Priceville High’s Ben Patterson signs an athletic scholarship to play football for Maryville College in Tennessee. He is seated with his parents, Jonas and Laura Patterson pf Priceville. Standing, from left, are his coaches, Josh Sawyer, Chris Odom, Dirk Strunk, head coach, Chad Kelso and Ben Estes. | Clif Knight

Priceville High School senior football and soccer player Ben Patterson has signed an athletic scholarship to play football for Maryville College in Maryville, Tenn.

His signing took place on Friday in the school library. On hand to witness the event and offer their congratulations and best wishes were his parents, coaches and senior teammates.

“I feel really good about having the opportunity to play at Maryville,” Patterson said. “Once I decided to go there, my decision has never wavered.

“The mountain location fits my personality and offers things I like to do away from football such as kayaking and hiking. I was also impressed with the football coaches and what they are doing to ensure that the school has a quality football program. I feel they will help me become the kind of adult I want to be.

“I always wanted to have the opportunity to play football on the college level,” Patterson added. “This is the fulfillment of my boyhood dream.”

“He was a player we could always count on to give 100 percent,” said Priceville head coach Dirk Strunk. “He’s going to do great things at Maryville.”

“They recruited me as a kick returner and wide receiver,” Patterson stated, “and told me there’s a good chance I’ll be able to play as a freshman.”

As a senior, Patterson rushed for 704 yards and had nine rushing touchdowns. As a receiver, he had 382 yards and caught 10 touchdown passes. He also returned a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns. He averaged scoring a TD for every five time he touched the ball.

The son of Jonas and Laura Patterson of Priceville, Patterson said he would enroll at Maryville in August and study for a career in sports marketing or education.