REVERE — After a tough loss in the Division 4 North final two week ago, the Revere football team has now turned the page. Next up on the docket is the annual Thanksgiving Day rivalry game against old foe Winthrop, a game that the Patriots circle on their calendars every year.
“It’s an important game, and it’s important every single year,” said Revere coach Lou Cicatelli. “It’s a big rivalry, and for both teams it’s basically a playoff game. Our guys are really looking forward to this game, and they’re really focused.”
There’s reason for the Patriots to be focused. A win on Thanksgiving morning would give Revere four consecutive victories in the rivalry game, something it has never accomplished in the series.
“It would be big for us if we could get to that milestone,” said Cicatelli. “This game means a lot to both teams, so if we were able to grab a fourth straight win it would be a great end to the season.”
The Patriots have enjoyed a potent offensive attack this season, led by senior Joe Llanos in the backfield. Quarterback Calvin Boudreau also returned from injury this year to run the offense, while athletes like Jonathan Murphy and Lucas Barbosa were able to make plays from multiple positions.
After opening the year with a 38-8 win over Gloucester, the Patriots dispatched teams like Classical (43-26), English (32-30, OT) and Marblehead (31-27) over the course of the season. In the postseason, Revere averaged 42 points per game over its two wins (Dracut, Wayland).
But the Patriots (9-1) ran into a tough Melrose team in the Division 4 North final and suffered their first loss of the season.
“It was a tough game for us,” Cicatelli said of the 41-7 loss to No. 1 Melrose. “We just picked the worst day possible to play a bad football game. But that’s the way it goes in our sport — you only get one chance in those kinds of games.”
On the brighter side for Revere, the Patriots are coming into Thanksgiving Day incredibly healthy.
“We’re a very healthy football team this year, which isn’t something we’ve been able to say in years past,” said Cicatelli. “We’re excited to come into this game with our full complement of players.”
In terms of how they’re going to attack the Vikings, the Patriots don’t plan on changing what got them to this point.
“Winthrop is a good football team, they do things well on both sides of the ball,” Cicatelli said. “We just have to continue to play as we have all year, use our athleticism to make plays on offense and then try to control the line of scrimmage on defense. Playing that way has gotten us nine wins this year, so we’re hoping we can make it 10.”
Revere and Winthrop will kick off on Thanksgiving morning (10) at Miller Field in Winthrop.