Milton and North Gwinnett got their opening-game assignments officially on Monday when the lineup for the first Freedom Bowl showcase was announced.
The six-game event will be played Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 at Milton and involve six games and 12 teams from Georgia, Florida, Alabama, New Jersey and Canada.
Milton will play Cardinal Gibbons of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Cardinal Gibbons finished 11-2 last season and reached the third round of the Florida Class 5A playoffs, where it lost to eventual champion American Heritage 58-57. American Heritage also is in the event and will play St. Joseph’s of New Jersey.
North Gwinnett, Georgia’s Class AAAAAAA champion, will play Wekiva of Apopka, Fla. Wekiva was 12-2 last season and reached Florida’s Class 8A semifinals, losing to eventual champion Dr. Phillips.
“We looked for programs with rich winning histories, teams on the rise, defending state champs and teams that deserved to be on the biggest high school football stage in the country,” said David Menard, president of Airo Nation, an event organizer.
Aug. 31
4:30 p.m. – Mainland (Daytona, Fla.) vs. Bob Jones (Madison, Ala.)
8 p.m. – Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) vs. Milton
Sept. 1
10 a.m. – Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.) vs. Muscle Shoals (Ala.)
1:30 p.m. – St. Joseph’s (Montvale, N.J.) vs. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)
5 p.m. – Marjory Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.) vs. St. Matthew (Canada)
8:30 p.m. – Wekiva (Apopka, Fla.) vs. North Gwinnett
