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Best Friends To Face Off In 4A Championship

By Rachel Slavik, WCCO-TV

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Two best friends will face off in one of Saturday's Prep Bowl games at the Metrodome. The Totino Grace Eagles take on the Rogers Royals in the Class 4A championship game.

Anthony Gullickson knows a thing or two about the state tournament. A lineman for the Eagles, his team hopes to defend its championship title. But Gullickson will experience a "prep bowl first" when he takes on the Royals.

"I'm extremely excited, not only that we made it to the prep bowl, but that it's against my best friends," said Gullickson.

Staring across the line of scrimmage will be Charlie Hines.

"We grew up together. I was over at his house probably as much as I was at my house when I was a kid. We're basically brothers," said Gullickson.

"It's really cool and stuff, especially since I'm actually going to be right up next to him in the game," said Charlie Hines, a lineman for Rogers High School.

The best friends have talked about this scenario throughout the season, especially when Rogers kept winning.

"Our parents are always having fun with each other, taking little jabs at each other, but just for fun," said Hines.

They know each others' strengths, so they know how hard a win will be on Saturday.

"I never thought this would ever happen, and it's, I guess fate brought us to this point in life. It's pretty cool," said Hines.

For 48 minutes, friends will become foes, all in the name of football.

"I think we're both going to play our games and let the better man win," said Gullickson.

Rogers lost to Totino Grace last year in the state quarterfinals.

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