Mustang Football Kicks Off Season with Victory

Medford Shuts Out Revere, 33-0 Friday Night at Hormel

– Allison Goldsberry

After months of hard work under the tutelage of former Everett assistant football coach Rico Dello Iacono, the Medford Mustang football team opened up the 2009 season with a victory.

The Mustangs blanked former Greater Boston League rival Revere, 33-0, on Friday night at Hormel Stadium.

The victory was particularly sweet for new head coach Dello Iacono, who played his first game against Revere as a sophomore starter for Everett High School in 1992.

Dello Iacono could not be more proud of his team and said it was “karma” to coach his first game as Medford’s head coach against Revere.

“It feels great…I’m proud of those boys,” said Coach Dello Iacono.

“We came out. We did exactly what we needed to do…we played like a team,” said Dello Iacono.

The coach praised the seniors for stepping up their game and for providing leadership for the younger team members.

Coach Dello Iacono also said it “felt great” to see the community rallying for the team.

The crowd was indeed electrified at Hormel Stadium Friday night as the Mustangs controlled the game from the start. Senior Phil Chery scored the first touchdown of the game at the beginning of the first quarter, and the Mustangs were up 26-0 at halftime. Chery also found himself in the end zone again in the fourth quarter, scoring the Mustang’s final touchdown of the game, followed by a solid kick for the extra point by senior David Lunardi.

In the second quarter, QB Alex Krasco made a thirty-one yard pass that found senior captain Jimmy Richardson pretty much free in the end zone. However, the Mustangs weren’t done, and went on to score two more touchdowns in the second quarter with about two and a half minutes left. Krasco connected with junior Alec Finn for a touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion. Then the Mustangs recovered the ball after Revere fumbled, and Krasco and Chery moved the ball nicely down the field, setting up a touchdown run by Krasco.

The Mustang defense was also on top of its game and managed to completely stymie the Revere offense with interceptions and forcing turnovers on downs.

The Mustangs face a very similar lineup of teams as last season, with non-league games scheduled with Newton South, North Andover, Bishop Fenwick, and Austin Prep. They will take on GBL teams Somerville and Malden at home and will hit the road against Cambridge and Everett. Click here to see the full fall schedule.

Coach Dello Iacono said the team is focused on its game next week at Bishop Fenwick.

“We’re going to take it a game at a time. We’re going to get better every week,” said Dello Iacono.

The entire game is playing on educational access Channel 15 at 7AM, 10AM, 12PM, 4PM, 6PM, 8PM, and 10PM.

Video highlights below courtesy MHS-TV 15: