Hughson High a finalist in a national competition. Here’s how you can help
Hughson High School is participating in a national competition and needs the community's help.
The school is competing in T-Mobile's nationwide Friday Night 5G Lights competition which could earn the school technology and football field upgrades. Over 1,700 schools applied for the contest that kicked off during the summer. Hughson has already earned $30,000. It was recently named a finalist. T-Mobile representatives were at Hughson High last Friday night, interacting with the community and presenting school principal Loren Lighthall with the prize money at halftime.
Now is when the community support matters more than ever. As a finalist, the 2022 state champions made and posted a video to Instagram as part of the contest. The video, posted on the Instagram account, highlights players on the team and why they started playing football. The video with the most likes wins. Community members have been liking and sharing the video. Fans, family and supporters have until Nov. 12 to like the video and help Hughson High win.
According to fridaynight5glights.com , the grand prize winner earns a $100,000 high school grant, upgraded weight room, brand new "teched-out" scoreboard, professional consultation with football field experts, 5G network upgrades package and a tailgate party celebration with live music and 5G-powered halftime drone show.
"Our facilities are one of the only areas of need," Lighthall said. "This addresses that. And in a town with one high school, the community uses it, youth football uses it, we use it. This is the biggest place in town where you can gather people."
Of the 16 finalists, Hughson last week was in second place behind Paradise High. As of Thursday, Hughson has taken over first place, leading 63,792 likes to 57,804. The contest winner will be announced in early December.
Finalists include schools from states like Texas, Alabama, Colorado, Arizona, North Carolina and Kentucky. Just two schools remain from California and Lighthall has a connection to both. Before joining Hughson as principal, he was the principal at Paradise High.
"They're two great schools," Lighthall said. "I hope we win."
The goal of the contest is to highlight small towns and what football means to them. Hughson is one of the best examples of the impact of small-town football. A program that has risen to the top of the best small school leagues in the state has poured resources into its athletics and the product on the field has reflected it.
Modesto Christian basketball guard commits to prestigious university
Modesto Christian star guard Myles Jones recently announced his commitment to play at Stanford after his prep career is over. Jones last season as a sophomore was one of the top scorers for the Crusaders, who captured their third straight Division I section title, becoming the first team to three-peat at the D-I level. The three-star junior held offers from Montana, Sacramento State, University of San Francisco and Weber State in addition to Stanford. He made his decision quickly, getting the offer in late August and committing in mid-September. Jones will look to help the Crusaders win Tri-City Athletic and Sac-Joaquin Section titles again this season.
MJC men's basketball has success in first tournament
The MJC men's basketball got its first taste of game action against some of the best California junior college competition at the SoCal Juco Fall Jamboree in mid-September. The roster, made up of players from local schools like Modesto Christian, Beyer, Gregori and St. Mary's went 4-0 and earned wins over San Diego City, Cypress College, Grossmont College and Santa Monica College. The first home game of the Pirates' highly-anticipated first season under head coach Brice Fantazia is Wednesday, Nov. 13 against Fresno City College at 7 p.m. It will be the second game of a double header with the Pirates' women's team, which plays Fresno City at 5 p.m.
Hughson receiver earns first Division I offer
Hughson junior receiver Bryce McDaniel joins his older brother Robert and defensive lineman/tight end Max Mankins as Division I recruits after picking up an offer from Washington State last week. McDaniel, who has helped the team to a 7-0 record more than halfway through the regular season, posted the offer Oct. 9. It is the first of what is expected to be many for the 6-foot-3, 190-pound offensive threat. McDaniel leads the team in receiving yards (539) and touchdowns (10) and also serves as the team's punter.
Robert McDaniel will graduate from Hughson High early enrolling and starting workouts at the University of Arizona, where he will play on scholarship, in January. Mankins will play at Air Force when next season at defensive line.
Modesto Quarterback Club meetings
The Modesto Quarterback Club continues to meet each Monday throughout the high school football regular season at Denny's across the street from DMC on McHenry Ave. Donations to the quarterback club are always appreciated. Lunch meetings at noon give community members a chance to hear from and meet players and coaches from each of the 10 schools in Modesto. Lunch is $15. It continues to be one of the largest meetings of players and coaches in the Sac-Joaquin Section. The final three meetings will feature Downey Oct. 21, Central Catholic Oct. 28 and Modesto Junior College Nov. 4.
