Sports 11-17-2016

Miller Field Construction

By Jim Lederman

In June after the Miller Field vote was unanimous, I watched Mr. Speaker, Bob DeLeo announce the $2.5 million dollar grant for Miller Field. There was joy and excitement on the ‘old gridiron’ – A new Miller Field!

Five months have passed and we have still not had construction begin for “the new Miller Field”. The school building committee did not want the responsibility of the project. A new 14-member committee was named. Did they consider ex-Vi9king coach and present Bentley University Athletic Director Robert DeFelice? Bob has built 3 new stadiums and athletic facilities at Bentley. Why was coach Sean Driscoll not named to the committee?

The Vikings will travel to the sparkling new $8 million dollar Harry Della Russo Stadium for the second consecutive Thanksgiving game.

I am asked by many Viking fans, “What is the delay on the new Miller Field?”

I asked town manager Jim McKenna, “Will we play at Revere in 2017?” Jim assured me the “new” Miller Field will host the game in 2017. Turkey day at Miller Field.

I visited the old gridiron to watch football practice last week. The student-athletes of Winthrop had to hit the road for all their games this season.

In the spring the lacrosse teams and track teams will “hit the road” for another year.

We have a sparkling and beautiful new WHS middle/high school. Do we have to wait two years to see our dreams come true? The football team played home games at East Boston’s stadium this season. The lights were terrible, the parking poor!

The future looks bright for WHS football. I hope we can all enjoy the new Miller Field and track, but the delay is very frustrating! When will construction commence!

Let the Games Begin!

At the ‘new’ Miller Field!

MIAA Players

The unbeaten Marblehead Magicians (10-0) defeated North Reading (28-7) to advance to the Division 2A super bowl: Marblehead advanced to Gillette Stadium on Dec. 3.

Beverly upset Billerica to advance to play Duxbury next Saturday in the Division 2 State Semi. The Panthers won a (19-18) thriller.

The Revere Patriots improved their record to (5-5) with a last second 30-yard field goal to defeat the Lynn English Bulldogs (24-22).

The Vikings lost a (27-25) overtime thriller in September in a pouring rain storm (minus three key players).

Revere has a chance to conclude their season with a winning record, if they defeat the Vikings (please note to Viking captains – A victory will be extra sweet!)

Swampscott improved to (4-6) with a (21-20) thrilling victory over Amesbury. Big Blue quarterback Colin Frary will return in 2017. The Vikings shut down Frary (9-27) in a Winthrop (20-7) victory last month.

Congrats to Winthrop’s number one ‘Crimson Tide’ football fan! Steve Kostegan, an ex-Crimson Tide player, never misses a Crimson game.

Steve predicted a big Everett victory over Andover! Everett returns to play Xaverian in the 1A super bowl. Steve is a huge Patriots fan and season ticket holder.

Go ‘Tide’ beat Xaverian (ed. Note: Winthrop 14 – Xaverian 3 1983 super bowl).

(Ed. Note: The Patriots lost to Seattle). The two teams and the Dallas Cowboys – top three teams!

Northeast 20 – Vikings 6

The Winthrop Vikings traveled to Wakefield to battle Northeast Regional (7-3) at Breakhart Stadium. The Vikings minus seven starting players lost their third in a row (3-7) in their final non-playoff game.

The Vikings and ‘Golden Knights” (Black uniforms) were scoreless after the first quarter. The Knights opened the scoring at the 4 minute mark when their star running back Scott Peary, blasted up the middle form one-yard out (6-0). Quarterback Andrew Smith hit Peary for the 2-point conversion (8-0) Golden Knights.

The Vikings behind the passing of junior quarterback Jake Adamson (first Adamson to pass in a legendary football family) scored next. Junior running back Jaidon Brown scored a flashy 40-yard touchdown, outracing the safety (8-6) the extra point pass failed.

The Golden Knights responded with one minute remaining until halftime. Quarterback Andrew Smith combined with Austin Perrin for a 19-yard touchdown in the third quarter to increase the lead to (20-6).

The final score (20-6) was another end to a Viking loss. The outstanding play on defense of big junior tackle Calvin Tufa (his best game of the year) Viking co-captains Jon VanDaLinda (his best game of the season) and the middle linebacker – ‘Number 33’ co-captain Matt Tarantino, prevented Northeast from scoring. Derek Wasson was a stalwart on the line. “We have 12 days to work hard and prepare for the challenge of beating Revere on the holiday,” said coach Sean Driscoll.

“We are hopeful our team will welcome back our injured players for ‘the game’ said coach Driscoll.

Co-captain Jon ‘Gonzo’ Gonzales (yards short of 1,000 yards), quarterback Chris Zuffante, the ‘big guy’ co-captain and center Luigi Spinazzola has to have a big game like last year. Senior guard Gene August returned from the hospital.

The players are just a few keys to a victory over Revere. The Vikings must work hard in practice and prepare to enter “Harry Della Russo Stadium” as a “9 point dog”.

Will the Vikings prevail to win their third straight victory over a Patriots team (5-5) seeking a winning season?

Stay tuned for the pre-game story next week! I predict a Vikings victory!

Let the Games Begin!

Book Depot – Athlete of the Week

The first weekly “Athlete of the Week” sponsored by the Book Depot and Café is – number 33, Matt Tarantino. The Vikings co-captain and outstanding linebacker anchored the defense vs. Northeast with 8 tackles.

Playing despite nagging injuries the Viking leader has had a strong season. Matt is a captain of the 2016-2017 Vikings hockey team.

We salute ‘Number 33’ Matt Tarantino!

The Matchups

One week until the game the rivalry – Vikings vs. Patriots – Yes! The 2016 Vikings invade Harry Della Russo Stadium in Revere next Thursday.

The buildup is already hot! Geno vs. Louis – Revered Beach vs. Winthrop. Al Petrilli vs. Jim Delgaizo: Gus Martucci vs. Frank Bertolino: J.W.’s restaurant vs. Companions/

“The Battle of the Beaches” on the field – the winners are: Jon gonzo vs. Victor Rivera – Gonzo wins; Chris Zuffante vs. Eddie Sullivan – Zuf wins; ‘number 33’ vs. Revere offense – the winner is Matt Tarantino.

Remember 2015 – Viking 15 – Revere 12. Coach Driscoll (8-2) vs. Lou Ciccatelli – Winner coach Driscoll. Series last 30 games.

Winthrop – 27 games – Revere – 2.

The ‘streak’ continues!

Go Vikings!

Let the Games Begin!

First and Goal

The classic Winthrop replay of super bowl – forty-nine – Seattle vs. Patriots, ended on the one-yard line. A controversial pass interference call on ‘Gronk’ – Rob Gronkowski on the last play of the (31-24) loss to Seattle in Gillette on national TV was the heartbreaking play!

The experts predict the Pats and Seattle will meet again in the 2017 super bowl are realistic! February 2017!

Tom Brady vs. Russell Wilson – was a great match up! The Pats defense of New England was terrible. (Very poor) the Pats fumbled three times. A costly Julius Edelman fumble on a completed pass would have turned the game in Patriots favor.

The final series by the Patriots with one minute on the clock was frustrating.

The game ended on the one-yard line – first and goal. Final score Pats 24 – Seattle 31.

Let the Games Begin!

Pats (7-2) best in their division.

Youth football team edged out by Newburyport, 13-12

By: Jim Lederman

The Winthrop Youth Football team lost a thrilling (13-12) decision to the Newburyport A-Team at historic War Memorial Stadium.

The trip to Newburyport brought back many memories to me. The Clippers were in the old Northeastern Conference in 1959.

I scored a touchdown for WHS in 1959 at War Memorial Stadium – 57 – years ago. The new stadium is beautiful, with a turf field. Winthrop will have an athletic complex like Newburyport, when Miller Field is completed.

I had listened to many Viking football fans about this exciting young team. The young Vikings lost a heart breaker with less than a minute to play after leading for three quarters.

The young team under the tutelage of ex-Viking co-captain Chris Ferrara, will be a ‘championship team, playing at the new Miller Field under the guidance of coach Sean Driscoll. “The game was the best any team played in my five years of co aching this group. My team never quit and when we led (12-0) I thought we would advance to the championship game,” said Chris Ferrara.

“This is a typical Winthrop team, small in size, but a Viking team that is always the underdog and wins,” said coach Ferrara. “Every player on my team contributed to our success this year.”

The young Vikings scored on their opening drive. The 65-yard drive, tad a key pass play from quarterback Austin Daigneault to big tight end Cam Conway (a huge acrobatic catch). AJ Alverado, a speedy halfback, scored the first Viking touchdown when he reversed the field and sped 30-yards to pay dirt – 6-0 Vikings.

The second Viking touchdown in the second quarter followed a long Viking drive. They key play, a pass from quarterback Daigneault to James Silva. His mom Cindy Silva was pacing the sidelines taking great picture. Jay Silva, his dad was an ex-Viking hoop standout!

The score was by young Chris Ferrara Jr., from one yard out on a dive play. Frank Ferrara, proud grandpa was pacing the sidelines. The Ferrara family is another large Viking football family.

The Vikings held a (12-0) halftime advantage. The sky opened up and rain continued during the second half.

The Clippers scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to produce the (14-12) victory in the fin al minutes on a fourth down pass play.

The Vikings had a chance to clinch the victory in the final quarter, a drive to the 10-yard line ended with a fumble that would have clinched the upset victory.

The Vikings coaching staff included Kevin Adamson and Anthony ‘Dell’ Delliacono, two record setting players at Stonehill College. Defensive coach Aaron Daigneault was a standout for the University of New Hampshire Wildcats. Coach Chris Visco, an ex-Viking on the 1989 Vikings team, was an assistant.

This young team will win championships and maybe another Winthrop Super Bowl title is in the future if all the players continue their careers at the new Miller Field Complex.

The future is very promising for coach Sean Driscoll! Watch standouts like No.99 Tyler Rockefeller, a big lineman who reminded me of Jon Lanza and Mike Brenner from the 1981 Super Bowl team. Number 56 – Ethan ‘Big Beefy’ Coleman was a key player on defense. Bobby Hubert is a future Viking standout!

2016 Winthrop Vikings:A Team Football Roster

4 – Charlie Lane

5 – Alijah Preble

7 – Ryan Hovermale

8 – Cody Wojcik

9 – Matt Daiello

11 – Ayden Cifuni

12 – James Silva

14 – Matthew Skobeleff

21 – Chris Viscio

22 – John Anderson

25 – Michael Harris

27 – Bobby Hubert

28 – Ricky Rosado

30- Dominic DiChiara

32 – Aiden Cash

33 – Austin Daigneault

34 – Chris Ferrara

40 – Bryan Conceico

41 – Anthony Rizzotto

42 – Gavin Abbott

44 – Jake Desplaines

47 – Carlie Harris

48 – AJ Alverado

54 – Brian Houghton

55 – Matt Hurley

56 – Ethan Coleman

58 – Stevie Perullo

64 – Nick Shea

66 – Danny Capone

72 – Michael Carter

75 – Joey Tavella

81 – Camden Conway

99 – Tyler Rockefeller

WHS  sports years

10 years ago

November 16, 2006

The Winthrop High football team completed its astounding domination of Northeastern Conference opponents this season with a 48-7 victory over Danvers to improve to 10-0. The Vikings ran for 346 yards, led by Matt Murray with 119 yards and three touchdowns. Jason Griffin ran for 131 yards and a TD. Quarterback James Fucillo was a perfect 5-for-5 for 90 yards in the air and also ran back an interception 59 yards for a TD.  Senior captain and linebacker Phil Hamilton led the tough Viking defense with 10 tackles. Winthrop now will face an 0-10 Revere team on Thanksgiving Day and will prepare for the state playoffs the following Tuesday. Coach Tony Fucillo’s Vikings who averaged 40 points per game this season, are ranked third in the state in the polls.

20 years ago

November 21, 1996

A 8-2 WHS football team will be a favorite to defeat a 4-5 Revere squad in their annual clash on Thanksgiving Day. The Vikings finished their NEC season with a 7-2 mark, with Gloucester and Swampscott both at 7-1 as those teams prepare for their NEC finales on Thanksgiving Day. Winthhrop  has outscored its NEC foes 211-109 this season.

30 years ago

November 27, 1986

The WHS football team is preparing for its season finale with the traditional game against Revere on the holiday. The Vikings have dominated the series in recent years, winning 10 of the last 11 contests. The Vikings will be led into the fray by their stellar running back, Steve Holgersen.

40 years ago

November 24, 1976

The WHS football team will be seeking its second straight win over Revere in their annual Thanksgiving Day contest. The Vikings will be led by halfback Paul Plakias, who has carried most of the offensive load for coach Bob DeFelice’s squad this season. Revere has won 10 of the last 15 encounters between the teams and three of the last four to move ahead of Winthrop in the series.

50 years ago

November 24, 1966

Coach Silvio Conte’s Revere High football team rates as a slight favorite to defeat coach Ed MacFarland’s Winthrop High squad in the 36th meeting between the schools on Thanksgiving Day at Paul Revere Stadium. Revere, which played its first year in the powerful Greater Boston League, is 2-3-1 in the GBL and 3-3-1 overall. Winthrop enters the game at 2-5-1. Winthrop will be looking to repeat last year when Winthrop upset Revere, 14-12. Winthrop holds a slim lead in the series, 17-15-3.

60 years ago

November 22 1966

The WHS football team will conclude its season on Thanksgiving Day against Danvers, which has been Winthrop’s foe on the holiday ever since Winthrop severed athletic relations with Revere after the 1946 game because of the brawl that ensued following Winthrop’s upset of a heavily-favored Revere squad in 1945 that ended with a Winthrop player being kicked in the head and going to the hospital. However, many are calling for a return of Revere to the holiday menu because of a lack of enthusiasm among the players and student body for Danvers as a season-ending rival.

70 years ago

November 21, 1946

A winless Winthrop High squad will be a huge underdog to a powerful 5-2-1 Revere team when the two squads get together on Thanksgiving Day in what will be the last encounter between the schools on the holiday. Winthrop has announced it will be ceasing athletic relations with Revere in the wake of the brawl and melee that ensued after last year’s game in which Winthrop upset a heavily-favored Revere squad and a Winthrop player was hospitalized after being kicked in the head. Fans on both sides then engaged in an all-out melee that spilled over from the scuffling on the field.

 

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