W6 Coach of the Week

Skip Hartley, head coach of the Digital Harbor (Baltimore, Md.) varsity football team, has been named Ravens High School Coach of the Week for the sixth week of the 2007 season. Presented by Toyota, this is the 11th year of the Ravens’ award program.

Hartley led the Rams to a 14-6 win over Forest Park on Friday (10/12) afternoon. Following its season-opening loss to Poly, Digital Harbor has now won five straight (5-1) and sits behind Dunbar (6-0) in the Class 1A South division, with playoffs looming. The record is the product of a work in progress, with the Rams improving from 2-7 (2004) to 3-7 (2005) to 5-5 (2006), since Hartley began his tenure.

Hartley (right) was at Ravens headquarters for an interview with WMAR-TV.

The Foresters took an early lead with a touchdown in the first quarter, but the Rams’ defense held the team to no additional points. With adjustments made at halftime and the call to put into action the Power I running formation, the Rams scored two second-half touchdowns to seal the game.

“We went into the half with Forest Park up 6-0,” Hartley said. “‘Let’s buckle down,’ I said. We played defense until our offense came on track. Our defense has been playing well our entire year. (Defensive coordinator) Coach Wineke has put together a great plan. We used to coach together at Calvert Hall, and I asked him to come here this fall.”

Not only did Wineke’s defense continue its excellent play, the offense drummed up a running game that would ensure the win.

“We did a great job with the rushing game,” Hartley continued. “We carried about 50 times and had close to 250 yards on the ground. We alternated our tailbacks so that Anthony Drungels ended with 100 yards, Terrell Bonds had 64 yards, our fullback Aaron Hargraves had 30-plus yards. Everybody had a touch.”

This is Hartley’s first nod as Ravens High School Coach of the Week. Digital Harbor opened its doors in 2003, and the football program was a combination of the former Southern High School and Digital Harbor. In its second year and Hartley’s first as head coach, enrollment increased when the two schools combined.

“I am thrilled. I am shocked,” the first-time honoree confessed. “The kids made up their mind after the Poly game to just have some fun. We were a little uptight at the Poly game. A little awestruck under the lights. We talked about it – if we play our game and do what we have to do, we’ll be okay. Each week we worked on things we had to improve, and things have worked out.”

Each week during the season, the Ravens honor a high school coach who has made a significant impact on his athletes. Each of the season’s weekly winners will be present at the Colts vs. Ravens home game on Dec. 9, for the naming of the Ravens’ High School Coach of the Year.

A panel of area high school experts selects the coach of the week. The recipients receive:

- A $2,000 donation to the school’s football program
- An award certificate signed by Ravens head coach Brian Billick, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and Gene Washington, the NFL’s Director of Football Development
- A specially-designed hat

2007 Ravens HS Coach of the Week Recipients

Week 1 Lawrence Smith Dunbar
Week 2 Doug DuVall Wilde Lake
Week 3 Brian Abbott Loyola Blakefield
Week 4 Steve Turnbaugh Hereford
Week 5 Jeff Oeming North Carroll
Week 6 Skip Hartley Digital Harbor