Patton experiences first loss of season

Columbia (Mo.) Rock Bridge quarterback Chase Patton had lined up all five visits quite a while go. But, that hasn’t stopped the phone calls.

“Things still are happening regularly,” Robert Patton, Chase’s father said. “It really is an exciting time for Chase.”

The excitement of the football season could have disappeared on Friday night, though.

“They lost for the first time on Friday,” Patton said. “It was against Jefferson City and the final was 28-24. We were down 14-0 at the half and Chase came out and threw for two scores in the third and ran for another one. He was playing pretty well. Then the defense gave up a couple touchdowns in the fourth quarter. It was the first district game. It is possible to move on in the playoffs, but we’ll need a little help.”

Patton threw for 360 yards and the two scores in the game.

The four-star rated quarteback was in attendance at this weekend’s Missouri game.

“It was an exciting game,” the elder Patton said. “Brad Smith played very well. He is a special kid. Chase isn’t a Brad Smith, though He is a thrower, not a runner. We’ll see how things work out.

“Gary (Pinkel) wants Chase real bad. He’d love to have an offense where they could drop back and throw. Chase is a pocket passer, he’s not a runner. He’s a threat with his arm. He can move around and avoid a rush, but he’s not a run-first type of guy.”

Patton will begin his official visits in late November with a Nov. 22 trip to Tennessee. He’ll pick up in December, again. The first weekend of the month he will go to Iowa. Then trips to Missouri (Dec. 12) and Kansas State (Dec. 19) round out the month. One visit in January, to UCLA (Jan. 6) will conclude the official visit tour.