ESPNU will televise the inaugural BURGER KING® State Champions Bowl Series on Saturday, Dec. 27, from FAU Stadium on the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla. The three-game, six team, premier high school football event (12 p.m., 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET) will feature a state champion against another state champion for the first time in an official capacity. Three state champions from Florida, one from Utah and two from Washington will participate in the event.
BURGER KING® State Champions Bowl Series Teams:
- Florida: 3 Booker T. Washington (4A), No. 6 Miami Central (6A), and Trinity Christian (3A)
- Utah: 8 Bingham (5A)
- Washington: 16 Bothell (4A) and No. 23 Eastside Catholic (3A)
Rankings are per USA Today (Dec. 15). State classification is represented (inside).
BURGER KING® State Champions Bowl Series Matchups:
- 23 Eastside Catholic, Wash. vs. Trinity Christian, Fla.
Time: 12 p.m.
Commentators: Mike Couzens and Rene Ingoglia
Note: Eastside Catholic (13-1) rides a 13-game winning streak vs. a talented Trinity Christian (11-2) team that has five players in the ESPN 300
- 16 Bothell, Wash. vs. No. 6 Miami Central, Fla.
Time: 4 p.m.
Commentators: Jason Benetti, Craig Haubert
Note: Matchup of nationally ranked teams, with Bothell finishing the regular season undefeated (14-0) and Miami Central’s (14-1) lone loss coming to No. 3 Booker T. Washington
- 8 Bingham, Utah vs. No. 3 Booker T. Washington, Fla.
Time: 8 p.m.
Commentators: Jason Benetti, Craig Haubert
Note: In a battle of top ten teams, Bingham (13-1) will look to snap Booker T. Washington’s (14-0) 40-game winning streak
About BURGER KING® State Champions Bowl Series Teams
- 3 Booker T. Washington, Fla.
Coach: Tim Harris, Jr.
ESPN 300 (Seniors):
No. 75 Devonaire Clarington (TE)
No. 136 Mark Walton (RB) – University of Miami verbal commitment
No. 254 Devonte Davis (S)
No. 299 Antonio Callaway (WR)
Note: Captured their third consecutive Florida 4A State Title on their way to a 14-0 regular season and currently on a 40-game winning streak.
- 6 Miami Central, Fla.
Coach: Roland Smith
ESPN 300 (Senior): No. 58 De’Vante Phillips (WR)
Note: Finished the 2014 regular season 14-1, defeating then-No. 32 Armwood in the Florida 6A State Championship, their third consecutive and fourth in the last five seasons.
- 8 Bingham, Utah
Coach: Dave Peck
Player to Watch: Linebacker Daniel Langi has multiple offers, including from Utah
Note: Captured the Utah 5A State Championship and finished the regular-season 13-1, with their only loss coming to No. 1 ranked Bishop Gorman (23-20).
- 16 Bothell, Wash.
Coach: Tom Bainter
Player to Watch: Quarterback Ross Bowers has verbally committed to California, ranks as the 13th quarterback nationally - Note: Finished the regular season with a perfect 14-0 record, winning the Washington 4A State Title. During Coach Bainter’s tenure, Bothell has a 139-37 record.
- No 23 Eastside Catholic, Wash.
Coach: Jeremy Thielbahr
ESPN 300 (Junior): No. 240 Brandon Wellington (ATH) – University of Washington verbal commit
Note: Has won 13 straight games, earning the Washington 3A State Title in the process. In the State Championship game, the Crusaders defeated then-No. 6 nationally ranked Bellevue 35-13 which ended the Wolverines’ 67-game winning-streak – the most consecutive wins nationally at the time and a Washington state record — and their run of six consecutive state championships.
- Trinity Christian, Fla.
Coach: Verlon Dorminey
ESPN 300 (Seniors):
No. 6 Kevin Toliver II (CB) – LSU verbal commitment
No. 40 Jeffrey Holland (LB)
No. 99 Kendrick Norton (OL)
No. 204 Ben Edwards (S)
No. 229 Deontai Williams (S) – Georgia verbal commitment
Note: Trinity Christian is the two-time defending Florida 3A State Champion, and have won four state titles over the past six seasons.
The BURGER KING® State Champions Bowl Series, along with matchups, was created by Paragon Marketing Group and sponsored by the BURGER KING® brand.
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Media contact: Derek Volner at 860-384-9986; Derek.Volner@ESPN.com and @DerekVolner
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