Natchez High School will receive a $25,000 check from T-Mobile during halftime of the Bulldogs’ home football game Friday, Oct. 16, as the school continues its push for a $1 million grand prize in the company’s Friday Night 5G Lights competition.
The check presentation will take place during a special Home Game Celebration at Tom F. Williams Memorial Stadium, located at 319 Sgt. Prentiss Drive in Natchez. Gates will open at 5 p.m., with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
Natchez High School is among 40 schools nationwide selected as division finalists in the competition, which aims to help small-town high schools improve their football facilities.
As of Tuesday, Oct. 13, the Bulldogs ranked third in the South Division, putting them in contention for additional prizes, including $250,000 and a Gronk Fitness gym upgrade valued at $90,000.
Natchez is one of only two Mississippi schools to reach the national Top 40, joining Long Beach High School.
The competition received applications from nearly 2,500 schools across the country, with schools seeking improvements to aging bleachers, outdated lighting, worn turf and other athletic facilities.
“We’ve seen how high school football brings people together in towns across the country, and this year’s response to Friday Night 5G Lights proved it again,” said T-Mobile Chief Operating Officer Jon Freier.
The 40 finalists are divided into four regions — West, Midwest, South and East — with 10 schools competing in each division. Each finalist receives $25,000 and a T-Mobile-hosted Home Game Celebration.
Fans can vote once per day through Oct. 25 to help Natchez advance. The school receiving the most votes in each division will be named Division Champion.
Each Division Champion will receive $250,000, a Gronk Fitness gym upgrade valued at $90,000 and a $5,000 student leadership award recognizing a student who helped inspire and organize community support.
The four Division Champions will also remain in contention for the competition’s ultimate prize: a $1 million home field upgrade.
Three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes, who serves as an ambassador for the competition, emphasized the importance of community involvement.
“Friday nights can bring an entire town together,” Mahomes said. “I grew up seeing how much high school football means to families, students and communities, and these 40 schools are carrying that same energy.”
Former NFL tight end and four-time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski is also encouraging communities to support their schools through daily voting.
“Every vote counts, and I can’t wait to see how they rally together for this next round,” Gronkowski said.
Residents can support the Natchez Bulldogs by voting once daily through Sunday, Oct. 25, at https://fn5gl.t-mobile.com/vote/natchez-high-school. A valid mobile phone number is required to participate.
Voting is also available through the T-Life app or at FridayNight5GLights.com.
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