On the field, the Hughson football team has a perfect 6-0 record this season. Off the field, the Huskies’ fans also are achieving success. Thursday morning, it was revealed that Hughson has won a spot as one of the top 16 schools in a nationwide contest sponsored by T-Mobile.

The Friday Night Lights program includes some serious money that schools can use to upgrade their stadiums and facilities. Hughson earned $5,000 in September thanks to its Instagram campaign that highlights fans’ passion for their team. Making the top 16 nationally comes with another $25,000 check from T-Mobile and puts Hughson in the running for the grand prize of $100,000, which will be announced in December.

The good news was revealed as students arrived on the Hughson campus Thursday. Cheerleaders welcomed students at the front and back entrances as they walked under pink T-Mobile arches. Other students passed out free cookies and bright pink T-Mobile shirts to be worn Friday night.

“I never imagined that this could happen,” said Melinda King, who has spearheaded Hughson’s efforts since the contest began in August. “It’s an amazing honor to make it this far.”

King is an English teacher at Ross Middle School. She’s also the wife of head football coach Shaun King. Others have helped on the IG campaign, including Hughson Elementary third-grade teacher Jamie Mankins, whose son Max is a star tight end and defensive end on the team and whose husband Jeremy is an assistant coach.

The goal of the program is to highlight the pride and community spirit that surrounds high school football in small-town America. That’s why only cities with populations of 50,000 or less were eligible to enter.

T-Mobile will formally present the $25,000 check at halftime of Friday night’s game between Hughson and unbeaten Sonora. The overall winner will be determined by which of the 16 finalists generates the most likes and shares of a 90-second video that was posted Wednesday on the Hughson football IG page.

The video – written and created by Melinda King – is intended to be an ode to Hughson football. It is narrated by many of this year’s players, who talk about dreaming as young boys of one day playing in Husky Stadium and how those dreams have now come true.

“We want that hype video to go viral. It gave me the chills,” said Bert Gough, a T-Mobile marketing manager from the Bay Area who was on campus Thursday morning. “This is the ideal school for the program. Our public relations people (who helped select the finalists) were really impressed by Hughson. They really stood out.”

Here’s how Hughson fans can help:

·         Follow the Hughson High Football IG page @hughsonhighfootball and like its posts.

·         Post their own Hughson Husky experiences on Instagram (posts or reels only) and include these four tags: @tmobile, #FN5GL, @hughsonhighfootball and #sweepstakes. All four tags must be used for the post to count.

·         Set their personal IG page to “public” so their posts are viewable by all.

Hughson already has more than 4,500 likes on its IG page, ranking it second among the 16 finalists, who were culled from more than 1,700 schools. Voting in the final round goes on until Nov. 12.

King and others have been posting content on IG daily since the contest began. A video of some of the players pretending to be mannequins and then coming to life really took off. Another popular one showed the team preparing to play before a game. Community members also created content showing support from businesses and fans.

Former NFL star Rob Gronkowski – a T-Mobile spokesman – posted a “thank you” video to Hughson. And two other current NFL players – Vikings tight end John Mundt and Rams defensive lineman Morgan Fox – also have supported Hughson’s efforts by liking and sharing videos. Mundt grew up in Hughson (though he went to high school at Central Catholic in Modesto) and Fox is the son-in-law of Hughson assistant coach Chris Wolfley.

“I encourage everyone to vote,” King said.

Hughson is one of two California schools among the 16 finalists. The other – in an “it’s-a-small-world” moment – is Paradise High School northeast of Chico. Current Hughson High Principal Loren Lighthall served in the same role in Paradise until 2018, when the Camp Fire killed 85 people and destroyed most of the town.

“I think that’s cool,” Lighthall said of the Paradise connection. “If we don’t win, I want them to win.”

As of Thursday, Paradise and Hughson were first and second in the contest.

No matter what happens from this point, Hughson already has earned $30,000. That money could be used to upgrade the weight room (used by all the school’s athletes), the concession stands and restrooms at Husky Stadium, the scoreboard and possibly the lights.

“It’s been awesome,” said Shaun King of the contest. “We definitely have a lot of needs at our stadium.”

Before Friday’s game, T-Mobile will have tailgate games going on in the grass pit at the front of Husky Stadium. T-Mobile officials will pass out vouchers to students for free admission and concessions. There also will be a food drive where fans can donate boxed or canned items that have not reached their expiration dates and have nutritional labels.