Video: Touchdowns Against Cancer
MaxPreps President and Founder Andy Beal explains the national campaign.At 33 in a row, they have the 14th longest win streak in the nation.
They've won two straight Tennessee Division II titles and through a 6-0 start, the Lynx from
Lausanne Collegiate (Memphis, Tenn.) have outscored opponents 274-105.
All pales in comparison with what they did with the 2018 Touchdowns Against Cancer Campaign, which benefits cancer research for St. Jude Hospital.
In its third season, the MaxPreps sponsored drive powered by Pledge It
allowed football teams throughout the country to raise awareness and
money for childhood cancer by scoring touchdowns during the month of September, which is national Pediatric Cancer Awareness month.
Lausanne raised a record $18,032 by scoring 26 touchdowns and getting out dozens of pledges throughout the community.
The Lynx more than tripled the funds by runner-up
Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills, Calif.), which made.a late charge and raised $5,357, and
Olmsted Falls (Ohio)) with 5,150.
Rounding out the top 10 were
El Camino Real (Woodland Hills, Calif.), $4,095;
Chopticon (Morganza, Md.), $3,883;
Hyde Park (Austin, Texas), 2,640;
Pope John Paul II (Royersford, Pa.), $2,396;
Lone Peak (Gallatin Gateway, Mont.), $2,135;
Marlboro (N.J.), $1,975 and
Mead (Longmont, Colo.), $1,935.
In all, a three-year record of $125,419 was raised thanks to 5,186 touchdowns scored and 1,195 pledges.
"We could not be more proud of our participation with Pledge it in the creation and execution of Touchdowns Against Cancer," MaxPreps President and Founder Andy Beal said. "In many respects, it is the best thing MaxPreps does all year."
Lausanne was the best this season due largely to a couple of senior players,
Isaac Weiss and
Eric Gray. According to the
school's website, both dedicated their seasons to raising money for the research hospital.
"Cancer has touched all of our lives in some way, and I want to make
each point that I score count toward something bigger than a win," Weiss
said. "St. Jude is an incredible, world-class institution in Memphis
that treats families with the latest cancer therapies regardless of
their ability to pay."
Gray is the team's main offensive weapon and last year he scored a whopping 49 touchdowns to set a Shelby County single-season record.
Already with 22 thus far this season, he needs nine to break the state career mark of 114. All of that seems small compared to the work that St. Jude does.
"When Isaac told me about Pledge It, I knew it was a way that I could use
my love of football to benefit the awesome work happening at St.
Jude," Gray said.
Not only is Eric Gray chasing the state record for most rushing touchdowns, but he's is one of the biggest reasons why Lausanne Collegiate won the TAC national title.
File photo by Jason Goode
