'It's a win-win': Highland gears up for one last football game after taking first 6A title
With Open Division state champion Scottsdale Saguaro opting out, 6A champion Gilbert Highland agreed to represent Arizona in the GEICO Bowl in Las Vegas on Friday night.
The Hawks, coming off the first football championship in school history, plays at 8:30 p.m., Arizona time against Florida 3A champion Chaminade-Madonna on ESPNU.
Coach Brock Farrel said it's been a whirlwind week, with players getting through finals, and getting a roster together for ESPN. The travel roster was limited to 60. Paragon Marketing Group is providing free transportation and hotel accommodations for the team, Farrell said. Charter buses are being used to get to and from Las Vegas.
The teams leaves Thursday after finals are completed.
"It's a great opportunity but you've got logistics, and it's a whirlwind," Farrel said. "The trip itself, the kids are stoked for it. We want to play but do we want to grind through another week?"
After beating Scottsdale Chaparral on Saturday for the title, Highland players had Monday off.
On Tuesday, the Hawks (11-3) did a walk-through. On Wednesday, they practiced in helmets.
"It's a real game," Farrel said. "Kids have got an opportunity to compete against one of the best in the country. We want to play well and not get beat up."
For 5-foot-10 senior quarterback Gage Dayley, who didn't get the offers to be able to sign this week during the early Division I college signing period, it's a chance to show a national stage how well he throws a football.
He was near perfect Saturday, throwing for four touchdowns against a Chaparral team that gave Saguaro its only loss this season.
"It's certainly an opportunity for Gage to showcase what he can do on ESPNU," Farrel said. "You just don't know who's watching. But he'll be competing against some great future college players."
Chaminade-Madonna won its sixth Florida championship at the FHSAA 3A level. It is led by defensive end Kenyatta Jackson and cornerback Ryan Turner, who are both committed to Ohio State. One of the team's wins came against 6A Georgia champion Buford. It beat Berkeley Prep for the Florida championship.
Highland will be without its only early signee, UNLV-bound defensive end Fisher Camac, who suffered a broken arm and missed the last part of the season.
"You can either be, 'Oh, they can play,' or, 'It's an awakening, this is what we need to do,'" Farrel said. "Either way, it's a win-win."
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Highland gets ready for one more football game after first 6A title
