High school football is coming to Bank of America stadium — with a mega NC-SC matchup
Two years ago, when he took over as owner of the Carolina Panthers, new owner David Tepper said he would like to see a high school football state championship game at Bank of America Stadium.
The state finals aren’t coming to Charlotte this year but one of the biggest games of the 2020 season will be played in Uptown.
On Saturday, Sept. 5, Myers Park will play Rock Hill’s South Pointe High School at Bank of America Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. Tickets will cost $10. It will be the first time a high school game has been played at Bank of America Stadium.
Myers Park has developed into a national power under coach Scott Chadwick, reaching the N.C. 4AA semifinals in 2018 and the quarterfinals in 2019. From 1959-2015, Myers Park had only reached double-digits in wins twice — going 11-1 in 1983 and 11-0 in 1965.
Under Chadwick, Myers Park has had four straight seasons with 11 or more wins. Myers Park is 48-7 in that span.
South Pointe was 10-1 last season under first-year coach Devonte Holloman, who played at Independence High and later at South Pointe before graduating in 2009. Holloman was a sixth-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2013 after a successful career at South Carolina. A neck injury ended his NFL career.
South Pointe has reached the South Carolina state semifinals in 10 of the past 12 seasons and has won four state titles in six years.
Chadwick thinks two teams meeting with that type of pedigree will be a treat for fans. And he said playing where Cam Newton, Luke Kuechly, Steve Smith and Julius Peppers once did will be a treat for the players.
“We’re really, really honored to have the opportunity,” Chadwick said, “and we’re very thankful to the Panthers and all the work that was done to put this together. I think it says a lot about where our program is, but I also think it says a lot about the community we have behind us. I think the Panthers know that we’re going to bring an awful lot of support.”
Chadwick’s team plays a tough schedule this fall, opening with national power Mallard Creek on Aug. 19 and then facing Trinity Christian (Texas) at home Aug. 29. Trinity Christian team is led by Deion Sanders’ son, Shedeur, at quarterback.
Myers Park will also play regional powers Hough (Sept. 17) and Butler (Oct. 9) next season.
As good as those games look to be, Chadwick said it’s going to be tough to beat the excitement leading up to the game at Bank of America Stadium.
“I think it’ll truly be, for most of them, a once in a lifetime experience,” Chadwick said, “to have a chance to dress in an NFL locker room, to run through that tunnel. And I feel great for our fans. I think anytime you can do something, during this time, that gives people a little bit of hope, a little something to look forward to — not just our players, but our entire school and community — I think that’s something that’s really exciting.”
This story was originally published May 6, 2020 at 4:52 PM.
