MACON, Ga. — Tomorrow is the big day for Northeast High School's football team.
It will be the first time in football program history that the Raiders will play in a GHSA State Championship game. The game is against Toombs County at Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 1 p.m.
The football team did a Raider Walk through the five eastside schools so the students and teachers could wish them good luck on their way to state. But even before today, the district and the community started showing up for the team in big ways.
Junior quarterback Reginald Glover said his focus is on the game.
"I been waiting for this moment all my life,” he said. “Like, playing in the Falcons, Mercedes Benz stadium, that's cool. But I'm nervous for sure though."
The Northeast community wants the team to play the best and that starts with helping them look their best. The boys got free haircuts from Barbers on Duty, a non-profit organization. A class of 1981 Raider donated custom compression socks to wear for the game.
"Everybody needed a cut that day,” Senior Nicholas Woodford. “They came in clutch with the haircuts, the socks; I think we're going to wear them tomorrow."
Northeast is selling championship t-shirts too. Alums at MLK Elementary School said seeing the team get there is already a win.
"We love it,” Principal Tawanya Wilson said. “I want to come in and, and let our students know that the sky is the limit. We live in East Macon, but we can go anywhere in the world. Our hearts, all of these Raiders here, our hearts are in this building, and we pour it into our students each and every day."
Raider pride starts at the elementary schools. Woodford said the team is grateful for all the support.
"We feel good as players,” Woodford said. “I know the coaches are excited about the different grants and the different things that, not only the school and the players are getting, but also the whole community is getting."
The Bibb School District made Tuesday a remote-learning day for all students in the Northeast High school zone. They say this gives people a chance to travel and show their support for the raiders in person.
Mercedes-Benz has a clear bag policy. Parking opens at 6 a.m. and the stadium gates open at 10 a.m. You can't bring alcohol, chairs or cameras with lenses longer than six inches.