FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – No. 10 Lowell stunned No. 7 Methuen with a gritty 29-21 win in the Round of 16, marking the program's first playoff victory under the new format. In his second season of his second stint as Lowell Head Coach, Scott Boyle has guided the Red Raiders through hard times and produced a winning formula. For his efforts as a coach and mentor for his team, Coach Boyle has been named the New England Patriots Coach of the Week.
Lowell jumped out to a 14-0 lead behind junior receiver Collin Christiansen, who hauled in 5 receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown. Despite Methuen rallying to tie the game, Lowell responded with clutch plays from senior Ricky Phom and senior captain Ryan Conley, setting up Joshua Amankwaah's third touchdown of the night. Quarterback Seth Ly and Isaiah Hardin sealed the win with a sack and interception, respectively, in the final minutes. Coach Boyle praised his team's resilience, saying the victory proved what hard work can accomplish.
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 Red Raiders on Monday at Lowell 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 Boyle's commitment to the development of the next generation.
"What the Lowell Red Raiders did Friday night was what high school football is all about: Heart, Preparation and Pride," Tippett said. "You can see a team that believed in each other and refused to quit. That kind of effort is hard to come by a true testament to the commitment and teamwork."
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 Boyle.
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.
