DENVER — This spring, Colorado high school football all-stars are playing in the first-ever league of its kind, a national high school football league, representing the Mile High Prep.
Mile High Prep is one of the 12 teams in the Prep Super League, expected to showcase the finest high school football talent from Colorado.
“I think it's legendary," Cherry Creek DL, Tufanua Ionatana Umu-Cais said. "There's only one first. So, to be on the squad, it's awesome.”
It’s all a part of the newly formed prep super league, consisting of 12 teams across eight states. The goal is to increase exposure from college coaches.
“There were college coaches here last week," Horizon quarterback Alex Birch explained. "We had a coach on Thursday, I think there might have been a coach at the game, and there's a lot of coaches here," so it's definitely what they sold us.
Founded by the non-profit UPSWING, the athletes get gear, exposure, and an all-star ballot of coaches from the college level to the NFL, led by former Colorado School of Mines coach Bob Stitt.
“It's first class, and it's some of the best coaches in the state," Stitt said. "These kids are really lucky to be able to come out here to practice and get mentored by these guys.”
In the first game of the season, Mile High Prep traveled to Las Vegas and handed them a 24-0 loss.
“We only gave up one first down the entire game," Coach Stitt recalled. "Our offense averaged over seven yards per play, and it was very windy that day. We didn't get to throw as much as we wanted to, but we played very well.”
This league is also a chance for Colorado football to stake their claim as one of the best regions for high school football.
“I think we're underrated," Umu-Cais said. "Honestly, we got guys out here that should be looked at, and you know, I think through this league they are gonna get the exposure that they need.”
Next, Mile High takes on San Francisco in coach Stitt's old stomping ground, Colorado School of Mines. Kickoff is at 11 a.m.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Sports