To Whom It May Concern (that being everyone from Sterlington involved in the championship game Friday night),

We have had our doubts, and we have had our doubters, but, despite it all, you all have given everyone in the community of Sterlington, especially Sterlington High School, a sense of pride. We can now officially say that our football team is the best in the state of Louisiana. No one expected us to make it this far. Even I, a senior at Sterlington and a supporter of my team, did not expect us, a little team from a little town, to make it to the Dome, much less for us to win. I do not take any credit for the amazing victory the Panthers brought home, and I do not want to. I just want to say thank you to all the players, coaches, band members, dancers, cheerleaders, and everyone else who dedicated their time and effort for giving me something to remember and cherish for the rest of my life.

I was unable to watch the game, so I cannot give details of how the game played out, however, I can say that you guys played your best, you will not leave New Orleans with any regrets and you will come home to cheers and support. You did not let the doubters get into your head. You played as a united front, and even though you may not have slain any dragons, allow yourselves to feel like you did for a little while, you deserve it.

For the juniors and seniors on the team, you made the best out of this game, the last game you will ever play as one team. You understand the significance in bringing home that shiny trophy better than those from the sophomore and freshman classes. This game was your last chance to truly shine as a high school football star, and I hope everyone you see knows what you did out on that field Friday night. Do not let anyone belittle your victory. Even if it wasn’t the Super Bowl, even if you weren’t awarded the Heisman trophy, you did something big and you proved that the Panthers are fierce and ready to fight back. You won the State Championship! I hope you all go off to do whatever makes you happy in college and beyond, whether that be playing football or winning a Nobel Prize or being a stay-at-home dad. This may our last year as students of Sterlington high school, but we will always be Panthers, and we will always remember that our football team brought home the trophy as one last gift.

I know that there are many strong players from the sophomore and freshman classes, so I hope you don’t feel left out. Whether this was your first year on the team or your second, you have certainly proved your worth. I can’t say that I know you all very well, so I will say much. I hope that you guys continue to grow as a team. I hope that when you are a junior or senior you will lead the next classes to victory as well. I have faith that you will. Don’t prove me wrong.

The coaches have worked so hard to make this team the best they can be and it obviously paid off. I have a deep-seated respect for the coaches of Sterlington, for without them we would be nowhere. I have witnessed the growth and maturity the coaches have instilled in our players, which causes me to believe that we will rise again and continue to only become stronger.

I would just like to say thank you to everyone involved in cheering on our panthers Friday night because without you, they would just be a really good football team. With you, however, they have become a community. It has simply amazed me to see the amount of support the people of Sterlington have provided, allowing me to say that I am truly blessed to be a Sterlington Panther.

Thank you all for giving everyone in your community a renewed sense of pride, and thank you for giving me the inspiration to write this article. I truly appreciate every one of you, and I hope you all continue to live great lives while also remembering that we are Panthers and we are fighters.

With Love,

Your Fellow Panther.

Here are some videos made by our very own SHS Multi-Media, displaying the strong Panther Pride!