Vikings Roll Over Patriots, 30-13

Winthrop High football coach Sean Driscoll said his team had its best week of practice in his seven years as head coach.

The Vikings then went out and played one of its best games of the Driscoll Era, excelling in all aspects of the game in a convincing 30-13 victory over Revere Friday night at Harry Della Russo Stadium.

Reise Turransky started it all with a 50-yard touchdown run on the Vikings’ first possession.

“Reise just came back from a sprained ankle injury so it was a good welcome back for him,” said Driscoll. “He battled all week and it was good to see him bust that run on a nice cutback.”

Senior captain Jordan Corbett-Frank (105 yards rushing, TD) kept the heat on the Revere defense throughout the game.

Improving quarterback Dylan Driscoll, looking more and more like Super Bowl champion quarterback James Fucillo, scored two touchdowns and tossed a two-point conversion pass to Zach Deeb on a fake PAT attempt that stunned the Revere special teams.

Deeb had three catches for 64 yards, including a diving grab at the one yard-line on the penultimate play of the first half, setting up Driscoll for a one-yard keeper. Deeb also had an interception in the game.

“Zach made some nice catches in the second quarter and his interception was huge for us,” said Driscoll. “Zach is getting better each week.”

But the play of the night belonged to linebacker Justin Casilla, who stepped in front of a Revere screen pass and intercepted it, derailing the momentum of the home team who had closed the gap to 14-7. Instead, Winthrop reached the end zone in four plays, making it 22-7 at the half.

“It was a screen pass and I just reacted to the play,” said Casilla. “My coaches prepared me all week for it. I was glad I reacted the way I did and I thank my coaches for coaching me so well.”

Driscoll lauded Casilla for the game-turning play which the Vikings capitalized on to the tune of a quick, 40-second touchdown drive.

“You couldn’t ask Justin to play it more perfectly,” said Driscoll. “Revere had shown screen passes before and we were really cognizant of it all during the week. Revere runs that play very well and I was impressed with our play defensively. That play was the turning point of the game.”

Revere coach Lou Cicatelli also noted the Casilla INT in his post-game remarks.

“We do that [screen pass] play very well but the ball floated a little bit and he made a great play on it,” said Cicatelli.

Driscoll was pleased with the Vikings’ performance but said there’s room for improvement.

“Defensively it was our best performance and it all came down to the preparation we had going into the game. I think it’s one of the best weeks we’ve had in my seven years as the head coach.”

Driscoll said one of the keys to victory was the contribution of first-time starters at linebackers, Chris Beaudry and Alex Anzuoni, substituting for regular starters Tyler Gillis and Matt Feeley, who were sidelined by injuries.

“It was a big night for Chris and Alex who were making their first start. They played very, very well.”

Driscoll also praised James Baxter and Sean Gillis for their efforts on defense.

About the fake PAT and two-point pass from Dylan Driscoll to Zach Deeb following the last play of the half which fooled virtually everyone in the stadium, Driscoll said, “It was wide open and it was nice to get that two pointer. It was a big difference because it put us by another score.”

Winthrop raised its record to 2-1 heading into a game against Salem that will be played Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Hurd Stadium in Beverly. Bertram Field in Salem is undergoing renovations and will not be ready until later this season.

Winthrop High sports roundup Girls soccer team enjoys fine week

The Winthrop High girls soccer team put together a fine week of play against three Northeastern Conference opponents this past week.

The Lady Vikimgs defeated Lynn English in impressive fashion, 4-1, Tuesday evening on the latter’s home field. The Lady Vikings took control of the game from the outset, grabbing a 2-0 lead at the half on goals by Holli Benson and Nikki Tsiotis. Benson made a move on a pair of English defenders and then beat the English keeper with a pinpoint shot. Tsiotis was assisted by Heidi Benson, who made a nice through-pass to her teammate.

Winthrop upped the count to 3-0 after the intermission when freshman Regina Garufo scored with an assist from senior captain Stephanie O’Brien. English closed the gap to 3-1, but WHS senior Caitlin Page, assisted by Haley Stafford, applied the coup de grace with a goal with about four minutes to go.

“The team played very well,” said WHS coach Tracey Martucci. “We had lots of chances to score from our offense and the defense was solid.”

Last Wednesday the Lady Vikings played solidly in a 1-1 tie with Swampscott. The teams battled to a scoreless duel for the first 72 minutes of the contest until the Lady Big Blue broke the deadlock with a goal with about eight minutes to play. However, the Winthrop girls answered back and responded with a goal a few minutes later, with junior Nikki Tsiotis, assisted by fellow junior Maura Lanza, delivering the tying tally with a powerful shot to the upper corner from the area of the 18 yard line.

“We had been controlling the play for most of the game, so it was fitting that we earned the tie,” said Martucci, who praised the performance of her keeper, Poli Tsiotis. “Poli is getting better and better with every game,” noted the coach.

Although the Lady Vikings came out on the short end of a 1-0 decision to traditional Northeastern Conference powerhouse Peabody Friday evening under the lights at Miller Field, Martucci was pleased with her team’s level of play. “Peabody scored in the opening minutes, but instead of letting down, our girls fought back and fought hard,” said Martucci. “We played them evenly the rest of the way and overall, it was one of the best games we’ve played against a team of Peabody’s caliber.”

Martucci in particular praised the fine showing of her defensive corps of sweeper and senior captain Rachel Wadkins, senior stopper Annie Mahoney,  sophomore Mackenzie Chiudina, and Lanza. “Those four are the bulwarks of our defense,” said Martucci. “They really hold us together.”

Martucci and her crew have a busy week ahead: They play at Lynn Classical this evening (Thursday); host Watertown Saturday afternoon in a game tentatively scheduled for 2:00 (but which could be later that day because of the SATs);  travel to Beverly Monday; and entertain Salem Wednesday evening under the lights at Miller.

Golfers split  two matches

The Winthrop High golf team split its two matches this past week, raising their record to 8-3 overall and edging closer to qualifying for a berth in the post-season state tournament.

The Vikings handily defeated Salem last week, 49-23, on the latter’s home course at Olde Salem Green. Mike Rich, playing in the second spot in the Winthrop lineup, shot the best round of the day, a 36 on the par 35 course, en route to handily defeating his Salem counterpart, 7.5-1.5.

Winthrop’s No. 1 player,  Zack Mills, and No. 4 man, Cody Boudrow, were the biggest winners over their Salem foes, triumphing by wide margins of 8-1. Steve Goddard, playing at No. 3, was a big victor by a score of 7-2. Brandon McDonald at No. 8 triumphed, 5.5-3.5, and Harry Floyd at No. 7 won his match, 5-4.

Jack Wallace at No. 5 and Mark Ferullo at No. 6 both contributed four points to the Winthrop total.

On Tuesday the Vikings took on Marblehead at Tedesco Country Club. Winthrop had edged Marblehead, 37-35, in their initial meeting this season at the Winthrop Golf Club, handing Marblehead its only loss of the season. However, Marblehead turned the tables on the Vikings on its home course by a score of 44-28. Mills at No. 1 and Rich at No. 2 halved their matches with their Marblehead counterparts while both shooting team-best rounds of 39 over the par 34 course. Wallace also halved his match at the No. 5 slot. James Gill, Winthrop’s No. 8 man who had missed the past few matches with an injury, earned three points for the Winthrop cause.

“Tedesco always is a tough place for us to play,” said WHS head coach Peter Lyons. “The greens are a bit faster than we’re used to.”

Lyons and his crew, who need just two more wins to qualify for the state tourney, were set to host Danvers yesterday (Wednesday). a team to whom Winthrop lost by the slimmest of margins, 36.5-35.5, in their first encounter this season. “We haven’t beaten Danvers in many years, so we’ll be looking to change that on Wednesday,” said Lyons.

The Vikings then will have a busy schedule on tap next week, playing at Swampscott Monday, at Gloucester Tuesday, at Malden Catholic Wednesday, and returning home Thursday to host Revere.

WHS SPORTS THROUGH THE YEARS

10 years ago October 9, 2003

The Winthrop High football team, which came into Friday night’s game undefeated with a 3-0 record, suffered its first loss of the year to a potent Swampscott squad,. 42-21. Swampscott scored from the first play from scrimmage on a 76 yard run Swampscott also scored on a 90 yard kickoff return and an 80 yard pass play. Winthrop scored on a blocked punt by Pat Milano, who fell on the ball in the endzone, Alex Smith and Anthony Fucillo scored the other Viking TDs on quarterback keepers.

Joe Capprini, John Cross, Nick Bettano, and Casey O’Leary won their matches for the WHS golf team, but the Vikings dropped a close 38.5-33.5 contest to Swampscott this past week.

Red Sox fans have high hopes as their Sox take on the Yankees in the American League championship series after the Red Sox edged Oakland in the divisional series behind the pitching of Pedro Martinez and the hitting of Manny Ramirez.

A loss by the WHS girls soccer team this week has ended the quest by Coach Kevin Connolly’s squad for a state tourney berth. The Lady Vikings played without the services of key players such as co-captain Briana Kneeland.

20 years ago October 14, 1993

The undefeated WHS football team had little trouble in raising its record to 4-0 with a 35-0 rout of winless Marblehead Saturday in the Vikings’ home opener. Anthony Palmer demonstrated why he has earned the nickname “Touchdown Tony” as he scored four touchdowns while rushing for 192 yards. Ryan Gaughan led the Winthrop defense with nine tackles.

The WHS golf team, seeking to become the first Viking team to earn an NEC title in three decades, is tied for first place after splitting its matches withe Beverly and Gloucester this past week. Michael Graham, Alan Hersey, Chris Ford, George McGrath, and Michael Gagin were individual winners in the win over Beverly. Gavin presently is the top Viking scorer with a 7-1 record.

Paul Reardon scored a goal to earn a 1-1 tie for the WHS boys soccer team in its game with Saugus.

The WHS girls soccer team defeated Lynn Classical, 1-0, thanks to a goal by sophomore Shara Geraghty.

30 years ago October 19, 1983

The WHS football team claimed its 27th straight victory with a 14-12 win over Salem in a wild and woolly affair Saturday. Both teams came into the contest undefeated for the third straight season and once again, Winthrop emerged victorious to remain unbeaten. Salem was driving for the potential go-ahead score in the closing minutes of the game when Viking tackle Jon Lanza hit the Salem quarterback as he was attempting to pass . The ball fell far short of the Salem receiver and was picked off by Winthrop’s John Hayes to put the game on ice. Dave Gallo made another key defensive play earlier in the game when he blocked a Salem PAT attempt on Salem’s first touchdown. Salem then was forced to go for the two point conversion after its second score, but the Viking defensive line stacked up the Salem ballcarrier to thwart the bid. The Winthrop touchdowns were scored by Steve Staffier on a six yard run and on a 26 yard TD pass from Hayes to Jim Adamson. Nuccio Lagioia, who came to this country three years ago from Italy, successfully kicked both PATs for Winthrop to provide the margin of victory. Salem had come into the contest with a 3-0 mark and had scored 91 points, while allowing just eight, before meeting Coach Bob DeFelice’s Viking squad.

40 years ago October 10, 1973

The WHS football team dropped a 28-6 decision to Salem Saturday. The lone highlight for Winthrop was a 24 yard TD pass by quarterback Alan Welch. The Vikings now will go from the frying pan into the fire when they take on perennial Northeastern Conference power Swampscott Saturday.

50 years ago October 10, 1963

Fullback Steve “The Tank” Adamson scored two touchdowns to lead the Winthrop High football team to a 22-6 win over Amesbury last week. Senior Jim Lally scored the other TD for Winthrop, which is now 2-0 on the season. Winthrop will host Newburyport this week in the home opener Saturday.

60 years ago October 8, 1953

A battered and bruised 0-2 WHS football team, which is coming off a 28-6 loss to Amesbury, a team that has a 28 game unbeaten streak, now will face a potent Winchester squad that will outweigh Winthrop by an average of 18 pounds per man. Fullback Jim Donovan and halfback Irv Streeter both suffered serious hip bruises in the Amesbury game. Donovan scored the Winthrop touchdown before leaving the game.

70 years ago October 9, 1943

The Winthrop High football team won its second game of the season before a record crowd at Miller Field, which turned out despite a wet an foggy day, with a 29-0 romp over Woburn. Winthrop star quarterback Eddie Gingrich scored one TD on a 50 yard run and tossed a 25 yard pass to Walker for another. Bill Ward and A. Wallace scored the other Winthrop touchdowns. Football co-captain Eddie Gingrich was elected President of the WHS Class of 1944 this past week.

WHS cheerleaders join effort to raise funds for Dana Farber

Cheerleaders from Winthrop are participating in the Cheer for Dana-Farber fundraiser. As a part of this new fundraising initiative, the Winthrop Youth Football 6th Grade Cheerleaders will raise critical funds to support adult and pediatric cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The fundraiser kicked off on Sept. 2 and will conclude on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28. The concept of this new fundraiser was submitted by cheerleading coaches Maureen Sullivan (Nashua, N.H.) and Tamara Hayes (Shirley, Mass.). To participate in Cheer for Dana-Farber, cheerleading teams can fundraise in their local communities through initiatives such as car washes, bake sales, and canister collections. There is no minimum fundraising requirement.

“As a cheerleading coach and being involved in high school athletics, I am honored that Cheer for Dana-Farber has become a reality,” Sullivan said. “So many of us have been touched by cancer in some way, and we wanted a way to help support patient care and research at Dana-Farber. This fundraiser will teach young adults about giving back through their passion for cheerleading.”

All teams that raise $1,000 or more will be entered into a drawing for the grand prize— a chance to perform a pre-game cheerleading routine at Gillette Stadium on Dec. 29, 2013 when the New England Patriots host the Buffalo Bills. Each additional $1,000 raised earns teams an additional ticket entered into the drawing. The top five fundraising teams will be invited to a master cheer class run by the New England Patriots cheerleaders at the Dana-Farber field house in Foxboro, Mass.

To learn more about Cheer for Dana-Farber or to support the Winthrop Youth Football 6th Grade Cheerleaders, please visit: www.cheerfordanafarber.org.

About Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (www.dana-farber.org) is a principal teaching affiliate of the Harvard Medical School and is among the leading cancer research and care centers in the United States. It is a founding member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, designated a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute. It provides adult cancer care with Brigham and Women’s Hospital as Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center and it provides pediatric care with Boston Children’s Hospital as Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Dana-Farber is the top ranked cancer center in New England, according to U.S. News & World Report,

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