Brotherhood. Family. Legacy.
Edgewater High School’s football program is built on a simple mission: using the sport to help young players grow into the best men they can be. In 2024, EA SPORTS had an opportunity to play a vital role in advancing that mission and supporting the next generation of athletes.
Located less than three miles from Electronic Arts (EA) Orlando’s studio in Creative Village – where the EA SPORTS Madden NFL and College Football franchises are made – Edgewater was an ideal partner for us to collaborate with and reinforce our commitment to grow the love of sport in a community that 1,000 EA employees call home.
Through charitable giving, a multilayered creative campaign, a unique in-game surprise and more, EA SPORTS collaborated with Edgewater’s football program to impact its players, their families and our community – demonstrating our commitment to unique partnerships that strengthen Orlando for the future.
With decades of experience working in football at various levels, Head Coach Cameron Duke’s life passion is leading young men and helping them become good students and good community members – on and off the field. Since becoming Edgewater’s head coach seven years ago, Duke has re-invigorated the nearly 75-year-old program, leading the Eagles to back-to-back state championship appearances in 2019 and 2020.
With powerhouse alumni like University of Central Florida star Running Back, RJ Harvey, University of Texas Running Back, CJ Baxter, and legendary NFL Safety, Karl Joseph, the Edgewater football program already has a rich history. The 2024 season presented an opportunity for Edgewater to build upon this legacy by traveling overseas to the United Kingdom (UK) to play a Kickoff Classic preseason game against the NFL Academy.
Coach Cameron Duke leads practice ahead of game against NFL Academy
Facing severe financial and logistical hurdles to make the trip possible for 52 student athletes and 19 supporting staff members, Edgewater turned to the community for support. That is when EA SPORTS entered the conversation.
“It was a great opportunity, but we faced so many logistical challenges getting to the UK. We ultimately were able to pull off this big dream because of the partnership with EA SPORTS. Looking back, I can’t believe it happened. It was such an incredible experience for our players and our community,” said Duke.
From the beginning of our partnership, we saw an opportunity to invest in Edgewater’s program in meaningful, creative ways.
Before the athletes and coaches made their way across the pond, EA SPORTS collaborated with former NFL stars Devin Hester and Nick Collins to join the team at practice and determine Edgewater player ratings for future integration into EA SPORTS College Football and Madden NFL Team Builder.
NFL stars Devin Hester and Nick Collins surprise students at practice in Orlando, FL.
EA SPORTS also surprised the Edgewater Eagles with exclusive EA SPORTS x Under Armour travel gear so they could fly in style. For many students, the experience was transformational.
“I couldn’t believe it when the England trip ended up really happening,” said Senior Wide Receiver Tyson Carter. “It was really exciting when we first learned how EA was going to be part of this trip. And then it was even cooler seeing all the extra ways they went above and beyond to make this experience memorable for us.”
For some students, this trip marked their first time flying, making the journey even more special. “This was not only my first time flying internationally, but it was actually my first time ever being on an airplane. Throughout the week leading up to our departure, I was more excited than I was nervous. For the most part, I like trying new things, even if it’s a little uncomfortable,” said Junior Defensive Back and Linebacker Damian Moore, Jr.
Edgewater players travel to the UK to play the NFL Academy in a Kickoff Classic, photo provided by Edgewater High School.
Once they arrived in Europe, the Eagles spent several days exploring London, engaging in a community service project and training sessions before their matchup with the NFL Academy. As the team headed to the locker room to get ready for the big game, they were greeted with one final surprise: brand-new uniforms displaying the EA SPORTS logo. This marked the first time the logo appeared on a high school sports jersey—a powerful symbol of the partnership and its lasting impact.
“Athletes are at the core of EA SPORTS and this partnership allowed us to support the talented young players of an incredible football program,” said Daryl Holt, senior vice president and group general manager of Tiburon Studios & American Football. “It was a powerful way to deepen the players’ connection to the game they love, while also reinforcing our commitment to the next generation of athletes.”
To cap off the incredible trip, the Edgewater Eagles defeated the NFL Academy in a 51-45 thriller, a huge milestone for a public school, which is often limited in recruiting resources. Senior Running Back Joshua Perry rushed for three touchdowns and is still in disbelief about his whole experience.
“When the trip all came together, you couldn’t make up the level of excitement. It was so genuine. I know it’s something that I’ll never forget with my high school teammates, my brothers,” said Perry.
Edgewater students play in the Kickoff Classic, defeating the NFL Academy 51-45
The excitement did not end overseas for the Eagles. Leading up to and during the international adventure, EA SPORTS collaborated with a film crew to capture the team’s entire journey, from the first day of the Florida High School Athletic Association’s authorized practice for the 2024 season to the game’s final whistle. For the production team, this meant pulling back the curtain to not only tell the unique stories of who these students were as athletes, but also who they were as people.
The footage was developed into a four-part documentary series, Edgewater vs. the World, that was released in mid-August 2024 on EA SPORTS’ Instagram and TikTok channels. For the athletes, it was a perfect way to show everyone just how serious they are about taking their football program to the next level.
“That series let us show everybody what Edgewater has been talking about and working hard toward for years,” said Junior Defensive End Aiden Anderson.
EA SPORTS players around the world are no stranger to the mantra “EA SPORTS. It’s in the game.” So, it was only a natural progression to cap off this historic partnership with Edgewater by literally putting the Eagles in the game.
On Sept. 13, 2024, we took over a pep rally for Edgewater High School’s football team to reveal that the team would be included in EA SPORTS College Football 25 and Madden NFL 25.
EA Orlando sponsors football pep rally at Edgewater High School
For a limited time, Edgewater High School’s logo, colors and uniforms were available in Team Builder and Ultimate Team in both EA SPORTS College Football 25 and Madden NFL 25.
The surprise was personal for the Eagles. Perry grew up playing the games on a PlayStation with his dad. Carter still has a copy of NCAA Football 14 that he plays with his friends. Anderson collects all the Madden NFL titles, playing them when he gets a break from practice and school. Coach Duke has been playing EA SPORTS college football experiences since 2001.
Growing up dreaming of seeing themselves in these games one day, the players achieved that goal before they even graduated high school—a testament to the power of partnership and the importance of investing in the communities we are proud to call home.
The partnership between EA SPORTS, Edgewater High School and the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools is a perfect example of how we uniquely sit at the intersection of sports and culture.
Learn more about how we unite players, fans, athletes and brands in an ecosystem of experiences that fuel passion, connection, creativity and play: https://www.ea.com/commitments/social-impact.