Andrew Battle is a starting cornerback for the defending Class 4A state champion Perry Panthers and has become one of the team’s top defenders in the secondary against both the pass and the run.
In a recent game against rival Veterans High school, Battle was awarded the Player of the Game for Perry. Battle had a touchdown-saving tackle in the fourth quarter that helped preserve the shutout win for the Perry defense.
Battle, a junior, has overcome a lot since joining the varsity squad before last season.
At 5 feet, 8 inches tall and 145 pounds, Battle is considered undersized, even for the position of cornerback, where players are generally among the smaller athletes on the field.
Then there was the issue of experience. Last season as a sophomore, Battle was simply trying to earn playing time as a backup.
Perry head coach Kevin Smith recalled the challenge Battle was facing before last season, trying to get on the field while going up against the best players at their positions.
“Andrew wasn’t competing against just anyone; he was going up against the best receivers in the state in Kory Pettigrew, Kiel Sparks, and Dakarai Anderson,” Smith said.
Pettigrew is a USF commit, and Sparks is receiving attention from a handful of Division I schools. Both are seniors. Anderson graduated last season and is now a member of the Cincinnati Bearcats.
Even though he was facing an uphill battle, Battle embraced the competition each day in practice and sharpened his skills while going against top talent.
Still, Battle spent last season as a backup while waiting for his chance.
When Opportunity Knocks…
Entering this season as a junior, Battle was still considered a backup cornerback. Smith said Battle came to practice each day with a mindset that if he kept working hard, his time would come, and it finally did.
“A teammate of Andrew’s transferred, and that was when Andrew’s time came,” Smith said.
If Battle was nervous about this opportunity that came out of nowhere, he wasn’t showing it.
“In a situation where some might have felt pressure, Andrew thrived,” Smith said. “He was given a starting role, and since then he hasn’t looked back.”
Battle was determined to make the most of his new opportunity, but others saw opportunity as well. That would be his opposition.
“Andrew has been targeted by opposing quarterbacks, partly because of his size and because he’s a newer face in the starting lineup,” Smith said.
Smith said that instead of faltering under the pressure, his newest starting defensive back has risen to the occasion, and it’s not just in the defensive secondary.
“Andrew also plays a vital role on our special teams,” Smith said.
More Than Stats
At the mid way point of the 2024 Georgia high school football season, Battle has six tackles, including that TD-saving tackle earlier this season, and he has been credited with three passes defended.
“Andrew’s impact on the field goes far beyond just statistics,” Smith said. “His presence in the locker room and on the practice field is invaluable. His work ethic embodies what it means to be a Perry Panther: showing up every day, competing, and never backing down from adversity.”
It’s not just Battle’s abilities on the football field that makes him special, either, Smith said.
“Andrew excels in academics, consistently earning honors and recognition for his hard work in the classroom,” Smith said.
Battle is also a two-time state champion, but not as you might expect.
Smith said that in addition to being a member of last season’s 2023 GHSA Class 4A State Champion football team, Battle was also a key competitor on Perry’s literary team, which captured its own 2023 state championship.
“That was an achievement just as significant to him as his football success,” Smith said.
A True Coffee Bean
Smith introduced the message of, “Be a coffee bean,” to his team last season, and it symbolizes positive change, like the change a coffee bean undergoes when it meets hot water and becomes coffee. It stands for growth, and Smith said that’s exactly what Andrew Battle has represented.
“Andrew has been a symbol of perseverance, dedication, and growth, a true coffee bean in the face of adversity,” Smith said. “His journey from backup to starting cornerback, from a practice competitor to a game-day hero, is a story of hard work paying off, a true champion.”
