Estill – Joe Gray Peeples was an assistant coach at Patrick Henry Academy in 1989 and 1990. The Patriots won a state title that second season. He has been the PHA head coach the past two seasons. He just led the school to the SCISA Class A state championship, its first football title since 1994.
That has left Peeples with a conundrum, telling a friend he’s either very smart or very lucky. His friend’s reply? “You’ve got to be lucky, because you’re not that smart,” Peeples said.
Lucky in the fact that his two times on the staff came when Patrick Henry had talented athletes coming through.
“These last two years we’ve just had a peak in athletes,” said Peeples, whose team beat Lee Academy 35-28 in the championship game to finish with an 11-2 record. “It happens in bunches for a reason. It comes in cycles, especially at small schools like this. We’re hoping to ride it out.”
The Patriots lose 11 seniors from the team, seven of whom were among their 10 players selected to the All-Region 3 team. Six of those seven were selected to play in the AA-Class A North-South All-Star Game.
Leading the way was Region Offensive Player of the Year quarterback Hugh Fairey. The senior completed 141 of 253 passes for 2,536 yards and 19 touchdowns while rushing for a team high 930 yards and 14 touchdowns on 135 carries.
Hugh’s favorite target, twin brother Forest Fairey, joined him on the All-Region team as a wide receiver as did senior TJ Johnson. Forest finished with 51 catches for 1,140 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Johnson had 28 catches for 605 yards and five TDs.
Those three were selected to the North-South Game along with senior All-Region offensive lineman Andy Searles and senior All-Region defensive linemen Cohen Freeman and Allen Berg.
Berg had 41 tackles, including nine tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks, while Freeman had 49 tackles, one sack and two TFLs. Searles had 73 tackles, two interceptions and three TFLS as a defensive end.
The other senior All-Region performer was linebacker Hance McCrary. He had 73 tackles and six TFLs.
The underclassmen selected to the All-Region team were juniors Mikell Tucker Mathis and Spencer Kelehear at linebacker and offensive lineman, respectively, and sophomore Rylin Brunson at defensive back.
Mathis led the team in both tackles and TFLs with 96 and 22, respectively. He also had a sack and two interceptions. Mathis was a major offensive threat as well, rushing for 383 yards and nine TDs on 72 carries while catching 29 passes for 477 yards and three scores.
Brunson had 35 tackles, one pick and two TFLs. Defensively, Kelehear had 29 tackles, four TFLs, two forced fumbles and one sack.
What makes this title even more special to Peeples is the fact PHA was just in its second year in 11-man football after spending the 22 previous seasons playing in the SCISA 8-man league. After going 6-4 in 2022, Peeples said his returning players realized the possibilities that existed.
“We've come a long way,” he said. “The season we had last year made the kids understand not only could we compete, but we can win. I don't want to say they didn't believe that at the beginning, but they had never played 11-man before.
“They saw the potential after last season. They hit the weights hard, they knew what needed to improve on. They were better prepared for the challenge of bigger and better things.”
All Rights Reserved | The High School Sports Report 1986-2021