FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The Canton Bulldogs rolled their way to a dominant 34-0 victory against Franklin High School behind the leadership of Head Coach Anthony Fallon. The team's first win against the Panthers since 1990 earned Fallon the honor of the New England Patriots Coach of the Week Award.
Canton's senior quarterback JT Norton showed poise under pressure, leading a balanced offensive attack that overwhelmed Franklin's defense. He threw for 354 yards and three touchdowns, including a 65-yard strike to Jake Marcell, who also contributed defensively with three sacks. The Bulldogs' defense shut out Franklin with smart adjustments and relentless pressure, sealing a statement win in the season opener.
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 Bulldogs on Tuesday at Canton High School. 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 Fallon's commitment to the development of the next generation.
" From the outside looking in, I can see how special this win is for Canton," Tippett said. "It's more than a score, it's pride, history, and the start of something powerful. Congratulations to Coach Fallon and the Bulldogs!"
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 Fallon.
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.
