Patriots ready to feast on Thanksgiving Day

Patriots’ surge to success: Revere football captains talk resilience and teamwork

By Dom Nicastro

The Revere High School football team heads into Thanksgiving Day’s game against Winthrop with confidence. And it has plenty of reasons. The Patriots have salvaged their season by winning four of their last five games, including three in a row. That came after they opened up the season 0-5. The ultimate cap to that dramatic turnaround would be a victory over Winthrop at home on Thanksgiving morning.

The Revere Advocate caught up with the captains of Revere to discuss the upcoming game and the season’s turnaround.

Advocate questions:

1. Tell me about your personal season and how you feel you’ve contributed this year.

2. To what do you attribute this dramatic turnaround, going 0-5 and then 4-1 in the last five games?

3. What has it meant to you to be a captain and what is your advice to next year’s captains?

4. What does it mean to you to play in the Thanksgiving Day game, and what are your thoughts on what it will take to beat Winthrop?

Abbas Atoui

1. Personally, the season was very difficult at the beginning with all the injuries. Especially myself being out for more than half the games we played with my ankle sprain. We picked it up in the second half of the season winning four out of five games with all our injured guys coming back.

2. I would like to think I contributed a great amount to the team on the second leg of the season with my two three-touchdown performances. But most of it goes to our o-line really stepping it up.

3. For me being a captain was always the goal going into senior year. To me it’s not just a title, it’s a job to make sure the whole team stays on the same page and can all perform their best to win.

4. The Thanksgiving game is definitely the biggest of the season for us. For us to beat them we have to keep playing like we’ve had been. Also, everyone from the scout team to the varsity has to perform at their best.

Walter Rodriguez

1. This season for me was almost over before it started two weeks before. I sustained a high ankle sprain and was questionable to even play Week 1. However, if there’s anything I learned through these four years, it’s toughness and that’s been my mentality all year. Never quit, never stop and that’s helped me become the player I am and develop this year.

2. The biggest thing for this turnaround is Revere never quits. That really displayed itself this year. There was no quit in the players, the coaches. No one on this team quit. We kept working to get better to execute the schemes we needed to execute. We all believe in our coaches and in ourselves.

3. To be a captain this year has really just meant to make connections with people I never thought I’d get close with. Whether that be juniors, sophomores or some freshman. Being able to lead this team I’ve done my best to lead through example to never miss a game, play through injury and always do my best. My advice for next year’s captains is players are going to be looking up to you so whatever you do watch it closely because they will be watching closely.

4. Coming off a loss last year against Winthrop, I’m hungrier than ever to be able to come out triumphant. In order to win it’s going to take an all-out effort from everyone every single play. Relentless work. And it’s going to truly take a team effort. We have the talent; we have the players. We just need to go out and show it.

Hakim Malki

1. This season has been a difficult one for all of us, but most especially for us captains. As the only lineman captain, whenever our blocks up front weren’t right, or our penetration wasn’t good enough on the defensive line, it fell right back to me. I think there’s no argument that being a lineman is the most mentally taxing position on the field. There’s no game without the trenches up front. When everyone is sore, you’re exhausted, you’re on a four-game losing streak, injuries are flying around like the plague, and you’re playing a team that has 10 to 1 odds of blowing you out, it takes a certain type of leader to stay solid under that pressure. I had my highlight plays and my mistakes while playing every position on the defensive line this season. Playing through several injuries throughout the season and a torn knee on my senior night, nothing tops the accomplishment of never folding under the adversity. With two sacks and five tackles in the first game of the season, the injuries plagued me from that day on. Boys I met this season are leaving the field as men. I built our lineman unit from the ground since January in the weight-room. I set the tone when I needed to, left everything on the field and showed these younger guys what it means to play football. I’m definitely not the stud, but I fulfilled my role as a leader, and I know this family wouldn’t be the same without me.

2. I attribute every part of this turnaround to my fellow captains and the leading seniors on this team. Myself, Abbas, Walter and Carlos [Rizo], people I’ve known since weight room in the eighth grade, and now my brothers and my fellow captains. Without us, this team would’ve caved in a long time ago. We never accepted that it was over. We never accepted that Revere’s legacy wasn’t what it used to be, and we carried this team on our backs when it came to it. We took responsibility for every loss, every mistake and dealt with every doubt, consequence and repercussion. I love them like my brothers. We built this family and deserved the turnaround we achieved.

3. Being a captain of this team comes with a lot of pride and just as much adversity. When the team performs, all the credit goes to you. When the team fails, all the reputation falls on you. When the team is faced with a challenge, all the doubt is voiced to you. When the coaches are mad, the anger comes out on you. As a captain, the team defines you. It becomes your identity. To next year’s captains, embrace that identity. Play with pride, and don’t let anybody put your team down. Never say you’re going to lose a game before it happens no matter how good the opponent. Be a cornerstone everyone can rely on when it all falls apart, and good things will happen. Play every game like it’s your last; it’s something you’re never going to forget.

4. For me personally, Thanksgiving is one last chance to show this team why I’m a captain. Still facing major injuries, nothing matters more to me than making one last statement on my home field in the game that matters most. All love and respect to this family of players and coaches that made me a better man.

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