Maryland's top high school football programs will get rewarded for a job well done this weekend.
The nine state champion teams will be honored during a ceremony at halftime of Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Ravens have invited the players and coaches from the team to attend Sunday's game as part of the event.
The nine teams getting honored are:
M.I.A.A A-Conference: St. Frances Academy
M.I.A.A B-Conference: St. Mary's Saints
M.I.A.A C-Conference: Annapolis Area Christian School
W.C.A.C. Capital Conference: Gonzaga College
W.C.A.C. Metro Conference: St. Mary's
Class 1A: Fort Hill
Class 2A: Oakdale
Class 3A: Franklin
Class 4A: Quince Orchard
The Ravens will also honor all of their Coach of the Week recipients from the entire year, and name a Coach of the Year winner. The coaches being honored are:
Week 1: Jamie Willis – Long Reach High School
Week 2: Donald Davis – Calvert Hall College High School
Week 3: Derrick Krumholtz – Kenwood High SchoolÂ
Week 4: Will Bell – Severna Park High SchoolÂ
Week 5: Mike Kraus – South Carroll High SchoolÂ
Week 6: Corey Johnson – Edmondson-Westside High SchoolÂ
Week 7: Larry Luthe – Liberty High SchoolÂ
Week 8: Rob Harris – Broadneck High School
Week 9: Matt Banta – Dundalk High School
Week 10: Butch Schaffer – Glenelg High School
In addition to recognizing the high school teams and coaches, Sunday's game is also a chance for the Ravens to highlight their partnership with the organization Up2Us Sports.
In April, the Ravens launched a five-year partnership with Up2Us Sports by making a $1.5 million investment that has helped expand the program throughout Baltimore.
Established in 2010, Up2Us Sports is a national nonprofit dedicated to inspiring children to achieve their potential by providing them with coaches trained in positive youth development. Its AmeriCorps program is the first national service program that challenges young adults to give back to communities through a year of service as coach-mentors. Up2Us Sports' research, training and on-the-ground initiatives empower sports programs across the country to become a united force for meaningful change.
Those interesting is become a coach through Up2Us Sports can find more information here.