W7 Coach of the Week

Chip Armstrong, head coach of the Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.) varsity football team, has been named Ravens High School Coach of the Week for the seventh week of the 2007 season. Presented by Toyota, this is the 11th year of the Ravens’ award program.

Armstrong led the Gaels (3-4) to a 24-7 upset of No. 1-ranked Loyola (6-1) on Friday night. The game was played at Homewood Field at Johns Hopkins University, amidst off and on heavy rain. Such conditions caused the running game to be the deciding factor, and the Gaels came out the victor.

Armstrong takes his award from Brian Billick (left).

With the strong play of Gaels’ QB Chris Collins (13 rushes for 97 yards), Rod White (14 for 54 yards) and Renard Robinson (14 for 64 yards), the Gaels kept the undefeated Dons off the field. An early 14-0 lead in the second quarter and rain affecting the passing game also helped.

“We decided that we were going to spread it out amongst our three or four best offensive threats,” Armstrong acknowledged. “Basically, we were going to do it so that they couldn’t key on one person. The game plan wasn’t just to go in and run, it just happened that we ran effectively and got up. The first score was a touchdown pass, and then once we got up 14-0, and we were running the ball so effectively, we just kind of stayed with it and used the clock and kept their offense off the field.”

The strategy was true, and the Gaels’ defense held up their end of the bargain as well. Dons’ RB Terence Garvin was held to 19 yards on 7 carries and late fourth-quarter attempts to score were also thwarted by two Gaels’ interceptions of Loyola QB Leon Kinnard.

Armstrong noted the improvement.

“We’re young on defense,” he said. We only have four or five seniors on defense. So, it’s been a work in progress all year. We’ve historically played well against Loyola, and the kids know kids from other teams. I just thought we were really prepared with what they did. As the game went on, once we stopped the running game, and they had to throw, our secondary stepped up with two interceptions in the fourth quarter. We had several three-and-outs and put pressure on Kinnard all game. I thought everyone stepped up and played really well on all three phases of the game – offense, defense and special teams.”

This is the first Ravens High School Coach of the Week honor for Armstrong. He is in his 3rd year as head coach at Mount St. Joseph and also teaches science.

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
Week 7 Chip Armstrong Mount St. Joseph