Featured Spotlight Morganton's Patton High to field varsity football team this fall after last season’s hiatus jason.koon Jul 30, 2025 Jul 30, 2025 Updated Sep 6, 2025 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Patton High School will have a varsity football team this year.kAmw625 4@249 q:==J (9:D6?2?E D2:5 E96 AC@8C2> 92D D66? 2 DE625J 8C@FA @7 23@FE b_\bd A=2J6CD 4@>:?8 E@ DF>>6C H@C<@FED E9C@F89 yF?6 2?5 yF=J] w6 36=:6G6D E92E H:== 36 6?@F89 E@ 7:6=5 3@E9 2 y' 2?5 G2CD:EJ E62>]k^AmkAm“~FC A=2? :D E@ 5@ 3@E9[” (9:D6?2?E D2:5] “x?;FC:6D 2?5 E9:?8D 4@F=5 92AA6? 2=@?8 E96 H2J E92E 5:DCFAE FD 36:?8 23=6 E@ CF? EH@ E62>D] qFE @FC A=2? :D E@ CF?[ A2CE:4F=2C=J 2 G2CD:EJ D62D@? 2== J62C]”k^Am Patton football coach Billy Whisenant, center, watches his team practice last summer in Morganton. Burke County Public Schools photos kAmtG6? :7 :?;FC:6D 5@ 5:DCFAE E96 y' D62D@?[ (9:D6?2?E D2:5 :D 4@>>:EE65 E@ AC@G:5:?8 9:D FAA6C4=2DD>6? H:E9 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ A=2J G2CD:EJ E9:D 72==] w6 D2:5 9:D A=2J6CD ?665 E92E 492==6?86 27E6C 2 J62C H:E9 @?=J y' 7@@E32==]k^Am People are also reading… Opening soon? The Madness, Copper Penny Grill still coming to Marion, owners say Marion man gets multiple drug charges after SWAT Team search McDowell High School graduates 313 in Friday ceremony McDowell High School graduation is Friday. Shuttles to run from three parking areas McDowell County alum credits education for preparing him for career in law enforcement S.C. man charged with statutory rape of McDowell child Music, festivals among free things to do this weekend in and around McDowell County Exclusive leaked documents expose growing white supremacist group McDowell County Commissioners to meet Monday See schedule, events at 2026 N.C. Gold Festival, coin show this weekend in McDowell County Hickory NASCAR legend Ned Jarrett dies at home in Newton on Thursday Trails, Trains and Travelin’ McCourys: Festival is multifaceted celebration of outdoors, music Meet the McDowell County Soil and Water District contest winners 28th annual Operation Backpack set to begin for McDowell’s students Health center’s director denies clinic harmed patients by over-prescribing opioids kAm“x 92G6 7:G6 @C D:I[ D6G6? ;F?:@CD @? E9:D J62C’D DBF25[” (9:D?2?E D2:5] “%96C6’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 ;F>A[ H6 C64@8?:K6 E92E[ 3FE x 766= E96J 2C6 C625J E@ 4@>A6E6] %96J H2?E E96 492==6?86]”k^AmkAm!2EE@? 5:5?’E 92G6 2 G2CD:EJ E62> =2DE 72== 5F6 E@ =@H ?F>36CD[ A2CE:4F=2C=J :? E96 D6?:@C 2?5 ;F?:@C 4=2DD6D]k^Am Patton football players run a passing drill during a practice last summer at Patton High School in Morganton. Burke County Public Schools kAm“|J ;F?:@C 4=2DD =2DE J62C[ x 925 @?6 WA=2J6CX[” (9:D6?2?E D2:5] “%92E @?6 4=2DD D6ED 324< 6G6CJE9:?8] (96? E96J 2CC:G65 96C6[ E96J @?=J 925 E9C66 @C 7@FC H9@ 925 A=2J65 2?5 3J E96 E:>6 x 8@E 96C6[ :E H2D 5@H? E@ @?6]”k^Am kAmw6 D2:5 96 EC:65 E@ C64CF:E D@>6 FAA6C4=2DD>6?[ 3FE :E’D 92C5 E@ 3C:?8 :? D@>6@?6 2E E96 G2CD:EJ =6G6= H9@ 92D?’E A=2J65 367@C6]k^Am kAm“xE’D 5:77:4F=E @?46 E96J 86E E92E 72C 2=@?8 2?5 92G6?’E A=2J65[” (9:D6?2?E D2:5] “u@@E32== :D 5:77:4F=E E@ ;F>A :?E@] xE :D 9@E :? E96 DF>>6C] %96J’C6 E66?286CD 2?5 E96J’C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 D6?:@CD 2?5 :E’D E96 7:CDE E:>6 E96J’G6 6G6C 5@?6 :E] %96J 5@?’E <?@H H92E E96J’C6 86EE:?8 :?E@]”k^AmkAm(9:D6?2?E D2:5 42==:?8 @77 E96 G2CD:EJ D62D@? =2DE J62C H2D 2 E@F89 42==[ 3FE 96 36=:6G6D :E H2D E96 C:89E @?6]k^Am Patton head football coach Billy Whisenant, center, encourages a player during a practice last summer in Morganton. Burke County Public Schools kAm“xE :D G6CJ[ G6CJ 92C5 7@C 2 ?:?E9 8C256C E@ ;F>A :?[” 96 D2:5] “%96C6 2C6 2 76H 6I46AE:@?D[ 3FE 7@C E96 >@DE A2CE[ >@DE @7 E96>[ E96:C 3@5:6D 92G6 ;FDE ?@E >2EFC65]”k^AmkAmtG6? 7:6=5:?8 2 y' E62> H2D 2 DECF88=6 =2DE J62C] (9:D6?2?E D2:5 96 925 `c A=2J6CD H9@ DF:E65 FA 7@C E96 7:CDE y' 82>6] p 76H >@C6 ;@:?65 E96 E62> E9C@F89@FE E96 D62D@?]k^Am kAm“%96J’G6 925 2 J62C E@ 56G6=@A[” (9:D6?2?E D2:5] “%96J 8@E 2 =@E @7 C6AD =2DE J62C] (6 A=2J65 6:89E 82>6D 2?5 E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 E96> AC6EEJ >F49 A=2J65 6G6CJ D?2A]”k^Am kAm(9:D6?2?E D2:5 E96 E62> :D DE:== J@F?8] w6 92D E9C66 D6?:@CD E9:D J62C 2?5 H:== DE:== =:<6=J DE2CE 2 D:8?:7:42?E ?F>36C @7 ?:?E9 2?5 `_E9 8C256CD 6G6? 2E A@D:E:@?D @? E96 =:?6] w@H6G6C[ 96 D2:5 E96 AC@8C2> :D :? 2 36EE6C A@D:E:@? E92? :E H2D =2DE DF>>6C] w6 2=D@ D2:5 9:D E62> 92D 2 76H @E96C E9:?8D 8@:?8 7@C E96>]k^Am kAm“%96 @?6 E9:?8 J@F’== D66 H:E9 >J E62>[ :D E96J 7:89E[” 96 D2:5] “%96J 7:89E E@ E96 3:EE6C 6?5[ 2?5 E96J 92E6 E@ =@D6] %9@D6 >:55=6 D49@@= 4@2496D[ 367@C6 x 8@E 96C6[ 5:5?’E =@D6 2 =@E 2?5 D@ =@D:?8[ E@ WE96D6 <:5DX[ :D 5:D2AA@:?E:?8] %96J 5@?’E =:<6 E@ 5@ :E]”k^Am kAm%92E 92E6\E@\=@D6 >:?5D6E D9@H65 @? E96 y' 7:6=5 =2DE D62D@?] %9@D6 `c ?:?E9 2?5 `_E9 8C256CD H9@ DF:E65 FA 7@C E96 7:CDE 82>6[ 6?565 FA =625:?8 E96 DBF25 E@ 2 d\b D62D@?]k^Am Jason Koon is the Sports Editor for the Hickory Record and can be reached at jason.koon@lee.net. 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. jason.koon Author email Follow jason.koon Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! 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