FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Boston Latin Academy clinched the Boston City League with their 20-0 win against Brighton. Leading his team to a 7-1 overall record and 5-0 league record thus far, Head Coach Rocco Zizza has given his team the keys to success and the confidence to take on any challenge they faced. Coach Zizza has shown a continued commitment to the success and well-being of his athletes, and as a result has been recognized as the New England Patriots Coach of the Week.
After heading into their matchup with Brighton with only one loss and a five-game win streak, the Dragons kept their train rolling with another win on Halloween. Senior quarterback Jack Shapiro scored two total touchdowns en route to a resounding victory for his team.
NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Andre Tippett, who presently holds the role of Executive Director of Community Affairs for the New England Patriots, had a meeting with the Dragons on Tuesday at Boston Latin Academy. During the meeting, he presented a generous donation of $1,000 to the football program on behalf of the Kraft family and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation. The acknowledgment pays homage to Coach Zizza's commitment to the development of the next generation.
"Coach Zizza and his team captured the Boston City League title," Tippett said. "Their defense set the tone, their offense took over, and under his leadership they showed exactly what discipline, commitment and heart look like on a football field."
The visit and donation presentation will be showcased on the Patriots' weekly television program, "Patriots All Access." You can catch the episode on Friday night at 7 p.m. on WBZ-TV in Boston, and it will also be available for immediate viewing on Patriots.com. The acknowledgment and support underscore the Patriots' dedication to community engagement and the recognition of exceptional individuals, exemplified by Coach Zizza.
This is the 30th year in which the Patriots have joined the National Football League in conducting the High School Coach of the Week program, which recognizes outstanding high school coaches and promotes youth football throughout New England. The 2025 season marks the 15th year that Tippett has taken the award on the road to visit the schools that benefit from the program. At the conclusion of the fall, one of the weekly winners will be named the New England Patriots High School Coach of the Year and will receive an additional $2,000 contribution towards the school's football program.
For the 15th straight year, the Patriots will also be accepting nominations for High School Coach of the Week honors. Those who wish to nominate a high school football coach in New England who leads a team to an exceptional weekly performance or reaches a personal career milestone are encouraged to send submissions to nominatecoach@patriots.com. All nominations must be submitted following a team's Friday night or Saturday afternoon game to be considered for that week's Coach of the Week award.
The Patriots Foundation is the non-profit through which the Patriots support charitable and philanthropic organizations throughout New England. This support comes in the form of direct grants, in-kind donations and player appearances. The foundation assists a variety of charitable organizations and programs throughout New England by supporting their educational, family and health initiatives.
