What bowl games feature former Gastonia, Shelby football standouts?

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Not every present is meant to be neatly wrapped and placed under a Christmas tree.

The college football bowl season most certainly meets the criteria, a month-long “all-you-can-eat-” buffet of gridiron action which began Dec. 13 and concludes Jan. 19, 2026 with the College Football Playoff National Championship in Miami.

The 2025-26 bowl schedule includes more than 40 games. Of those, seven will feature former high school football standouts from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties. Here’s a guide for area college football fans looking for a rooting interest this bowl season.

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Dec. 13

Celebration Bowl: SC State 40, Prairie View A&M 38

Area standout playing for Prairie View A&M:

  • Lamagea McDowell, senior running back: rushed for 15 yards on six attempts. He also had a 1-yard reception.

Dec. 19

Gasparilla Bowl: NC State vs. Memphis, 2:30 p.m.

Area standouts playing for NC State:

  • Charlie Birtwistle, redshirt freshman kicker (South Point)
  • Trent Mitchell, redshirt freshman offensive lineman (Ashbrook)
  • Travali Price, graduate defensive end (North Lincoln)
  • A.J. Richardson, junior linebacker (Kings Mountain)

Dec. 20

College Football Playoff: Tulane at Ole Miss, 3:30 a.m.

Area standouts playing for Tulane:

  • Jack Hollifield, redshirt senior offensive lineman (Shelby)
  • Santana Hopper, redshirt junior defensive end (Shelby)

Dec. 27

Military Bowl: East Carolina vs. Pittsburgh, 11 a.m.

Area standouts playing for East Carolina:

  • Jurnee Lattimore, redshirt freshman defensive back (North Gaston)
  • Dameon “Day-Day” Wilson, senior linebacker (Kings Mountain)

Gator Bowl: Virginia vs. Missouri, 7:30 p.m.

Area standout playing for Virginia:

  • Dre Walker, junior cornerback (East Lincoln)

Jan. 2, 2026

Liberty Bowl: Navy vs. Cincinnati, 4:30 p.m.

Area standouts playing for Navy:

  • Justin Ross, sophomore defensive back (Hunter Huss)
  • Will Ross, sophomore safety (South Point)

Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State, 8 p.m.

Area standout playing for Wake Forest: 

  • Brandon Hoyle, redshirt defensive end (Shelby)

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Seven bowl games feature former Gastonia Shelby football standouts

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