Coaches are scripting game plans, practices have been underway, and one thing is for sure...high school football is back, and with it, our weekly competition!
The Cleveland Browns High School Game of the Week (HSGOTW) returns this fall for the eighth consecutive year, with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) as the program's associate partner. Since the program began, over 7 million votes have been submitted for weekly matchups posted on ClevelandBrowns.com, making the Game of the Week page one of the most visited pages on ClevelandBrowns.com.
Each week, our four HSGOTW panelists nominate a game for the High School Game of the Week poll, where fans vote to determine each weekly matchup. The winning team receives extended game coverage and special mention on the "Cleveland Browns High School Football Show" each Saturday on ESPN 850 WKNR.
The winning team from the selected Game of the Week – weeks 1–10 of the high school regular season – receives $1,500 for their high school football program. The winning coach and game MVP are also honored on the field during a Browns home game. At the conclusion of the season, the Browns announce the High School Coach of the Year, who will earn an additional $3,000 for their program. Last year, the Cleveland Browns named Lorain High School Head Coach Dave McFarland the Browns 2016 High School Coach of the Year; he then went on to represent the Browns for consideration for the NFL Don Shula Coach of the Year. Under his leadership, the Lorain Titans were 8-2 in the regular season, with a playoff run putting them at 10-3 on the year. McFarland was hired in 2013, and since the football program grew from 30 to 120 participants.
As the Browns Give Back through programs such as this, we remain committed to support the community with focus on education, youth football and our First and Ten volunteer movement. How do you give back? High school athletes have a unique opportunity to empower and impact their communities. The Browns applaud those student-athletes, students and volunteers who lead by example and give back to their community. Join us as we move forward in the community and be part of the Cleveland Browns First and Ten movement and show your team pride. Together we can inspire local, national and global goodwill. Join the movement.
Follow @BrownsYouthFB and use #HSGOTW for weekly matchups and all things youth and high school football.
