Saturday December 17th 2016, my little hometown of Inman South Carolina sent their football team to Williams Brice Stadium for a AAA State Championship game. At 10:00 AM the streets were lined with parents, grandparents, girlfriends, siblings, spouses, and more to send our boys off for the win and bring home the first ever championship title for our high school and a ring. The boys went and conquered the field with a final score of 29-27 and made the entire town proud. However, the game was not all that the boys won that day.
The boys went on the field and won respect. This team had overcome so many adversities to get to this point. To be playing at a state final had only ever happened once in Chapman High School history so even if they lost, this was the game to lose. The boys on the field did not let anything shake their focus of obtaining the win. For this, they won the respect. They won respect from the other team. The team that went out for the same goal we were, and fought hard for it, now respected the Chapman Panthers. They won respect from the town. Bringing home the first win and also the first win for a male team ever made the whole town respect each and every player. They won respect from the teams they beat to get there. No longer could they say their loss was a fluke or a game of luck. These boys went on the field and proved they deserved to be there.
The boys on the field won their title. They are now the best AAA team in the state of South Carolina. The game that was played proved that in every quarter. From the injuries and the hits that each player kept taking, to the bad calls that the refs made or didn't make, the Chapman Panthers earned every inch of the title that they played for. They put blood sweat and tears into the field at Williams Brice Stadium that day, some knowing they would never be on another field as a Chapman Panther and left everything they had in those 100 yards. They didn't stop until it was their.
Finally, the boys on the field won our hearts. From the very first game of the season, Inman, South Carolina was hopeful listening to the promises of head coach Mark Hodge of not only a successful season, but a chance to win a State Championship. Everyone came to the games to see the players inch towards their goal. Some people came already in love, whether it be a parent, a sibling, or a significant other, however; with each yard Chapman gained, love grew in everyones heart. As we advanced in the playoffs more and more hope was built praying for the chance to play for a ring. Then at last the day came where we sent our boys to do the job and they succeeded. Our love truly grew when we saw our boys lined up receiving their well deserved trophy. Some in tears and some with all smiles, we all took a moment of silence after the crowd roar had settled because we realized something. This was the last time this group of boys will ever play together as a team. Some players will return in August hoping to carry on this new tradition of excellence; however, we stood watching the seniors. These boys gave us an awesome last season. They gave us every opportunity to watch them play this year. They ended their final game with the ultimate win. These boys won our hearts.
In honor of this being my younger brothers last high school game, good job Matthew Kesler. I hope whatever you do from here, you do great things. And lastly, as always, its a great day to be a panther.
