HIGHLAND PARK, Tex. — On the eve of a big Texas state championship game last weekend, amid all the illuminating Christmas decorations, the Tim Williams family on Centenary Street gathered with friends with Georgia on their minds.

There were many families in Highland Park experiencing the same thoughts. It happens that Georgia has become the college of choice for many kids from Highland Park High School not matriculating at Texas in Austin. More than 150 kids from this affluent section of Dallas, have applied to advance their higher education in Athens. “The Stafford Effect” they call it. Staffordmania, perhaps. No question, Staffordmania has taken root in a big way.

The latest person with an affinity for college life in Athens is Tim Williams’ oldest daughter, Alexandra, who has already achieved early admission clearance at UGA.

“It is amazing how Matthew’s status as the Georgia quarterback has influenced students at Highland Park,” Tim Williams said. “Georgia and the Bulldogs are big out here.”

When Stafford was a senior at Highland Park, taking the Scots to the state 4A football championship, Williams, who owns Thunderbolt Films, produced a documentary of Highland Park’s championship season. The DVD version of the film sold over 4,000 copies.

It was only natural that the local gentry would follow Stafford’s career with more than passing interest. After all, Highland Park had not won a state championship in 48 years until Stafford stimulated headline-grabbing performances in a community whose affluence enables locals to choose from a variety of entertainment options.

Highland Park enjoyed a storied history back in the old days. Playing for the Scots in yesteryear, Doak Walker and Bobby Layne, two of the greatest names in Texas sports history, were unable, however, to lead the Scots to a championship.

On Saturday, for the second time in three years, Highland Park played for the state title, and Stafford made the drive from Dallas to Waco, where the playoff game took place. Unfortunately, he was not in uniform. Lake Travis High, in a windswept game, edged Highland Park, 36-34.

At kickoff of the Bulldogs’ game against Hawaii on New Year’s night, everybody in this community will be rooting for Stafford, who led his high school team to its greatest success in almost half a century.

Many kids who won’t don a football uniform in college nonetheless want to enroll where their favorite alumnus is matriculating.