Patterson lineman signs letter to play for Kansas college

PATTERSON — A Lumberjack is heading for the plains of Kansas.

On Friday, Patterson High offensive lineman Christopher Phillips signed a letter of intent to attend and play football for Tabor College, a small faith-based institution in Hillsboro, Kansas.

“He’s been a team leader for us, a captain,” said Patterson head coach Garrett Kreamer. “He’s going to do big things in college.”

A three-year starter on offense and defense, Phillips helped lead Patterson to an 8-5 record and a state quarterfinal appearance in 2022.

“He’s got great footwork,” Kreamer said of the 6-2, 250-pound Phillips. “He’s light on his feet, but he’s real physical.”

Phillips said he’s trying to gain weight with a goal of 289-290 pounds.

He’s going to Tabor as an offensive lineman, but no one is ruling out the possibility that he’ll see action on defense, too.

That doesn’t seem to bother Phillips.

“I like showing people I’m a dog,” he said.

A family connection led Phillips to the Kansas school. An uncle has a friend who is a coach at Tabor, and the school was able to follow his progress athletically and academically.

Tabor also got the stamp of approval from Phillips’ grandmother, Greta Lewis.

“They told me God comes first, then academics and then sports,” Lewis said. “That’s what sold me.”

Phillips is the son of Christopher and Mimi Phillips of Patterson.

Tabor College went 6-5 in 2022, and 5-5 in the NAIA Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. The head coach is Mike Gardner, now in his 14th year at the school.