FOXBOROUGH, Mass. –Wachusett Regional High School's total team effort reared its head in a resounding 32-27 victory over Algonquin. The performance couldn't have been more fitting for the Mountaineers head coach Mike Dubzinski, who collected his 200th career victory as a head coach, leading to his selection as the New England Patriots Coach of the Week.
The Mountaineer offense was on full display against Algonquin, as running back Jon Linberg ran for two scores, and quarterback Thomas Anderson threw three touchdowns. In addition, Wachusett's Logan Dennett recovered a key fumble to get his team to a 4-3 record.
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 Mountaineers on Tuesday at Wachusett Regional 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 Dubzinski's commitment to the development of the next generation.
"Achieving 200 victories is a testament to Coach Dubzinski's leadership, dedication, and hard work of the young men who have come through the program. This accomplishment reflects a commitment to excellence, not just on the field, but in shaping strong, resilient individuals," 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 Dubzinski.
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.
