Midland Wachusett’s own Leominster High School added a win in dramatic fashion this past week, securing a 36-35 nail biter on the road over Milford High School. The back-and-forth contest saw Leominster prevail despite being down 8 points late in the fourth quarter. The victory ultimately earned Head Coach Devin Gates the New England Patriots Coach of the Week Award.
Leominster’s junior quarterback Osiris Lopez proved why Division I football could be in his near future, as he threw for 282 yards and 3 touchdowns in the second half. Despite leveling the score at 28 with just under six minutes remaining, Milford took the lead once again with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. With the deck stacked against them, Leominster went on to lead a game-winning drive with 49 seconds left, culminating in a two-point conversation to seal a 36-35 victory.
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 Blue Devils on Tuesday at Leominster 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 Gates’ commitment to the development of the next generation.
“With endurance and resolve, the Leominster Blue Devils triumphed in a hard-fought battle,” 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 Gates.
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 [email protected]. 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.
The above story is from the New England Patriots
