VALDOSTA — Valdosta High’s highly anticipated trip to the Geico State Champions Bowl Series is a win-win for the school: the chance to gain national exposure without having to pay a dime out of pocket.

Add a third win if the Wildcats defeat the Chandler High School Wolves from Arizona.

The bowl series producers, Paragon Marketing Group, are paying all travel-related expenses for the 95 football players, coaches and trainers making the trip from South Georgia to Dallas on Dec. 22.

The payout includes flights, hotels, ground transportation and meals.

VHS is expected to actually make money off of the event that has already generated huge buzz in the community: PMG has agreed to pay a $12,500 rights fee to the school for its participation in the bowl series.

Valdosta City Schools Superintendent Todd Cason said the stipend will go to the school’s athletic department.

The football team will travel by bus to Atlanta Dec. 22, then fly to Dallas from there. The Wildcats will return home Christmas Eve.

The team will face Chandler High, 6 p.m., Dec. 23 (5 p.m. central), in a game broadcast live to the nation from ESPNU.

The game will take place in the Ford Center at The Star, an indoor, 12,000-seat stadium used by the Dallas Cowboys for practice.

Valdosta’s school board unanimously approved the event contract between PMG and VHS at its Tuesday meeting, with several board members voicing an emphatic “Go Cats!” after the vote.

Cason noted that even though Chandler High is ranked 19th in the nation, the Valdosta Wildcats remain unfazed.

“We do feel, Coach (Alan) Rodemaker feels, that no team is better than the Wildcats, so he’s saying bring it on,” Cason said.

To buy tickets or learn more about the Geico Bowl Series, visit www.geicobowlseries.com.