By CURTIS ROCKWELL

Saturday was a big day for Pass Christian’s versatile senior standout Terry Patton, Jr.
Historic, some might say.
That’s because Patton became the only player ever to play in both the annual Bernard Blackwell North/South All-Star Football game in the afternoon and then go on later that night to compete for his high school basketball team as well.
Patton suited up for the South squad at Milner Stadium on the gridiron in the 75th renewal of that historic contest and then after helping his team to a win he headed on over to D’Iberville High School where Pass Christian was facing Biloxi in the annual Rene Ladner Basketball Classic.

“It was very special for me, it reminded me of being a little kid going from sport to sport playing outside with my friends,” Patton said Sunday. “I’m so grateful to have coaches who are flexible with my schedule and allow me to rise to my potential, and thankful for all the support I have with me.”
The South won the football game 20-15 before Patton and his Pirate teammates fell to Biloxi 48-39. Patton made a couple of key plays on the football field and also was able to make his way into the scorebook on the hardwood as well. In addition to his athletic prowess, Patton was honored on Saturday afternoon at the football game as well with the Academic Achievement Award for the South team as well. “That meant a lot, because I put my academics first,” he added.

“When I heard about it I wasn’t surprised a bit,” Pirate head football coach Jeff Stockstill. “That’s Terry right there. He’s always committed one hundred percent to help his team team compete in every sport that he a part of. He’s a great kid and an excellent athlete.”
Patton finished an historic football season for Pass Christian as one the Pirates’ top offensive performers. He had 48 receptions for 865 yards and scored 15 touchdowns in helping guide PCHS to the furthest it had ever been in the football playoffs in school history.
Pass Christian advanced to the third round of the Class 4A South State playoffs before falling to perennial state power Columbia in the South State semifinals. Columbia went on to capture the South State title before falling to Louisville in the overall state finals.

The Pirates finished a solid 9-3 overall, and Pass finished one win short of tying the record for most wins in a season set in 1975 when the team won 10 games.
“Terry was our number one option on offense right from the start,” Stockstill, who just completed his first season at the helm of the Pirates, said. ” But towards the end of the season, in crunch time, he was valuable in the defensive back field for us as well. We try not to play many players both ways, but Terry could have been easily been a standout two-way player for us all season as well. He always did everything we asked of him no matter the situation. Always an all around team player in every way.”
And he proved that to be so once again in two different sports on Saturday.