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By Dom Nicastro
Revere’s offense found its rhythm Friday night at Harry Della Russo Stadium, and it came at just the right time: on Senior Night and after a three-game losing streak.
The Patriots pounded out a season-high 350 rushing yards and held off Malden, 40–36, in front of an energized home crowd.
The win snapped a three-game skid and lifted Revere to 2–5 overall and 2–3 in the Greater Boston League. The Patriots still give themselves an outside shot at the postseason, needing to win their final regular-season game on Halloween Night against Everett, which visits at 5 p.m. If Revere wins, they’ll have an outside shot should the ratings system put them in the top 16 in Division 3.
Revere beat Everett last season for the first time since 1991 — and a win this week would mark the first back-to-back victories over the Crimson Tide in recent memory.
“We needed that,” Revere coach Lou Cicatelli said about the win over Malden. “They played really, really well. We just got through watching the film, and the offensive line was getting to their blocks finally, and other assignments. It took us a while, but they did everything right for the most part.”
The Patriots’ offensive line — a unit Cicatelli has been waiting to see hit full stride — was the story of the night. The starting group included sophomore center Bryan Maia, sophomore right guard Silvio Neto, senior right tackle Louis Forte, senior tight end Bryan Fuentes, senior left guard Walter Franklin and junior left tackle Ceaser Herrera.
“They had a good week of practice, and they played really, really good in the game too,” Cicatelli said. “They turned it on. They were getting downfield. The big thing with the offensive line, if they can get to the second level, clear the first level, they cause problems — and they did that.”
Revere’s backfield committee dominated from start to finish. Mario Ramirez and Reda Atoui each scored twice, while Anthony Pelatere, returning from a lingering hip injury, also had a breakout night with two touchdowns of his own.
“It was a blessing in disguise to get this kid back,” Cicatelli said. “Anthony Pelatere finally played. He was out just about the whole year, and he came back from a bad hip injury. He had two touchdowns, he had over 100 yards running the football, he had six catches for about 60 yards. He laid out for a ball — 45-yard touchdown pass on a 3rd-and-6 — and it changed the whole game. It was an ESPN catch. Unbelievable.”
Quarterback Jose Fuentes added 130 rushing yards and another 100 through the air, spreading the ball around effectively while leaning on the line’s consistent protection.
Malden stayed within striking distance most of the night, driven by a strong performance from its sophomore running back, Jayden McGuffie — a player Cicatelli said is “being looked at by Syracuse.” But with the Golden Tornadoes driving late for the tying score, Neto made the play of the game.
“They were driving for the tying score,” Cicatelli recalled. “The quarterback went to throw the ball — Silvio was in his face all night, couldn’t get him — and the ball slipped out of his hand. Silvio, I don’t know how he did it, it was just about to hit the ground. He’s a big kid, he bends down, he intercepts it, runs 20 yards, and we get down to about the 15-yard line. Reda gets pay dirt, and we’re up by two scores. That was the game.”
Revere gave up a late touchdown as Cicatelli rotated in players to celebrate Senior Night, but the win showed the progress he’s been preaching.
“The line really set the tone,” he said. “We needed it. They played really well all week in practice, and it carried into the game.”
The coach hopes that energy carries over into this Friday’s Halloween matchup with Everett — a game that holds both history and emotion.
“It would be the first time, I think, in God knows how long — maybe history,” Cicatelli said of the chance to beat Everett twice in a row. “I mentioned that at today’s film. That’s another milestone for these kids to hopefully meet.”
