Slimmer Skip Patterson adds speed to unusual abilities as Henderson County's quarterback
A slimmer Skip Patterson will be running Henderson County's offense this season, but don't expect the veteran to change the way he operates.
Slimmer Skip Patterson adds speed to unusual abilities as Henderson County's quarterback A slimmer Skip Patterson will be running Henderson County's offense this season, but don't expect the veteran to change the way he operates. Check out this story on thegleaner.com: https://www.thegleaner.com/story/sports/2018/08/06/henderson-county-quarterback-skip-patterson-trims-down-season/913963002/
Kevin J. Patton, Henderson Gleaner Published 4:02 p.m. CT Aug. 6, 2018 | Updated 5:35 p.m. CT Aug. 6, 2018
Henderson County quarterback Skip Patterson takes off on a running play during last year's game with district rival McCracken County at Colonel Field.(Photo: MIKE LAWRENCE / THE GLEANER)Buy Photo
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Though a slimmer and trimmer Skip Patterson will be running Henderson County's offense this season, don't expect the veteran quarterback to change the way he operates on the field.
A four-year starter, Patterson has dropped about 15 pounds since last season through working out and eating healthier.
"My uncle is crazy about me working out," said the 5-11 Patterson, who now checks in at 219, down from the 235 he weighed last season. "I work out two times a day. I go to football and grind, and then straight to my uncle's and grind again."
In addition to a strenuous workout schedule, Patterson eliminated snacks and soft drinks from his diet. "I eat what I should and drink water," he said.
"It wasn't like he was trying to lose weight," Henderson County coach Josh Boston said. "It was just him working hard, playing baseball and having the weightlifting class during school."
Patterson had a squat of 550 pounds earlier this year. "He probably could have done more, but we stopped him," Boston said.
Patterson hopes the results will show up on the field. "I want to stay healthy. I don't want to get injured. I'm trying to keep my body in the best shape it can be for this season," he said during Monday's High School Football Media Day, hosted jointly by the Courier & Press and WEHT/WTVW and sponsored by Evansville Teachers Federal Credit Union.
Patterson, who rushed for 654 yards last season, expects to still be the power runner who is capable of punishing defenders. He believes his weight loss will add more speed to his game.
"I'm still a power runner, but I can put a little speed behind it," he said.
That's not welcome news for opposing defenses who have already struggled with a quarterback of Patterson's size who has the ability to throw.
"It's a load. You've got an undersized outside linebacker and they run an RPO play (a run play with a pass option), it's one-on-one. You might tackle him but are you going to want to do that in the third quarter when he's still running downhill at you," said Reitz coach Andy Hape, whose team will visit Henderson County in the season opener on August 17.
"There's a little bit of an intimidation factor with somebody that large that can do the things that he can do. It's not like he's a big, fat, slow kid. He's talented. He can throw the football. He can run. He's big-bodied. He's tough. He just keeps coming and coming and coming. That can wear some people down," Hape said.
Boston describes Patterson as a running back who plays quarterback, but he still threw for 1,186 yards and seven touchdowns with only three interceptions last season.
"From his freshman year through last year, he improved so much at throwing the football," said Gibson Southern coach Nick Hart, who saw Patterson throw for 200 yards and a touchdown in his team's 28-20 win at Colonel Stadium. "He really hurt us in the air last year, maybe even more so than he did on the ground. We were going to try to make him throw the football and he made us pay."
Hape applauded Boston for going against traditional thought and using Patterson as a quarterback. "I think everybody gets caught up in this college thing, that he's too big to play quarterback. He's a high school football player. If he can do everything you ask him to do and he's best the one, he's going to play quarterback. I wouldn't be too concerned about what he's going to when he's a junior in college. I'll let them figure it out."
"If he's your best dude, he should touch it every play," Hape said.
"He can make things happen. He can extend plays. If things break down, he's got the ability with his feet to extend plays and he's also got the ability to make things happen once he gets into space," Boston said.
"They have to respect my arm ability but at the same time respect my run game. If I'm in the pocket and no one is open, I'm going to take off," Patterson said.
Henderson County quarterback Skip Patterson (1) throws downfield during last year's game against North at Bundrant Stadium. (Photo: DENNY SIMMONS / COURIER & PRESS)
His greatest asset may be his experience as he enters his fourth season as the starting quarterback.
"It feels like he has been there for eight years. Every time I turn a film on, it's him," Hape said. "Experience at this level is enormous. Any time you're put in situations that are hard and you make it out of those situations, whether you're successful or not, you learn from it. He's got three full years of that. We don't have anybody on our team that's got three years. We've got some with two. He's got 11 or 12 more games than our three-year starters. That's enormous. He's been put in situations that a lot of other people haven't."
Hart was a three-year starter at quarterback at Reitz so he knows how valuable game experience is. "In my senior year, you had seen every defense and every coverage. You knew where to go with the football before it happened. The game had slowed down so much. I think that's where that big advantage is," said Hart, whose Titans will host the Colonels on Sept. 7.
"I know what it feels like. I know how fast the game is," Patterson said. "I feel confident and comfortable. I don't ever get nervous."
Patterson's experience will be important as the Colonels try to improve on last year's 5-7 record. "He's been in the games. He knows what it's like. He's doesn't have any nerves built up because he's been in all of those situations," Boston said.
More: Hape close to losing 100 pounds as Reitz football nears 700 wins in program history
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Watch it again: High School Football Media Day
Henderson Co. Schedule
Aug. 17: Reitz
Aug. 24: North
Aug. 31: at Christian Co.
Sept. 7: at Gibson Southern
Sept. 14: at Caldwell Co.
Sept. 21: at Ohio Co.
Sept. 28: Muhlenberg Co.
Oct. 5: at McCracken Co.
Oct. 12: Daviess Co.
Oct. 26: Owensboro