Joe Polce, varsity head football coach of the Walkersville Lions, has been named the Ravens High School Coach of the Week. Now in its 20th year of existence, Polce is the tenth and final recipient of the award in 2016.
Last Friday, Walkersville (10-0) defeated the Middletown Knights, 27-3, to complete their first undefeated regular season since 1992. Trailing for the only time all year, the Lions fell behind 3-0 early in the first quarter before rattling off four unanswered touchdowns and securing their tenth victory of the season. Allowing a total of 24 points (2.4 points per game) all season, Walkersville enters the playoffs aiming for its second Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association (MPSSAA) state championship in school history.
"I hope our team learned that nothing is guaranteed from the regular season," Polce stated. "We need to earn it every day and continue to work hard in practice. We had a great regular season, but that's done now. Hopefully, we can advance in the playoffs this weekend and take it one week at a time."
Walkersville hosts the Century (Sykesville, Md.) Knights (8-2) tonight (11/11) at 7 p.m. in the Class 2A West Regional Semifinals of the MPSSAA postseason tournament. The winner of this contest will advance to the Regional Finals next weekend.
Each week during the season, the Ravens have honored a high school coach who makes a significant impact on his student-athletes. Each of the 10 winners will be in attendance for the Ravens vs. Eagles game at M&T Bank Stadium on Dec. 18 for an opportunity to be named the Ravens High School Coach of the Year. In addition, each coach receives a $2,000 donation to the school's football program and an award from Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.
These initiatives are just a piece of Ravens RISE, the team's football outreach initiative presented by Wendy's. The program impacts a range of area football players from youth to high school, providing them with a year-round opportunity to "Play Like A Raven" through clinics, tournaments, grants, ticket donations and exclusive opportunities to play at M&T Bank Stadium and interact with Ravens players and coaches.
To learn more about Ravens RISE, please visit www.BaltimoreRavens.com/RISE.
2016 Ravens High School Coach of the Week Recipients:
|
Week 1 |
Carlos Dunmoodie |
Centennial High School |
|
Week 2 |
Matt Miller |
Winters Mill High School |
|
Week 3 |
Ray Wright |
Randallstown High School |
|
Week 4 |
Justin Payne |
Parkville High School |
|
Week 5 |
Kyle Schmitt |
Archbishop Spalding High School |
|
Week 6 |
Anthony Burgos |
Franklin High School |
|
Week 7 |
Daryl Wade |
Baltimore City College |
|
Week 8 |
Steve Lurz |
Patterson Mill High School |
|
Week 9 |
Chad McCormick |
Old Mill High School |
|
Week 10 |
Joe Polce |
Walkersville High School |
