Locals offer their Super Bowl predictions

Baccari, who serves as Johnston’s highly-respected town clerk, says, “it’s going to be a tight game” and “I’m a little nervous about it, as well. You know the Patriots; they get behind early and claw their way back to win!”

He feels “real good about the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady duo and hopes the omen of sorts from last week’s game vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars holds up Sunday versus. the Philadelphia Eagles.

“I predicted a 24-20 win last week and that turned out to be the final score,” Baccari said with a sigh of relief. “Let’s hope it’s that way Sunday.”

His prediction: Patriots, 35-27.

Meanwhile, Arnie Vecchione, Johnston’s Director of Public Works, predicts the Patriots will beat the Eagles, 27-17, Sunday.

He also recanted about the old days when he’d lie on his couch listening to the Patriots via the play-by-play by legendary sportscasters Babe Parilli and Gino Capeletti and being teased by his friends that the “Boston Patriots are a Minor League team because my friends always rooted for the New York Giants.”

Given that, Vecchione said with confidence as if he was tackling another snowstorm: “How can you go against the Patriots?”

Doug Jeffrey, the Chief of Staff for Mayor Joseph Polisena, says “the Philadelphia Eagles are a team of destiny. My oldest son is a huge Eagles fan but the best thing about the Super Bowl is that it’s one day closer to pitchers and catchers reporting to Major League Baseball spring training.”

When asked for a prediction, Jeffrey – a noted New York Yankee fan – said without hesitation: “27-24 Eagles.”

Meanwhile, Johnston Police Chief Richard S. Tamburini issued a reminder that gambling is illegal “but if I was a betting man I’d go with the Patriots.”

Like most people the Sun Rise talked with in regards to Sunday’s Super Bowl 52 that will be played in Minnesota, Tamburini said, “I’m a big Patriots fan, that Belichick and Brady combination is very impressive.”

Tammy Ricci, a clerk with the DPW, says “I watch that stuff but I don’t know about scores. My favorite player is Rob Gronkowski and I think he’s going to play and I’m hoping the Patriots will win!”

As for Joe Acciardo, Johnston High School’s veteran head football coach, “I’m still angry about the Tuck Rule when the Patriots beat the Oakland Raiders in that famed SnowBowl game and went on to win the AFC championship.”

When asked if he was a Patriots fan, Acciardo replied: “Only when they’re not playing the Raiders, a team I’ve liked since I was a kid. But, my son Joe is a Patriots fan so for him I hope New England wins Sunday.”

Okay coach, how about some insight – as you see it – as to the keys for a Patriots win.

“There are two big factors about Sunday’s game,” Acciardo said. “Tom Brady comes through time after time, you can’t count him out – ever! But Rob Gronkoswki is another huge factor. He’s the X-factor.”

Acciardo says that if Gronkowski is anywhere on the football field, “that’s huge. Now, the Eagles will have to cover him … even it he doesn’t catch more than two passes and plays the whole game, he’s still a weapon.”

How about a prediction?

“Mmm,” Acciardo said with a smile while getting ready to teach another health and physical education class, “Pats, 35-28.”

Jay Baccala, a JHS senior whose Panthers football career was cut short by an injury that required surgery, says, “The Patriots are going to win, 28-17, and that defense will be the key to a victory.”

Although making predictions isn’t exactly in their playbooks, the captains of JHS’ champion cheerleading squad, namely seniors Fallon Davis and Gabby Costantini, are Patriots fans and are hoping New England wins Sunday’s Super Bowl. The popular Panther captains both predicted a Pats victory; Davis saying “34-24 Pats” and Costantini calling it “34-28 New England!”

It seems that everywhere inside Winsor Hill Elementary School, Patriots Fever is running rampant.

So much so there will be a school-wide rally tomorrow in celebration of “our New England Patriots” says Donna Pingitore, Winsor’s popular office secretary.

“Is Gronk going to paly?” Pingitore asked several colleagues. “It’s going to be a tough game; the Eagles are good and I say it will be a close game.”

Although Pingitore didn’t dare predict the final outcome, Principal Michele Zarcaro thinks the Patriots will win 21-19.

Susan Parillo, the Winsor Hill’s health and physical education teacher and JHS’ head cheerleading coach, declared: “I’m a Pats fan for this game only! After that I go back to wearing purple and gold, I’m a Vikings fan.”

In fact, if the Vikings had beaten the Eagles last week, Parillo and her family would have been in Minnesota for Sunday’s game. However, as she said, “Ultimately, Brady’s Brady and I think he’ll pull it out!”

Parillo then turned to a fellow teacher saying “there’s no one else in this school that comes closer to being the Patriots Number One fan than Karin Peters.”

However, Peters said “I would never, ever, predict a score; that would be a jinx. But I do have all the faith in the world in the Patriots.”

Over at Northeast Auto Body, which is owned and operated by Gary Salzillo who heads the Johnston Youth Football League, the consensus is that the Patriots will win Sunday.

Salzillo predicts a 24-17 win while Matt Clements, Salzillo’s man for all seasons and reasons at Northeast Auto Body and with the youth Panthers, called it 28-17 Pats.

As for Steve Mangarelli, an office executive at Northeast Auto Body who is not a huge sports fan, mused, “New York Yankees, all the way!”