Patrick Henry’s Peeples likes progress of team

   By Dennis Brunson

           hssr.com Associate Editor

           Estill – Defending SCISA Class A football state champion Patrick Henry Academy suffered a 51-33 loss to fall to 3-4 on the season and 1-2 in Region 2-Class A.

           You know what though? PHA head coach Joe Gray Peeples was not disappointed with his team’s play. In fact, he thinks it could be a turning point to the season.

           “They scored with like 18 seconds left to go up 18,” Peeples said of THA, which improved to 5-1 and 3-0. “We pretty much kind of matched each other through the early part of the fourth quarter. We batted back after being down 14-0. Hopefully we’re finding our stride. That was probably the best game we’ve played all year.”

           This was the third game in which star Mikell Tucker Mathis has been the exclusive quarterback. He completed 14 of 23 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 113 yards and two scores on 26 carries.

           “We’re developing the offense around him with what he can do,” Peeples said. “The other players are adjusting to him. He’s getting better every week.”

           Mathis’ 14 completions went to six different receivers. Jacob Corley had four catches for 55 yards and a touchdown, Hilton Nettles had four catches for 64 yards and Rylin Brunson had three catches for 44 yards. Bryton Peeples had a 13-yard touchdown catch and Trey Adkins had a 7-yard scoring catch. Sims Brunson had a 34-yard catch.

           For the season, Mathis has completed 37 of 75 passes for 473 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 742 yards and 12 touchdowns on 118 carries. He also has seven catches fo 96 yards and a score.

           Corley is the leading receiver with 12 catches for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Brunson has 11 catches for 85 yards and a touchdown.

           The Patriots had a 12-man senior class that included several players who had been major contributors to the program. Coach Peeples thinks it’s taken some of his players time to realize it’s now on them to carry the load.

           “We’ve got a lot of newer players who are finding their ways,” he said. “Our senior class, they were the stars of the football team We lost like 5,500 yards in offensive production to graduation. It’s taken some time for them to adjust and to know that they’re the man.

“I think it’s taken a while to understand we're good too. We’re sitting here with a 3-4 record. If we can continue to get better, whoever we draw and whatever seed they are, I don't think they’ll be happy having to play us.”