THOMASVILLE — As the Georgia 6A State Championship game quickly approaches, we sat down with Yellow Jackets Jaylen Johnson, Trey Brenton and Dee Reddick to get a sense of how the team feels headed into the biggest game of their high school career.

It’s safe to say that there is plenty of excitement in the locker room. Smiles, high fives and excitedly bouncing knees made that apparent.

“Seeing everybody smiling, knowing we’re one step away from what we’ve been working on since January,” Brenton said. “All we have to do is accomplish that goal and everything will be satisfied.”

But, it’s not just the game that excites these players, it’s the fans as well.

“We like that our fans come with us. They bring the horns and I like that. They get in the other team’s head,” Johnson said. “We always have our twelfth man.”

“Knowing that once we travel, we have Thomas County Central on our side and wherever we are they are going to be there to support us. Everywhere we go it’s a home game for us,” said Brenton.

For a lot of these players, playing in Merceds-Benz Stadium is a dream. They get a chance to take the field that they see their heroes take every Sunday. It brings a sense of accomplishment and pride.

“To be in the Benz is a blessing,” said Brenton.

“A lot of people don’t get to do that,” Johnson said. “A lot of people don’t get to play for a state championship. No one in my family did that, I’m going to be the first to do that.”

There will be a lot of firsts for these kids in Atlanta, but it’s also the finish line for this senior class. Brenton made it very clear that he wants to end his senior season with a ring on his finger as a State Champion.

“If it turns out to be 14-1, that 14-1 ain’t worth it. This game means a lot,” Brenton said.

Of course, this team deserves to enjoy the moment, but that doesn’t mean they are taking it easy. They have a job to do and they won’t lose sight of that end goal.

“We made it this far. We have to finish the job,” Brenton commented. “It ain’t done yet.”

Auburn commit Dee Reddick is well aware of what this title means for Thomas County Central and what it takes to be forever remembered as a Yellow Jacket.

“It means that we’re true champions. You know, not just region champs. That’s the big thing. We’ve been to state in the 2000’s, but people haven’t talked about that team because they didn’t win,” said Reddick. “That’s why it’s big for us to win this before we can be talked about. Before we can be legendary.”

“We’ve got to win to be legendary,” Johnson said.

At the end of the day, it’s not easy to make it to a state title game. This team has fought through 14 football games, practices in the hot sun and the bitter cold, hard collisions and close games. So, how does a team get through all of that to claim the state championship? Johnson, Brenton and Reddick have the answer.

“Heart.”