e a Safe & Happy Thanksgiving! Vol. 35, No.48 -FREEwww.adv voca Free Every Friday 781-286-8500 Wednesday, November 26, 2025 Revere, Winthrop set for Thanksgiving showdown after long layoffs By Dom Nicastro T he Revere -Winthrop Thanksgiving rivalry is more than a football game. It’s a century-old tradition, a measuring stick, a neighborhood line in the sand. And this year, both teams arrive rested, reloaded and coming off unusually long 20-day breaks when they meet Thursday at 10 a.m. at Harry Della Russo Stadium. The Patriots enter at 4–6. The Vikings comes in at 3–6. Neither has taken a snap since Nov. 7. It isn’t the rhythm either team expected heading into one of the state’s longestrunning Thanksgiving rivalries. But a twist in the schedule — Belmont opting out of its game against Revere last week — left the Patriots idle. Winthrop, meanwhile, chose not to play in its secondround consolation game after a tough Division 6 playoff loss to Stoneham. So here they are: two rivals with fresh legs, unpredictable timing and everything to play for on Thanksgiving morning. A rivalry with over 100 years of history Revere and Winthrop fi rst TURKEY DAY HOSTS: The 2025 Team Captains, shown from left to right: Walter Franklin, Jackson Martel, Mario Ramirez and Bryan Fuentes with Coaches Louis Cicatelli, Vincent Gregorio, Brandon Brito, Jared Gordinas and Edward Doris. (Advocate fi le photo) met in 1913, making the matchup one of Massachusetts’ oldest Thanksgiving traditions. The Vikings hold a 60–32–3 all-time lead and have controlled the recent meetings, winning the last three: 2024: Winthrop 25, Revere 0. 2023: Winthrop 22, Revere 0. 2022: Winthrop 25, Revere 6. Revere’s most recent win came in 2021, a 16–13 victory. Since then, the Patriots have scored just six total points across three matchups against Winthrop. Revere’s season: a mix of youth, breakthroughs and lessons Revere’s 2025 season has been defi ned by a young roster learning on the fly and fl ashes of potential that suggest a bright future. The Patriots hit their high point on Oct. 31 when they beat Everett for the second straight year — something even longtime coach Lou Cicatelli couldn’t recall happening in program history. The Patriots have leaned on their ground game all season. Sophomore quarterback Jose Fuentes — nearly 1,000 all-purpose yards this fall — has grown into one of the program’s most reliable playmakers, dangerous both as a runner and passer. Reda Atoui continues to be a force on both sides of the ball; Mario Ramirez has given Revere a power element in the backfield, and Sergio Peguero’s versatility has surfaced in big games. The offensive line, once shaky, has matured steadily, giving Revere the physical presence needed to run its Wing-T staples, including the counter play known as “Sally” that helped beat Everett. But the Patriots staggered into their long break after a 27–6 loss at Newburyport. Cicatelli said poor practice habits and inconsistent execution showed up on the field. Belmont canceling last week’s scheduled matchup left Revere without a game to stabilize its momentum heading into Thanksgiving. Still, Cicatelli believes the rest has helped. “We had a nice, hard practice tonight, watching fi lm, and we’re back after it now,” he said about halfway through his 20-day prep for Winthrop. “I think we made it. Hopefully it makes a diff erence.” Winthrop: a lateseason surge and a dangerous run game Winthrop started 0–4, but REVERE | SEE Page 10 Over 120 RHS students qualify for the prestigious John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Special to Th e Advocate R Superintendent Dr. Dianne Kelly talked with scholars during breakfast at RHS last Friday. evere High School (RHS) celebrated some of its topperforming seniors last Friday morning with a recognition breakfast honoring students who earned the prestigious John and Abigail Adams Scholarship for their outstanding scores on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS). More than 120 RHS seniors — along with an additional group of students from CityLab — qualifi ed for the merit-based award this year, representing over a quarter of the entire senior class. Students gathered in the RHS Learning Commons, where RHS Principal Chris Bowen, district leaders, and members of the guidance team were on hand to personally congratulate students. The John and Abigail Adams Scholarship is one of the ADAMS | SEE Page 12
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