Howard Thompson trophy winner Tre Mitchell of Chapel Hill High School shows his award.
“It was pretty cool to win. I was surprised and really happy. I didn’t think I would…I couldn’t have done it all without my offensive line,” Mitchell said.
In 1926 Howard Thompson began the first football team in Douglas County while he was still a high school student; coaching and playing on the first team. Now sponsored by Gable Sporting Goods, this award is given every year to the senior football player the county football coaches and administration feel represent the county best in athletics, academics and character.
The son of Willie Mitchell and Sharon Singleton and Arthur Singleton, Mitchell finished his senior season with 311 carries, 1,844 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns.
According to Mitchell, with his stats this season, he set new school records for single season rushing yards, single game rushing yards and single season rushing touchdowns.
According to head coach Geoff Pastrick, Mitchell is a leader for his teammates through his “effort and commitment in the weight room, the classroom and in the community.”
While Mitchell knew he had performed well this season, he said he also knew the other players up for the award and it was a good competition because they are “all good players.”
Prior to Mitchell, there have only been two winners from Chapel Hill — C.J. Dudley in 2008 and Trent White in 2009 — since the first recipient was named in 1985.
White and Mitchell were teammates on the 2009 team that went to the Class AAAAA state playoffs.
Now that Mitchell has received the most prestigious football award in the Douglas County School District, he has one semester left before graduating and heading off to college.
Mitchell has a 2.87 grade point average and was working to raise it. He has received interest from several schools, but he said he is still unsure about where he would like to attend and play football – though he does know he would like to stay in Georgia.
Playing football at the next level is important for Mitchell, but his senior year was one that really made a difference for him. He said Pastrick played a big part in that.
“Coach Pastrick taught us to be a family. I learned you can’t play football without the team being your family. We’ve seen now that we’ve become more than a group of guys on a field, but brothers. I really liked this season,” Mitchell said.
“My most memorable moment was rushing for 308 yards and being named Homecoming King the night we beat Rockmart…I had an amazing year and I wish I could have more years,” said Mitchell.
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