GILPIN COUNTY – The high school football transfer portal opened on April 1 and the Gilpin County Eagles were able to land several blue-chip prospects on the first day.

Sophomore quarterback Armis A. Cannon from Rifle, Colorado, is the top gunslinger in the country. He completed 100% of his passes last year and can throw the ball 90 yards on a rope. His exceptional abilities should improve Gilpin's offense enormously.

Hailing from Fairbanks High School, Alaska, defensive tackle K.T. “North Pole” Perry is as wide as the Arctic Circle and stops runners cold. He will be the entire front four in the Eagles’ new 1-3-4 defense.

Originally from Jamaica, at receiver, the Eagles secured Johnny “Lighting” Bolt – son of Olympic 100-meter champion and world record holder Usain Bolt. Clocked at 3.8 seconds in the 40-yard dash, his 77 touchdown receptions led the nation in 2024.

Halfback O.G. Simpson began playing football at Brentwood High School in southern California. He wears his tight-fitting trademark bloody glove to prevent fumbling and is feared by defenses for his cutback running style.

Twelve other 5-star rated recruits were signed to complete the talented roster. The Eagles are projected to be victorious in every game in 2025 (all by forfeit) and are heavy favorites to win the Colorado 2A State Football Championship.

In order to assemble such premier talent, just as in college sports, the student-athletes receive compensation. Every player will get a new car on their sixteenth birthday courtesy of the Central City Elks Club. From monies raised by the Gilpin County Eagles Booster Club selling hamburgers and hot dogs during football games, a $100,000 college scholarship will be awarded to each athlete upon graduation.

For the families that relocate here, local mountain realtor and benefactor Jimmy Keith has pledged to pay their mortgages or rent for a year. To keep the coach’s salary in line with other top high school head coaches, Craig Ball was given a $250,000 per year raise, a luxury condo in east Texas, a brand new Braun beard trimmer, and exclusive rights to Gilpin Eagles Football merchandise.

To cover Ball's salary and compensation package, ticket prices will be increased from $5 to $75 a seat for the upcoming season.