Chapman High School is preparing for a monumental event on Saturday. The Panthers will face Dillon High School Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.

Players say they are preparing as if it were any other game.

“We are preparing the exact same way as we do in normal season games,” junior Richard Tucker said.

“We are preparing like it is any other game, nothing different,” sophomore Thomas Grigg said.

The players are excited and thankful  for the opportunity to play in the game.

“I feel blessed to show our talents on a big stage,” Tucker said,”It’s an amazing feeling.”

“I’m happy that I can share the event with my teammates,” junior Colton Bailey said.

The players are also excited about the fans and their outreach and loyalty to the team.

“The fans have been a huge part of this year,” Bailey said. “The whole community has become a family.”

“Recently we have grown both as a team and closer to the community,” Grigg said. “We have gained fans that we didn’t know we have.”

“I think that we have created a strong bond between the fans and players this season,” Tucker said. “It makes the game more exciting.”

Through the whole season the team has faced injury and losses, but they were able to get through it and make it to the championship.

“We have faced adversity this season but it has allowed us to become a stronger and better team in the process,” Tucker said.

“The team has faced diversity all year and we have been able to get through the obstacles,” Bailey said.

The team as well as the fans are ready for this game Saturday but no matter what happens in Williams-Brice or  what the outcome is, Chapman will be able to say that they made it to state.

“I feel like if we play like we are supposed to, then it will come out in our favor,” Bailey said.