Boca Raton, FL – Last week’s matchup between West Boca and Bergen Catholic (NJ) features two of the premier high school football programs in the country, both repping the three stripes. Beyond the high-profile game itself, there’s a unique story behind the scenes of how this event came together.
The field, done by Starting Lineup, showcases a custom Adidas Classic logo at midfield, with “Adidas” painted into both end zones. The end zones and sideline patterns pull from the logo’s border, inspired by a turtle shell, a nod to the marine life of Palm Beach County.
I spoke with Jesse Garcia from Starting Lineup about what excited him most about this project. He shared:
“What excites me most is the opportunity to showcase our work on a stage where both local fans and a national audience will see the impact that great field branding can have. “
It’s about creating an unforgettable game-day atmosphere for the players, the schools, and the community. We love raising the standard for what a high school football game can look and feel like,” Garcia said.
This project is another milestone in what has already been a big year for Starting Lineup. The brand has taken on a number of large-scale projects in South Florida and approaches each one with the same sense of purpose.
“It’s humbling and motivating at the same time. From Traz Powell to West Boca’s facility project, we’ve been trusted with some of the biggest stages in South Florida sports.”
Adding the Adidas Football Classic to that list is especially meaningful. For Garcia, it’s more than just another opportunity. Instead, it’s a reflection of the company’s growing impact.
“Adding the Adidas Football Classic to that list is not just another project — it’s proof that the work we’re doing is resonating with schools, brands, and communities. Each project pushes us to keep innovating and delivering that ‘Game Day Ready’ experience we promise.”
Of course, the look wouldn’t be complete without a strong visual identity. That came from Cinco Creates, whose design truly brought Palm Beach into the Adidas Football Classic
Above is a breakdown of the look for the logo.
“The process of developing this brand was equally as fun as it was challenging,” they explained.
“From the typography down to the custom turtle texture, we felt this visual branding encapsulated Palm Beach but also represented the game, the teams, and Adidas in a unique way — one that felt organic to the brands involved but also set the tone to build brand equity for future matchups in the Adidas Football Classic.”
“We always love seeing our work come to life, and we knew Starting Lineup was going to execute our vision flawlessly from the logo at midfield to the field design itself.”
This cohesiveness among all the parties involved is what led this brand identity to become so strong.
I had to ask West Boca HC Dylan Potts how valuable their partnership with Adidas has been.
“Our Adidas partnership is very valuable and they have been great with really making it more of a relationship than a transaction…We want to continue to grow this Adidas Classic Game yearly and expand more teams into it next year,” Said Coach.
Potts also chimed in on his thoughts on how the field came out, “The field design was second to none and really resembled a college bowl game feel to it.”
“It definitely helped bring more attention/life to the game because you can feel the importance of it when you see everything branded the way it was. And none of that would have been possible without Jesse (Starting Lineup).”
What can we learn from this? Well, as Coach Potts said, “We believe that every detail matters when it comes to brand identity, working to create a college like atmosphere with the facilities, field, etc.”
“There is a big investment into having a top tier social media team and we feel like it really benefits our players in many ways. We want to give them the platform and stage to be successful here at West Boca and getting to college!”
As that quote summarizes this piece, the point made is that brand identity is key; being able to showcase your team and players in a professional manner is what gets noticed. Kudos to West Boca and everything they’ve been doing.
On the field, both teams came in to this one 1-0. West Boca opened its season with a 50–7 win over Palm Beach Central, while Bergen Catholic edged national No. 24 East St. Louis, 22–21. Coming in, MaxPreps has the Bulls ranked No. 44 nationally, while the Crusaders sit at No. 16. Locally, New Era Prep ranks West Boca No. 1 in the 561, while NJ Gridiron has Bergen Catholic as the best team in New Jersey. further highlighting the magnitude of this matchup.
Bergen Catholic controlled this one through most of the game. As they came out on top 21-14, capitalizing on big plays throughout the evening. However this event was more than just the game. It was a major opportunity for Adidas, West Boca, and Bergen Catholic to showcase not only their teams but also their brands.
Overall, The Adidas Football Classic was a success, and shows how much is possible in brand identity. From the custom logo, to field design, to the partnerships, this event sets a new standard for future games and shows how intentional branding can elevate high school football to a national stage.
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