'Battle of Paulding' Played in Memory of Former Coach

Update: Paulding County beat East Paulding 12-10 Friday

-----

From PCSD’s “Athletic Adventures” newsletter

The Battle of Paulding is an annual contest rotated among Paulding County High Schools that is played this year between the Paulding County Patriots and the East Paulding Raiders (Oct. 3).

It is played in memory of former PCHS Head Coach Ken Phillips.

Coach Phillips passed from this life on August 7, 2005 (his grandson, Kent, was born 3 years later on August 7, 2008).

When the “Battle of Dallas” tradition began, the district had only two high schools, PCHS and EPHS.

Since the district has now grown to five high schools, the name changed to the “Battle of Paulding.” The “Battle of Paulding” is designed to carry on the legacy of Coach “Big Daddy” Ken Phillips and his beliefs about the game of life.

“Big Daddy,” as his players lovingly referred to him, was head coach for a record 90 games at PCHS and led the program to its first winning season in 1980. His tenure at Paulding was nine seasons (1977-80; 1985-89), a mark no one in the history of the program at PCHS has surpassed.

In August of 2005, the field house at Paulding County High School was named in honor of Coach Phillips. He taught life lessons and touched thousands of lives in a way that made everyone around him a better person. At the end of every football game, win or lose, he always told his boys to go home and tell your mom and dad you love them. Coach Phillips has left a legacy in Paulding County that will live on for years to come.

— Don Breedlove

The latest Athletic Adventures newsletter from the Paulding County School District has more news about local schools:

• North Wins Sportsmanship Cup
• South Seniors Honored
• Region Football Standings
• Region Softball Standings
• Weekly Scores
• Top Performers
• Character Education Corner

Click here to read the entire newsletter

(Photo: Coach Phillips making the trophy presentation at one of the first “Battles” between the Patriots and Raiders. Credit: PCSD)