Sports 11-30-2017

Vikings lose heartbreaker to Revere 17-14

By: Jim Lederman

The Winthrop Vikings were all excited to be able to play a home game at newly refurbished Miller Field for the first time in two years.

A thrilling morning of football at packed (estimated at 3,000 fans) festive Miller Field was spoiled by the visiting Revere Patriots. Junior kicker Badr Haou ended the fun when be booted a game winning 25-yard field goal with 40 seconds left to give the Patriots a 17-14 win.

For the first time in 40 years the Patriots beat the Vikings in two consecutive seasons. It was an unwelcome “christening gift” for a capacity crowd in the 87^th game in a rivalry that dates back to 1913.

The Vikings lead the series (56-30-1). The game was the true definition of a back-and-forth game. The Vikings took the opening kickoff and behind quarterback Jake Adamson, who orchestrated a 10-play drive that lasted four minutes on the Viking Pride scoreboard. Jake completed two passes and the senior quarterback scored on a four-yard run. Calvin Tufa booted the extra point. 7-0 Vikings.

The Vikings led until 2:23 was left in the second quarter. The Viking defense was strong with senior linebacker Tyler Chiudina making three big tackles.

The Patriots were led by a 14-year-old freshman quarterback Calvin Boudreau. He combined with junior Darius McNeil on a 20-yard completion. McNeil scored on a 12-yard run. Haou booted the extra point and the teams ended a very exciting first half tied (7-7).

The Patriots received the second-half kickoff and on the second play, they fumbled at midfield. The Vikings put together another long drive; senior Jaidon Brown exploded down the sidelines on a 34-yard run to the Revere 14-yard line. Adamson capped the nine-play drive with a three-yard touchdown. Tufa split the uprights (14-7) Vikings.

The Patriots put together a 10-play drive on the ensuing series. Junior standout McNeil (26 carries for 108 yards) scored on a three-yard touchdown. Haou kicked the extra point (14-14) at the end of the third quarter.

The Patriots behind the running of McNeil, junior Zach Furlong (seven touches for 70-yards) and sophomore Lucas Barbosa (nine touches for 53-yards).

The two teams came up with big stops (one by freshman Bryan Conceicao – number 18) on a big fourth down. The scoreboard clock read 6:10 left in the game and the score tied (14-14). The Patriots using every second on the Miller Field clock and running 12 plays and five minutes off the clock. With 40 seconds left, the Patriots brought out Haou to kick a 25-yard field goal. Coach Lou Cicatelli said, “That was the plan all along, we knew we had a strong kicker who could kick the field goal.” “The idea was to go down and eat up as much clock as possible, don’t take too many risks, keep the drive alive and put ourselves in a position to win the game.” “It’s a big win for our team against a quality opponent,” Cicatelli said. “It’s Revere –Winthrop so you know you can just throw the records out the window when these two teams meet.”

The Patriots finished with a (3-8) record the Vikings (2-9).

 

From the Press Box

The Game Highlights

By Jim Lederman

A tip of the hat to McKayla Norris on her rendition of the National Anthem. Boston Herald reporter Steve Buckley called her singing, “A Super Bowl-quality.” McKayla will start practice this week with the Lady Vikings hockey team.

The holiday always brings back many alumni. Steve Miles, WHS all-scholastic fullback, who played center for Cornell University and lives in Houston, Texas, always returns home for the holiday and was at the ‘new’ Miller Field.

The Revere-Winthrop game was taped for broadcast on WHS-Viking TV-Channel 15. I broadcast the game with Al Petrilli; Al played quarterback for Revere in the 1969 game. Jamie Tipping was Vikings quarterback and his end Frank DeMarco was also at the game.

The game was similar to the 2015 game played in Revere; the Patriots were playing their first game in the ‘new’ Harry Della Russo stadium. A capacity crowd watched a great comeback for the Vikings (15-12).

The Patriots fumbled deep in their own territory. J on Gonzales recovered and Chris Zuffante scored the winning touchdown. The Winthrop backs Zuffante, Gonzales and Matt Tarantino gained huge yardage. Coach Driscoll had a great game plan and the 3,000 Patriot fans had cold turkey on the holiday.

There were many loyal Viking fans on the holiday. Three senior citizens topped the list. John ‘The Barber’ Cimino (91 years young), Dick Dimes (91) and Lloyd Lyons (86), watching his grandson Christian (No. 74) play for the Vikings. Mr. Dimes is a strong advocate and concerned citizen for Winthrop neighborhoods for many years.

 

Number Thirty

Tyler Chiudina (No. 30) had an outstanding game on Thanksgiving. The senior halfback/linebacker had seven tackles and was all over the gridiron. It was an extra proud day for his dad Tom Chiudina, an architect and member of the Miller Field Committee.

Tyler was interviewed by Boston Herald scribe Steve Buckley. In his article ‘Home for the Holiday,’ the story was the controversial trip to play at Fenway Park.

For one senior in particular – No. 30 Tyler Chiudina – playing in Fenway Park would have given him a chance to walk in the footsteps of his great-great grandfather Charles F. “Honnie” Wagner, who played 8 seasons with the Boston Red Sox.

“I respect that,” said Chiudina, but this town is where I grew up. My grandfather played on Miller Field, (Jim Noiles for Woburn), my uncle played on Miller Field, my brother played on Miller field (Jake (2014). I played on Miller Field. The true words of a proud Viking – “Once a Viking always a Viking.” “He played like a ‘true senior’ praised Sean Driscoll. Tyler had seven tackles, seven assists and five for a loss.

 

Around the NEC

There were some notable achievements on Thanksgiving:

Salem 47 – Beverly senior running back Vinnie Gaskins ran for a record 305 yards and scored five touchdowns as the Witches (7-4) rolled over the Panthers (3-8). Gaskins ended the season with 1,682 yards and 21 touchdowns (126 points).

Gloucester 40 – Danvers 28. Juan Peter-Ortiz carried 29 times for 326 yards to set a single game rushing record for the host Fisherman (7-4) the Falcons finished (6-5), Lynn English 38 – Lynn Classical 0, the Bulldogs finished (10-1) – Classical (8-3). Quarterback Matt Severance tossed 16 touchdown passes and receiver Prince Brown caught 10 – both return in 2018.

Marblehead 35 – Swampscott 17, Marblehead finished (10-1) Swampscott (7-4).

Peabody 33 – Saugus 7 – Peabody finished (6-5) – Saugus (4-7). Malden (1-10) defeated Medford (1-10. Somerville (704) defeated Cambridge. Somerville finished (3-1) in the NEC Central in a three-way tie with Classical and Gloucester in the NEC Central Division.

Anthony ‘Touchdown Tony’ Palmer’s 195 points is still a one season record in the NEC – 1993. Zach Sanderson (Northeast Regional) scored 184 points.

 

 

Skimming the Sidelines

Revere had 269 total offense, the Vikings had 169. Feedle Small had 17 carries for 76 yards. Jaidon Brown, 11 carries for 64 yards, Jake Adamson carried for nine yards and scored two touchdowns. Jake was 3 for 5-19 yards passing. Jaidon Brown, Andrew Love and Frosh Bobby Hubert caught the passes.

Frosh Bryan Concaciao had six tackles, 6 assists, one sack and one tackle for a loss. Austin Daigneault and Bobby Hubert were two more freshman playing on Thanksgiving.

The three fumbles by the Vikings hurt!

 

 

Faces in the Crowd

A large crowd packed the ‘New’ Miller Field on the holiday, including:

Mike and Cathy Norris

Rob DeMarco

 

Gary and Jen Capone

Rita Driscoll

Angelo Vigliotta

Vin Crossman

Coach Bob DeFelice

Coach Michael DeFelice

 

Mark D’Ambrosio

Councillor Pete Christopher

Tino Capobianco

 

Billy Harris

Bette Dalton

Bobby Massa

Michelle McCarthy

Nick McCarthy

 

Chris Tsiotos

Bill Schmidt

Steve Mahoney

 

Gary Grillo

Greg Zikos

 

Richard Honan

Steve Honan

 

John Tipping

Jamie Tipping

Bob Katz

Frank DeMarco

 

Bob Deeb

Billy Deeb

Kevin Corkhum

 

Nick Rozantes

Jack Dowd

 

Mike Eruzione

Michael Hammerman

Peter Gobiel

 

Joey Ferrara

 

Tom and Sue Chiudina

Jim and Ginny Noiles

 

Coach Warren MacPhail

 

Roberto Zanelli

Carolyn Gagnon

 

Dennis Gauchan

Phil Corkum

 

Niki Tsiotos

Poli Tsiotos

Maura Lanza

Jon Lanza

 

Lloyd Lyons

John Lyons

 

Frankie Capone

Ron Vecchia

Father Charles Bourke

 

David Petrilli

 

‘The Speaker’ Bob DeLeo

Vikki Mucci

 

Jim Fabiano

Kevin Adamson

Coach Jim Nimblett

Coach Jack MacDonald

 

Vasilli Mallios

Steve Mallios

 

David Tallent

Sean Donahue

Steve Miles

 

The Keough Brothers

Jim Davie