Since 1939, select students from across the country have joined together on the football field for the Blue-Gray Football Classic. 

  • Bay area senior selected for national Blue-Gray Football Classic
  • Students get a chance to be seen by football recruiters
  • The game will be played next month in Dallas, Texas

It's a chance to find the next big football star - and one Braden River High senior is hoping to make it big. 

Many call 18-year-old Matthew Haftke a gentle giant, but put him on the football field and he's a whole new person. 

Matthew's mom, Susan Haftke said, "That's what kind of throws me off. He's kind of a warm, loving, great kid, kind of leadership. You put him on the football field and he's a different kind of kid." 

When you hear Matthew speak about the game, you know he means business. 

"It's game time, you don't think of anything else. You look at your coach, the players. You just start reading and everything about football and what's about to happen next," Matthew said. 

Between his no nonsense mentality and pretty impressive tackles as a linebacker, Matthew was chosen as one of 90 high school players to play in the Blue-Gray game this year in Dallas, Texas. 

The 90 students are chosen by a committee of former NFL players. This an opportunity for them to be seen by some of the biggest recruiters in the game. 

However, Susan said she's even more excited for something else. 

"Really, one it's on the Cowboys field. I've been a Cowboys fan since I was a kid. You know to see my kids play on the Dallas Cowboys field is pretty awesome," Susan said. 

Matthew and his fan club of more than 15 people will be traveling to Dallas next month. Whether Matthew continues to play football or not, he has another accomplishment to be proud of -- he will be the first person in his family to attend college.