New England Patriots Honor Sharon High School Football Coach

Sharon High School’s football coach, Dave Morse, was named High School Football Coach of the Week by the New England Patriots this morning in a brief ceremony in the Sharon High School Gym.

Along with a plaque signed by Patriots’ owner Bob Kraft and Head Coach Bill Bellichick, the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation is donating $1,000 to the football team in Morse’s name.  

"[Morse] embodies all the things we’re trying to promote,” former Patriots linebacker and Hall-of-Famer Andre Tippett, who presents the award each week, said in an interview after the ceremony Tuesday. “Making sure the kids are playing smart and protecting themselves on the field,” which is “as important as wins and losses.”

The award came in recognition of the Eagles’ 34-22 victory over North Quincy High School on Saturday, bringing them to a 3-0 record, according to a statement from the New England Patriots.

Since Morse became head coach in the 2011 season, the Eagles have won seven of their last 13 games, a significant improvement from their four total wins between 2008 and 2012, said the statement.

The Eagles overcame a fourth-quarter deficit to win the game, according to the statement.

"[Morse] kept us calm when we were down and made adjustments that led to scoring. He was a big part of that,” said Eagles Captain Adam Block, 2013, a right guard and defensive end on the team. “He’s very enthusiastic, emotional, and encouraging.”

Tippett said in the statement that he “enjoyed meeting with the Eagles and could see the determination and resolve that helped them overcome a fourth-quarter deficit on Saturday. Coach Morse did a tremendous job keeping his team focused en route to a comeback win.”

A panel of five helps Tippett select the coaches each week.

“We look at all teams, not just the top 25 or 50,” he told Sharon Patch after the ceremony, acknowledging that those teams will receive recognition if they continue to do well, but that he likes to look at teams “that are on the cusp of having a decent season. To go 3-0 no matter where you are, what division--it says a lot about [the team].”

Tippett, a Sharon resident and father of a Sharon High School junior, said presenting the coach of the week award this week was “real different, a little weird".

"I didn’t have to put the address in my GPS,” he said, adding that he was able to see his daughter and that it was only a ten minute commute from Gillette Stadium.

“I just want to thank [the Patriots] and the Kraft family,” said Morse. "[Receiving the award] feels very good coming from an organization like that. I’m happy for the kids, which it the most important. They went on the field and made that play,” he said, referring to a 44-yard pass between junior Sean O’Neill and senior Brad Kaufman that turned the game against North Quincy around.   

The ceremony will be featured on Patriots All Access Friday at 7 p.m. on Channel 4.