During each week of the regular season, the Baltimore Ravens will recognize one local high school football game as its Ravens RISE High School Football Showdown.
This week's Showdown features the Dulaney (Timonium, Md.) Lions (0-2) at the Catonsville Comets (2-0). Kickoff on Friday night (9/18) is 7 p.m. In last year's matchup, the Comets escaped with a narrow, 40-39, victory over the Lions. Dulaney aims for revenge and its first win of the season against the Baltimore County foe, while Catonsville's veteran coach, Rich Hambor, looks to improve upon his unblemished record in 2015 following decisive victories over Patapsco and Kenwood.
In conjunction with The Baltimore Sun, a voting poll is established each week to help select which Showdown will receive a visit to the game from Ravens Cheerleaders and mascot Poe, as well as a monetary donation for both school's respective athletic programs. Following the matchup, each game will be showcased through a detailed game recap and photo gallery.
Voting is now open for next week's Ravens RISE High School Football Showdown and will close Tuesday (9/22). The games available for Week 4 are:
§ Patterson @ Dunbar (9/25 @ 6 p.m.)
§ Parkville @ Perry Hall (9/25 @ 7 p.m.)
§ Reservoir @ River Hill (9/25 @ 7 p.m.)
To vote, please visit www.BaltimoreRavens.com/RavensRISEShowdown.
Brant Hall, varsity head football coach of the Loyola Blakefield (Towson, Md.) Dons, has been named the Ravens High School Coach of the Week. Now in its 19th year of existence, Hall is the second recipient of the award in 2015.
Last Friday, Loyola (2-1) earned a come-from-behind, 33-32, victory over Archbishop Curley (Baltimore, Md.), the defending Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association "B" Conference Champions. After surrendering a touchdown with four minutes remaining in the contest and trailing by six, the visiting Dons drove 67 yards and tied the game, 32-32, on a RB Azende Smith 14-yard scamper. Loyola K Gavin Rowley converted the extra point to seal the win with just seconds remaining, and ending Archbishop Curley's 11-game winning streak.
"Believing in each other and working together has been a focal point for us the last few weeks," said Hall. "Our kids are learning how to win, and playing in a game like this, to get the result they did, will do a lot for their confidence as we move forward this season."
The Dons host the Landon (Bethesda, Md.) Bears this Friday (9/18) in a non-conference matchup for the first time since 2007.
Each week during the season, the Ravens honor a high school coach who has made a significant impact on his student-athletes. Each winner will be in attendance at the Ravens-Chiefs home game on Dec. 20 for an opportunity to be named the Ravens High School Coach of the Year. In addition, each coach receives a 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, go to www.BaltimoreRavens.com/RISE.
