Each week during the High School Girls Flag Football season in New Jersey and New York, the National Football League‘s New York Jets recognize a Coach and Player of the Week.
The Flag Coach of the Week Game Changer Award is presented by Visa. The NFL team gives the award winner a $2,000 donation for the school’s flag football program. The winner is also invited to attend the Jets’ Play Football preseason game in August where he will be honored on-field at MetLife Stadium.
In its second year, the Jets Girls’ High School Flag Coach of the Week is given to a coach in the Tri-State area who serves the best interests of the game through the teaching of sound football fundamentals, the motivation of young players to achieve and the promotion of youth football by way of dedication to their community, their school and their student-athletes.
Visa and the NFL have teamed up to help teach financial concepts with Financial Football, a fast-paced interactive game that engages students while teaching them money management skills. Students of all ages learn key concepts about saving and spending, budgeting, and the wise use of credit in preparation
for game play. Check Out the game here: https://www.financialfootball.com/.
The Jets host Girls’ Flag teams from New York and New Jersey high schools to play a series of regular season games at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. where the Player of the Week is selected. The player receives a $1,000 donation from the Jets and Gatorade in their name to support their high school’s Girls Flag program and be honored on-field at the Jets Play Football Pre-season game.
Week 7
Coach of the Week – Antoine Mayweather, South Bronx Educational Campus (New York)
Mayweather grew up in Bronx, NY and attended Harry S. Truman High School, where he played varsity football and varsity basketball. He went on to play tight end and wide receiver at Nassau Community College and Norfolk State University. After graduating with a bachelor’s in sociology and master’s in physical education, he returned to The Bronx where he has been teaching physical education for 16 years. Mayweather is in his 12th season coaching for South Bronx’s flag program, and also coaches boys tackle football and basketball at Alfred E. Smith. The South Bronx flag program is comprised of students from University Heights High School and Mott Haven Village Preparatory High School.
Player of the Week – Fiona Helly, RB/WR, Wood-Ridge HS (New Jersey)
Wood-Ridge High School in Wood-Ridge, New Jersey. Wood-Ridge posted a 26-13 win over Pompton Lakes to improve their record to 4-0 on the season. Helly ran for a 19-yard rushing touchdown and had two receiving touchdowns for 67 yards. She also plays soccer and basketball for the Wood-Ridge Blue
Devils.
Week 6
Coach of the Week – Kyle Schneider, Pine Bush Sr. HS (New York)
Kyle Schneider grew up in Hillsdale, NJ and attended engages students while teaching them Pascack Valley High School, where he was on the varsity football team and varsity basketball team. After graduating in 2013, he went on to play quarterback at SUNY Cortland while pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Sport Management, as well as a degree in Business and Managerial Economics. Since the start of his coaching tenure, the Hillsdale native has had stints at Ridgefield Park High School, Pascack Valley High School, and most recently as Pine Bush’s Offensive Coordinator for the boy’s tackle football team and as head coach for the girl’s flag team. He is also a business teacher at Pine Bush Senior High School. The Pine Bush girls are 10-2 on the season, after taking down Kingston 6-0 in five overtimes in the Section IX Preliminaries, and look to add another win in the Section IX Semifinals against Monroe Woodbury High School.
Player of the Week – Abby Hopf, QB/WR, Saugerties HS (New York)
Saugerties posted a 25-6 win over Highland to improve their record to 7-2 on the season. Hopf recorded one rushing touchdown, one receiving touchdown, and one passing touchdown in the win. She also plays varsity volleyball for Saugerties.
Week 5
Coach of the Week – Mike Giles, Elizabeth HS (New Jersey)
Giles grew up in Montclair, NJ and attended Montclair management skills. Students of all ages learn
High School, where he played defensive end and defensive tackle. Giles led his team to New Jersey
key concepts about saving and spending, budgeting, and the wise use of credit in State Championship wins in 2012 and 2013. He went on to play tight end at Montclair State University and attended Rowan University. Giles also coaches boys tackle football for the Minutemen, as well as girls varsity basketball, who clinched the 2024 county championship. He is also a special education teacher at Elizabeth High School. The Lady Minutemen are 7-0-1
Player of the Week – Cortni Vnencak, WR/DB, Montville HS (New Jersey)
The Montville Mustangs posted a 12-7 win over Jefferson Township’s Falcons to improve their record to 3-0 on the season. Vnencak hauled in two touchdown’s for 120 yards. She also plays varsity
basketball and was selected to Freedom Division’s first team, earning Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference honors.
Week 4
Coach of the Week – Alyssa Gulino, North Babylon HS (New York)
Player of the Week – Eleni Georgatos, RB, Division Avenue HS (New York)
Week 3
Coach of the Week – Dan Kesack, Lyndhurst HS (New Jersey)
Player of the Week – Ma’Ziyah Richards, QB/CB, Plainfield HS (New Jersey)
Week 2
Coach of the Week – Thomas Patierno, Essex County Vocational School District (New Jersey)
Thomas Patierno grew up in Fairfield, NJ and attended West Essex High School, where he played center and linebacker. During his high school football tenure, he earned 5 college football scholarship offers, and was a key contributor on the 1980 #1 ranked public school team in New Jersey. After graduating, he went on to pursue his passion of cooking at the Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic City. Since returning to Essex County, Patierno has been teaching for over 25 years at Essex County Vocational Schools and coaches multiple sports including soccer, basketball, and flag football. Essex Tech is 1-1 on the season, taking down Orange High School 31-0 to earn their first win last week. They are looking to advance their record with upcoming games against Irvington and Mt. Olive.
Player of the Week – Ivy Matthews, QB – Syosset HS (New York)
Ivy Matthews, junior quarterback from Syosset High School in Long Island, New York. Syosset posted a 14-6 win over Port Washington to improve their record to 6-0 on the season. Matthews had a 41-yard punt return for a touchdown and 8-yard touchdown pass. She completed 70% of her passes for 68 passing yards. Matthews also plays varsity basketball for Syosset High School.
Week 1
Coach of the Week – Brian Kelly, Valley Stream Central HS (New York)
Brian Kelly grew up in Valley Stream, NY and attended Valley Stream South High School, where he was an offensive and defensive lineman. After graduating from Adelphi University, he returned to Valley Stream and has been coaching football in the community for over 10 years. Prior to serving as head coach for the Valley Central Eagles, Kelly coached football at Valley Stream Memorial Junior High School, where he currently teaches 7th and 9th grade special education. The Eagles took down East Rockaway 14-0 to earn their third straight win of the season, making them 3-2 on the season.
Player of the Week – Jaelyn Chin, QB – Francis Lewis HS (New York)
Jaelyn Chin, freshman quarterback from Francis Lewis High School in Fresh Meadows, New York. The Patriots posted a 24-6 win over John Adams to improve their record to 1-1 in conference play for the Public Schools Athletic League. Chin had over 100 passing yards and picked up an additional 45 yards rushing. She completed three touchdown passes and ran for one touchdown on the ground. Chin also plays varsity basketball for the Patriots.
