A memory for life: Northwestern coach talks about team playing at Bank of America Stadium

The game will make history.

The Northwestern Trojans will play Charlotte’s Providence Day Chargers in the inaugural Keep Pounding High School Classic at Bank of America Stadium on Aug. 19.

The event will mark the first time a high school football game has been played on the home field of the Carolina Panthers.

Northwestern football coach Page Wofford says he is proud his players get a chance to play on such a big stage.

“At Northwestern, we have a responsibility to our student-athletes to provide the best opportunities for them possible,” Wofford said at a news conference Wednesday. “And we feel like that this type of opportunity is something that they’ll remember and cherish for the rest of their life.”

The Trojans are coming off a stellar 2022 season. The team went 14-2 and advanced to the Class 4A state championship game, where they fell to South Florence.

Northwestern quarterback Finley Polk says the Trojans are focused on improving for the upcoming season and calls this opportunity a blessing for him and his teammates.

“We’re trying to get better at everything,” the sophomore said. “We’re trying to get better at defense, offense, special teams. Trying to score more points than the other team. That’s the whole game of football.”

Wofford said he believes his players will be prepared when it’s time to play.

“I’m pretty sure (the field) is 100 yards long,” he said. “It’s the old Hoosiers thing. When the kids get out there, they might be a little awestruck in the beginning. But one thing coming from Rock Hill, our kids are used to playing in big games and in big atmospheres.”

Providence Day School will be featuring Jadyn Davis at quarterback, the former Catawba Ridge starting quarterback who is currently the second-highest quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class according to 247Sports.

This story was originally published March 7, 2023 at 8:14 AM.