In 2024, the Chapman Panthers had their toughest season since Harry Cabaniss took the reins of the program 5 years ago. They had a rash of injuries that forced them to have to start several young players, which resulted in a 3-8 record. The Panthers notched wins over St Joe’s, Broome, and Union County in a season that ultimately ended in the first round of the 3A playoffs with a 29-15 loss to the Palmetto Mustangs.
Unsurprisingly, the fact they had 10 first-year starters in the wake of the injury bug is also the biggest positive the Panthers have going for them as we enter the 2025 season.
According to Cabaniss, the roster features several notable returnees – including 6 seniors. Quarterback Bryson Cothran, Defensive Lineman Lewis McAlister, D Lineman Khamauri Turner, Offensive Lineman Parker Gramling, Receiver JT Rollins, and tailback Josiah Copeland highlight the veterans on this team, with several of them poised to have big years.
“The QB job is Bryson’s. He has a great opportunity to lead our program. Lewis McAlister is going to get even more chances to impact the game as a two-way player, and Khamauri Turner could be our anchor again on the defensive front. Josiah (Copeland) played a good bit last year. He is one to look out for in 2025 because he is going to carry more of the load in the backfield”, said Cabaniss of his senior class.
There are also a handful of underclassmen that played as freshmen and sophomores last year that give reason to believe the Panthers could be much-improved this season.
There is one Junior – Wide Receiver Taylor Rogers, as well as four sophomores in Defensive Back Darrien Burgess, Running Back/Wideout Tegan Cantrell, 2-way receiver/cornerback Caden Lachica, and Linebacker Christian Brian.
The Panthers will open their 2025 campaign with the same approach that they have taken each of the last 3 years – a non-conference slate that to say is brutal would be a vast understatement.
Chapman will kick off August 22nd with a team that has won three of the last five 3A state championships – the Daniel Lions. As if that was not tough enough, they will follow that with St Joe’s, Boiling Springs, Clinton, Christ Church Episcopal, and defending 3A Upperstate champion Belton Honea Path. All of which should be more than enough to prepare them for region play.
“We always feel good about our region because of our non-region schedule”, said Cabaniss. “It prepares us for the 2nd half of the season. We know that if we don’t beat ourselves, we can play/compete with and beat anyone.”
That second half gets started October 10th, when CHS opens their region slate with a bang in the 2nd chapter of a new rivalry against a team that made it all the way to the AAA upperstate title game in their first-ever season – Mountain View Prep. It doesn’t get too much easier as over the final 3 weeks, they will host a resurgent Union County team that is in similar shoes when it comes to returning youth, go to Woodruff, and finish with the Broome Centurions at home.
In short, Coach Cabaniss is optimistic (as he should be) about the direction of his program after the adversity they faced last season, and the Panthers should be a lot closer to what we became accustomed to seeing over the better part of the last decade.
“We just have to build off of last year”, said Cabaniss. “It is tough when you have to start a bunch of freshmen and sophomores because of injuries. But I believe that is going to pay off for us well this Fall.”
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