Ravens High School Coach of the Week
Patrick Nixon, varsity head football coach of the Mervo (Baltimore) Mustangs, has been named the Ravens High School Coach of the Week. Nixon is the 10th and final recipient of the honor in 2014.
Last Friday (11/7), Mervo (9-0) earned a 9-8 victory over the Edmondson (Baltimore) Red Storm (9-1). Trailing 8-2 with under three minutes to play in the fourth quarter, Mustangs QB Garvin Nicholson connected with Khalil Williams on a 42-yard touchdown to tie the score, while K Donte Ramseur added the extra point to put Mervo ahead of the conference foe Red Storm.
Edmondson mounted a late attack on its final offensive possession, pushing its way as far as the Mustangs' 2-yard line before time expired on the comeback attempt, and Mervo was crowned Baltimore City Division I champions.
The Mustangs' nine victories in 2014 matched their win total from the previous two years combined, and Mervo now enters the state regional playoffs for the first time since 2008.
"We were resilient, and we finished Friday night," Nixon explained of his team's comeback victory. "We preach finishing in our program – finishing every drill and finishing every workout. We've been preparing to finish since we began preparing for the 2014 season last November with weight training and workouts. Our kids have been focused and dedicated themselves in the offseason, and it's that focus and attention to detail that have allowed us to get to this point."
The Mustangs host the Paint Branch (Burtonsville) Panthers this Friday (11/14) in the Class 4A North Region semifinal.
Each week during the season, the Ravens honored a high school coach who made a significant impact on his student-athletes. Each winner will be in attendance at the Ravens-Jaguars home game on Dec. 14 for an opportunity to be named the Ravens High School Coach of the Year. In addition, each coach received a donation to their school's football program and an award from head coach John Harbaugh.
