The defending 3A State Champions have proven to still be a powerful force in prep football again this season after forcefully defeating Union, Seneca, and Laurens. The Panthers have begun the season just as they would hope for after their commanding victories.

There is no shortage of confidence in the locker room this season junior offensive lineman Dillon Johnson said.

“It is mainly that we know our potential, and what we are capable of. And always playing with the mindset that nobody can beat us.”

Led by senior quarterback Colton Bailey, the Panthers have put up some record breaking numbers so far this season.

Bailey, who is currently tied for 6th in all time passing touchdowns, is the commander of the offense. But it takes players like Johnson to ensure that Bailey has the time he needs to throw the ball and make big plays.

Junior Albrey Gosset also believes that it takes everyone working in sync to make the team prosper.

“I feel like we still have to work on getting our chemistry together. We have many good players that just have to work together in order to win games.”

Gosset also recognizes that the Panthers are outsized in many cases, but says that this can easily be overcome by simply working as a team instead of each player just playing their position. In some cases, a wide receiver may have to make a key block in order to give a running back an open lane to get by the defense.

“You’ve got to stay physical all the time, and you have to be fully committed to it,” senior linebacker Anthony Brown said.

Brown was also awarded Beast of the Week for the Seneca game. Brown achieved this after putting up great numbers for tackles and sacks.

This year’s team is often compared to last years and players are questioned frequently on if they are still at the caliber of last year’s championship run.

But Johnson is confident that the team is even more prepared than last year because they are aware of what they are capable of doing and what it takes to get there.

The Panthers will take on Chesnee tonight in an away game as they also prepare for the homecoming game against Blue Ridge.

Johnson is prepared for these matchups, and has a good idea of what it will take to win these games.

“The key is discipline and getting plays off quickly and efficiently. You gotta be the bigger man on the field. And play at a pace that the defense cannot keep up.”