Cicatelli hits 100 wins as Revere tops Malden for third straight victory

By Dom Nicastro

A milestone win, a hard-fought game, and a season that’s starting to feel special.

The Revere Patriots football team delivered a 24-14 victory over Malden on Thursday night, marking head coach Lou Cicatelli’s 100th career win in his 22nd season. With the win, Cicatelli joins Silvio Cella as the only Revere coaches to reach the 100-win club, a feat that speaks volumes about the former Revere athlete’s his dedication to Revere football and his impact on generations of players.

“It’s a big honor. I’m blessed. I’m very, very lucky,” Cicatelli said. “To have my whole career basically here in Revere, which I’m very proud of. You know, I always tell people Revere is a very, very unique place, for lots of reasons, all good reasons. And yeah, it was a long time coming, and I’m glad I got there.”

Revere’s victory over Malden was its third straight, improving the Patriots to 3-4 overall and 3-2 in the Greater Boston League (GBL) as they continue to push for a playoff spot. Now ranked No. 23 in Division 3, Revere needs a win against Everett in their regular season finale to have a shot at a playoff berth.

Quarterback Danny Hou was pivotal in securing the milestone win, scoring two touchdowns—one rushing and one passing—while connecting with Geovani Woodard for a touchdown pass. The Patriots converted all three of their two-point attempts, with contributions from Charles Dobre, Woodard, and Yousef Benhamou, keeping Malden at bay and sealing the victory.

Reflecting on his players’ resilience, Cicatelli expressed pride in their commitment through tough times.

“There are five freshmen playing, and we’ve got three seniors. But I gotta tell you, they’re a real, real resilient group,” Cicatelli said. “When you go 0-4 to start a season, you can lose kids, but these kids come to practice every day, and they worked hard, and we just got better week after week.”

Cicatelli’s players were equally eager to celebrate their coach’s milestone. After the final whistle, they drenched him in a celebratory water bath—a fitting tribute for a coach who has been a steady force in their lives, both on and off the field.

“They got me with the water,” Cicatelli said with a laugh. “They’re a great bunch of kids, hard workers. And they wanted the game, I think, more than I wanted the game.”

Woodard, one of Revere’s standout players, shared how Cicatelli’s influence goes beyond football, praising the coach’s dedication to each player’s growth.

“What I like most about Coach Cic is how much he cares about the team and the players individually,” Woodard said. “What I noticed throughout the years I’ve had him as my coach is he takes the time to really understand his players’ strengths and weaknesses. Throughout the years I’ve played football, I’ve never seen a coach analyze his players as much as he has, and it really makes a difference to the team, and it shows how much he cares for the team and players. Coach Cic also always prioritizes skill development and personal growth over just winning, which is really important because it shows he’s not only in it for winning but in it for helping players grow.”

Hou, the Patriots’ quarterback, echoed Woodard’s sentiments.

“Coach Cic is such a great coach. He’s always there for us whenever. He motivates us every week to always be better,” Hou said. “He’s not just a regular coach who only cares about football. He’s a coach who cares for you off the field, making sure we’re doing the right things and that we’re doing good in the classroom because he wants to see us succeed.”

Cicatelli attributes much of his success to his assistant coaches, several of whom are former players, reflecting the deep-rooted connections he has fostered over the years.

“You’re only as good as your assistant coaches,” he said. “They’re a good, good bunch of guys, and they work really hard.”

Looking ahead to the regular season finale against Everett, Cicatelli remains cautiously optimistic.

“Everett’s a great football team as always, but we’re playing well,” he said. “We’re going to do our best, and if we pull off the win, there’s a good chance we may slide into the playoffs with the point system. That would be special, especially starting off 0-4.”

For Cicatelli, reaching the 100-win mark is a career-defining achievement, but his passion for coaching goes beyond the numbers.

“I love football, obviously, but more than that, I love building relationships with the guys,” he said. “Some of my coaches that I’ve had for years were my players, and some of them are my best friends. Football is a great game. It does a lot of nice things, and for me, it was just meeting all these kids and having the opportunity to coach them. It’s something I’ll never forget.”