FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The No. 17 Natick RedHawks cruised to a victory over Milford High School this past week, adding a 28-7 win at home. Natick's dominance moved them to 3-1 in the Bay State Conference, leading to head coach Mark Mortarelli being selected as the New England Patriots Coach of the Week.
Natick running back Sam Hubbard's three touchdown performance proved to be the difference for the RedHawks. "He's got unbelievable balance, incredible vision, and he's tough as nails," Coach Mortarelli added about his star player.
NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Andre Tippett, who presently holds the role of Executive Director of Community Affairs for the New England Patriots, had a meeting with the RedHawks on Tuesday at Natick High School. During the meeting, he presented a generous donation of $1,000 to the football program on behalf of the Kraft family and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation. The acknowledgment pays homage to Coach Mortarelli's commitment to the development of the next generation.
"The Natick RedHawks executed their game plan flawlessly. Their run game dominated, and the defense held strong against a tough Milford team. Their consistency on the ground reflects the hard work and effort from the entire team." Tippett said.
The visit and donation presentation will be showcased on the Patriots' weekly television program, "Patriots All Access." You can catch the episode on Friday night at 7 p.m. on WBZ-TV in Boston, and it will also be available for immediate viewing on Patriots.com. The acknowledgment and support underscore the Patriots' dedication to community engagement and the recognition of exceptional individuals, exemplified by Coach Mortarelli.
This is the 29th year in which the Patriots have joined the National Football League in conducting the High School Coach of the Week program, which recognizes outstanding high school coaches and promotes youth football throughout New England. The 2024 season marks the 13th year that Tippett has taken the award on the road to visit the schools that benefit from the program. At the conclusion of the fall, one of the weekly winners will be named the New England Patriots High School Coach of the Year and will receive an additional $2,000 contribution towards the school's football program.
For the 14th straight year, the Patriots will also be accepting nominations for High School Coach of the Week honors. Those who wish to nominate a high school football coach in New England who leads a team to an exceptional weekly performance or reaches a personal career milestone are encouraged to send submissions to nominatecoach@patriots.com. All nominations must be submitted following a team's Friday night or Saturday afternoon game to be considered for that week's Coach of the Week award.
The Patriots Foundation is the non-profit through which the Patriots support charitable and philanthropic organizations throughout New England. This support comes in the form of direct grants, in-kind donations and player appearances. The foundation assists a variety of charitable organizations and programs throughout New England by supporting their educational, family and health initiatives.
