach of the Year Award.
“When the officials recognize you, it tells you that you’re doing something right,” Cicatelli, who was named Patriots Coach of the Week earlier this season after a win over Classical, said. “It was probably one of the better awards I’ve ever gotten. It was a great time. I was really humbled and honored by it.”
Cicatelli was joined at the banquet by his coaching assistants — Scott Wlasuk, Jose Escobar, Vin Gregorio, Paul Norton, Rob Sasso, Danny DeCristoforo and Kyle Westberg.
He said none of the success he’s seen guiding the Patriots over the past 17 years would be possible without his coaching staff.
“Vin introduced me at the banquet,” Cicatelli said. “He had a great little speech. He’s been with me since I got the job here. We’ve been through good times and tough times.
“All those guys work hard. They get a lot of respect from the kids. When the kids respect the coaches and believe what you’re teaching, I think that’s a reason why we have success.”
Cicatelli delivered a speech of his own.
“It meant a lot to me to be chosen as coach of the year,” Cicatelli said. “There are a lot of great coaches out there this year. It meant a lot because I put a lot of time in as a coach. When you get recognized like this, it’s always worth it. I love the kids and I love what I do. But when you win, it always makes things a little more special.”
This season has been a special one for Cicatelli’s Patriots. Revere, 9-1 on the year, won its first nine games before falling to undefeated Melrose in the Division 4 North final two weeks ago. Along the way, the Patriots knocked off a handful of Northeastern Conference powerhouses in Marblehead, Classical and English.
“We have a great bunch of kids that worked hard all year long,” Cicatelli said. “This group has been very focused. Some of the teams we played were very good football teams. We’re really proud of what we did and how we got there. Even though we came up a little short, it has been a special season.”
Revere closes its season Thursday morning (10) when it visits Turkey Day rival Winthrop at Miller Field. With a win Thursday, they’ll clich sole possession of the NEC South and the program’s first-ever 10-win season. Revere has won its last three games against Winthrop.
“We want to win the NEC South, we want the 10-win season and we want to make it four straight over Winthrop,” Cicatelli said. “That’s never happened in the history of Revere football. We’ve never beaten Winthrop four years straight, so there’s a lot on the line for these kids.”
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St. John’s senior quarterback Matt Crowley earned the President’s Memorial Player of the Year Award at the banquet. Crowley has helped the Eagles to a 9-1 mark and a second consecutive trip to the Division 1 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium. St. John’s hosts Xaverian Thursday (10:15) before its rematch with Catholic Memorial for the state championship on Dec. 7 (8 p.m.).
