RAVENS RISE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SHOWDOWN
Each week during the 2018 regular season, the Baltimore Ravens will recognize one local high school football game as its Ravens RISE High School Football Showdown.
In conjunction with the Baltimore Sun, a voting poll will be established each week to help select a game that will receive a visit from Ravens Cheerleaders and Poe, have the stadium outfitted in Ravens banners and flags and obtain Ravens giveaways for fans in attendance. Additionally, a $1,500 donation will be awarded to each participating school's respective athletic program, and following the matchup, each Showdown will be highlighted with a detailed game recap and photo gallery. Student-athletes will also receive t-shirts to commemorate their participation in the game.
This week's Showdown takes place Friday (10/5) and features the Green Street Academy Chargers (Baltimore, Md.) at the New Era Academy Jaguars (Baltimore, Md.). Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. This matchup marks the first meeting between these young Baltimore City football programs – New Era Academy in its sixth season and Green Street Academy in its third campaign.
Voting is now open for next weekend's Ravens RISE High School Football Showdown and will close Tuesday (10/9). The games available for Week 7 are:
- Middletown @ Thomas Johnson (10/12 @ 6:30 p.m.)
- Williamsport @ Frederick (10/12 @ 7 p.m.)
- Brunswick @ Smithsburg (10/12 @ 7 p.m.)
To vote, please visit www.BaltimoreRavens.com/Showdown.
RAVENS HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE WEEK
Mike Kraus, varsity head football coach of the South Carroll Cavaliers (Sykesville, Md.), has been named the Ravens High School Coach of the Week. Now in its 22nd year of existence, Kraus is the fifth recipient of the award in 2018.
Last Saturday, South Carroll (3-2) defeated the Winters Mill Falcons (Westminster, Md.) 28-26 to avenge last year's loss against their Carroll County foe. Trailing 26-21 with 20 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, senior QB Mason Gavin found fellow senior WR Brett Finzel in the end zone for a 12-yard scoring toss to secure the win for the host Cavaliers.
With three victories to date on the season, Kraus' squad has already surpassed their 2017 win total in the head coach's first year at the helm for South Carroll.
"We've run that two-minute drill multiple times in practice, so we were prepared to use it when the time came on Saturday," Kraus stated. "Even with no timeouts, there was no panic from our players or coaches, and we were able to overcome that deficit with good execution."
South Carroll visits the Liberty Lions (Eldersburg, Md.) this Friday (10/5) at 7 p.m. The Cavaliers look to deal the Lions their first defeat in 2018.
Each week during the season, the Ravens honor a high school coach who has made a significant impact on his student-athletes. All 10 Coach of the Week winners receive a $2,000 donation to their school's football program and an award from Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. In addition, each coach will attend the Ravens-Buccaneers game at M&T Bank Stadium on Dec. 16 for an opportunity to be named the Ravens High School Coach of the Year.
These initiatives are just one piece of Ravens RISE, the team's football outreach program presented by MedStar Sports Medicine. Ravens RISE 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, please visit www.BaltimoreRavens.com/RISE.
