FOXBOROUGH, MA- For years the New England Patriots and Foxborough High School have been synonymous with football in the area. In recent years, it has been primarily as a way to illustrate that the Patriots should play and execute at a high level than the young men that play at Foxboro High School. The truth is however, there has always been mutual respect and adoration between the Patriots and the school.

The organization and the school were once again tied together this week when Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was asked about the Patriots strength of schedule and whether it has been the reason for their success this season.

“We play in the National Football League. Every team’s got great players that get paid a lot of money. So, it’s not like we’re playing, shoot, Foxborough High School down the road. We play who’s on our schedule, and we can’t control that. Just trying to go out there and win. A lot of these teams that we do play are good, and they’re in the National Football League for a reason.”

The quote got a lot of folks’ attention, including the Foxboro High School Football Program. The program’s X account sent out a post saying the program was looking for a game week one.

Assistant Coach Shawn Buckley took it a step further on New Years Day morning however when he recorded a video challenging the Patriots to a game week one. The video got so much traction that NFL Gameday requested it and could air it as part of its pregame coverage on Sunday.

Buckley says it all came together quick.

“I just started getting texts on it from my friends and then the coaching text chain got ahold of it.” Buckley added: “Coach (AJ) Dooley posted the video in the chain and then out of nowhere (Head Coach) Coach (Jack) Martinelli said maybe they will play us week one?”

Buckley says the whole thing was a team effort by the Foxboro Football community.

“Coach (Doug) Suess is our X guy so he said he would post a joke about it.” Buckley also posted it on his high school football hot dogs page on Tik Tok. The page is dedicated to rating hot dogs at different football fields across the state. It is there where the video got traction and went viral.

Buckley also thanked his wife for braving the elements on Thursday morning to record the video.

“Made my poor wife Kara stand in the snow storm to do the video because I thought it would be a good backdrop.”

On Friday, I asked Patriots Coach Mike Vrabel if the Patriots were planning on scheduling Foxboro High School in Week One of next season. Vrabel said that the organization and the program will find a way to collaborate prior to next season.

“That one’s been around since I played here. Anything that we can do to support Foxborough High School football team, I am willing to do. Maybe next year we can tie in a scrimmage before our stadium scrimmage or we’ll come up with something creative, I’m sure. Give me and Stretch (John Streicher) a year and we’ll come up with something.”

The relationship between the Patriots and the Town of Foxboro has always been special and this week was yet another example of it. Two teams defined by a history of championship success, brought together by one community.