The Carolina Panthers will host the second Keep Pounding High School Classic this autumn, bringing high school football back to Bank of America Stadium.

The event is scheduled for Thursday, August 22nd. However, unlike last season, the Panthers will be hosting a double-header featuring four high school teams. The games will take place at 4 PM and 8 PM.

The initial match of the day will showcase Independence versus Myers Park at 4 p.m.

Last season, Independence had a record of 11-4 and made it to the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A regional championship, but ultimately lost to Weddington.

Last season, Myers Park had a 7-4 overall record and went undefeated with a 5-0 record in the South Meck 4A Conference. However, they were defeated by Charlotte Catholic in the first round of the NCHSAA 4A playoffs.

At the Keep Pounding High School Classic, the second match will feature a showdown between two reigning state title holders, Weddington and Providence Day.

Weddington claimed the NCHSAA 4A state title in the recent season, finishing with a 14-2 record. They triumphed over Hoggard 56-21 in the championship game.

Providence Day will be returning to the Keep Pounding Classic for the second time, having emerged victorious in the previous competition last autumn. The Chargers once again claimed the top spot in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I state championships, defeating Rabun Gap (Ga.) with a score of 34-27. With a final record of 12-1, Providence Day ended their season on a high note.

In the previous year, Providence Day emerged victorious over Northwestern (SC) with a score of 42-35 in the historic high school football match held at Bank of America Stadium.

Celebrity captains, who have ties to the participating schools, will be present on the field with each of the four teams.

• Hakeem Nicks will be the representative for Independence. Nicks attended Independence and graduated in 2006.

• Munnerlyn, who serves as an assistant coach, will be the representative for Myers Park.

• Ikem Ekwonu is the representative from Providence Day. He completed his education at Providence Day in 2019.

• Thomas Davis Sr. is the representative for Weddington, where his son also plays.

Munnerlyn, Ekwonu, and Davis have all been members of the Carolina Panthers football team. Nicks was part of the New York Giants, where he was a member of the Super Bowl-winning team.

Starting at noon on Feb. 13, the Carolina Panthers will offer tickets for purchase through Ticketmaster. Each ticket is priced at $8 and grants access to both games.

Source: highschoolot.com