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NEWPORT – Newport Grizzly head coach Mark Duxbury and junior running back Kutter Driver were chosen for special honors by two outside organizations.
The Seattle Seahawks and the Washington State Football Coaches Association chose Grizzly head coach Mark Duxbury as one of their two Coaches of the Week for week six, following Newport’s 41-40 victory over Freeman.
“Head Coach Mark Duxbury started coaching in 1986 when his younger brother’s youth football team needed coaches and has had a passion for coaching football ever since,” the Seahawks posted on their Seahawks.com/community website.
“Coaching football allows you to teach valuable life lessons and hopefully help your players develop into successful young adults and the relationships that have evolved from coaching make all the hard work and long hours worth every minute and there is nothing more rewarding than seeing a former player with their own family and to hear about their accomplishments in their adult lives!” coach Duxbury said. Duxbury has been coaching at the high school level for the last 21 years, as an assistant at Newport from 2017-2023 and most recently the head coach the last couple seasons.
The Seahawks noted that the Grizzlies are averaging 41 points a game this season in the week six write up. “They beat the No.1 ranked 2B division favorite 41-40 last week in an absolute thriller!”
Each week during the high school football season the Seahawks and the Washington State Football Coaches Association select two high school football coaches as the Coaches of the Week. Each recipient receives a $500 donation to the school’s football program and will be honored at a Seahawks home game with their fellow recipients. At the end of the year all 20 coaches will come to a Seahawks home game where they will be recognized with a pregame brunch. One coach will be named Coach of the Year and they will receive an additional $2,000 towards their football program.
Each week the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association combines with Gesa Credit Union to select six high school Athletes of the Week for outstanding performances and impactful contributions in their communities.
Driver was chosen as one of the six in week five, after a 40-0 shutout of St. Georges. Driver, Newport’s junior running back, had an outstanding performance in a game in which he rushed for 211 yards and three touchdowns in just 14 carries.
“A three-sport athlete with a 3.2 GPA, Driver is also active in several school and community organizations, including 4-H, FFA and SkillsUSA,” WIAA posted on its website.
In addition to statewide bragging rights, Driver received a gift card from Gesa, as well as a certificate of achievement.
The Grizzlies just concluded its first undefeated regular season in school history, winning the 2B Northeast League championship.
