FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The Xaverian Hawks faced off against the Catholic Memorial Knights in a highly anticipated matchup last week. Led by Head Coach Al Fornaro, Xaverian came out on top in a 25-22 upset of the previously number-one ranked and undefeated Knights. In recognition of his leadership, and the confidence, clutch and finishing ability that he instilled in his team, Coach Fornaro has been named the New England Patriots Coach of the Week.
Xaverian made their mark on the high school football landscape in Massachusetts with their win, their first against Catholic Memorial since 2018. They started off the game strong, with a 25-yard touchdown run from senior Christian McIntyre and would then later tie the game at 15 apiece with a 97-yard drive and a 19-yard touchdown run from sophomore Rocco Sestito. Down 22-15, the Hawks turned a fourth-and-12 attempt into a 48-yard score as McIntyre took a pass to the house to tie the game up. In the final two minutes, Xaverian drove down the field to set up a 23-yard field goal attempt for junior kicker Zander Govostes, who converted it for the win as time expired.
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 Hawks on Tuesday at Xaverian Brothers 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 Fornaro's commitment to the development of the next generation.
"Great coaches don't just build winning teams, they build character, discipline and belief," said Tippett. "Coach Fornaro does all of that and more. Coach Fornaro's leadership, dedication and passion for the game continue to inspire not just his players, but the entire community."
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 Fornaro.
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.
