Football Pats look to continue winning ways on Thanksgiving

  With any chance for an above-.500 season no longer in the cards, the Revere High School football team would like to end the 2022 season on a winning note in the annual Thanksgiving Day game against the longtime rival Winthrop Vikings. This year’s contest will be played at Miller Field in Winthrop (scheduled 10 a.m. kickoff).

  Though the Vikings own a commanding 57-32 advantage (with three ties) in the series, which is one of the oldest Thanksgiving matchups statewide, the Patriots have gotten the better of it in recent years. Revere has come out on top in the last five meetings since 2016. The game was not played in 2020 due to the fall season being cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  Last year’s matchup was a close affair, with the Patriots holding on for a 16-13 victory at Harry Della Russo Stadium. Revere enters this year’s game at 4-6 overall and has lost two straight after making this year’s state Div. 3 playoff tournament.

  The Patriots lost to Plymouth South in the first round of the tourney and suffered a non-playoff setback to Masconomet in their most recent contest at home. Led by quarterback Carlos Rizo and offensive threat Sami Elasri, Revere is hoping to get its offense cranked up against a Winthrop squad that comes in sporting a 6-4 record.

  Putting up points has boded well for the Patriots this year. In its four wins, Revere has averaged over 40 points a game. At the same time, the Patriots have put up just 12 points a game in their six defeats. Strong defensive efforts have keyed the wins as well. Three of Revere’s victories were of the shutout variety.

  Winthrop should prove to be a stiff opponent this Thanksgiving. The Vikings made the state Div. 6 tournament this year and lost in the first round to Cardinal Spellman. Revere and Winthrop have faced just one common opponent this season. Both teams played 9-1 Peabody. The Vikings fell by a 28-7 margin back on Oct. 14 and the Patriots were shutout 40-0 in the season opener in early September.