Tates Creek 2022 football signing class set in stone
“Going to the next level was always been a dream of mine,” star running back Matthew Underwood said. He turned that dream into a reality Friday afternoon.
A dark day inside Tates Creek High School due to a power outage will forever be a bright light in the memories of coaches, athletes and families throughout Creek Nation as four TCHS seniors inked their names on the dotted line to play football at the collegiate level.
The signing class, led by Underwood and his commitment to Eastern Kentucky University, gathered around inside the cafeteria on 1111 Centre Pkwy the moment the school bell sounded at 3:15 p.m. to etch their futures in stone.
While Underwood chose to continue his football career as a Colonel for EKU, teammates Elijah Perkins singed to Georgetown College, Devin Dansby to Union College and Aliyon Blevins is set to attend Thomas More College this fall. Having four players to a signing class at Tates Creek wasn’t always the case, however.
Over the last decade, more high-profile talent has popped up throughout the Commonwealth. Kentucky high school football has become a coveted spot for college scouts to find talent that’ll help their programs grow for the next three-four years.
“The good thing is you got a lot of people that care about the kids in the community. A lot of outside colleges and a lot of in-state colleges are starting to pay attention to the talent, not just in Lexington and Louisville, but they’re starting to notice that Kentucky has a lot of talent overall,” Jonathan Hawks, who was recently named head coach of the Commodore’s football program for the 2022 season, said.
A new leader
Tates Creek is in a period of transition following the departure of current Cornell quarterback Luke Duby. Duby led KHSAA’s 6A class in passing yards (4,685) and touchdowns (47). Under the now-Ivy League QB, Tates Creek enjoyed a 6A State Playoff semifinal berth in 2019 during his senior season. This was the first time Creek has won a Regional Championship since the turn of the century.
With coaching changes and players moving on, others were tasked to step up. It was Underwood who took the reigns as Tates Creek’s poster boy in 2021.
“I was just asking everybody to give to give their all at practice and having others push me as much as I push them,” Underwood said about the culture at Creek. That daily motivation was seen by his teammates and coaches — he was a natural leader for the Commodores this season on and off the field.”
In nine games in 2021, Underwood took 110 carries for 733 yards (6.7 yards per attempt) and 11 touchdowns, good for 14th in a stacked 6A class. Only one player ahead of him statistically had fewer rushing attempts and more yards than him all season. Jaheim Williams from Henderson County had 88 rushes on the season for 754 yards and 11 scores.
With Underwood leading a talented running back room, Tates Creek finished 3-9. Despite this, they won their first-round playoff game against Henry Clay 33-15. One week later, the Commodores fell one touchdown short of a District Championship against Dunbar, effectively ending their season.
The next chapter
EKU Director of Football Operations Garry McPeek was Underwood’s main recruiter. He also held offers from the University of the Cumberlands and Georgetown College. Ultimately, Underwood decided on EKU as the best option for him and his family.
“I know that it’s not gonna be easy, especially coming in as a freshman,” Underwood said. “So, I’m gonna go there, and I’m gonna show them that I’m ready to work.”
While Underwood is moving on, Tates Creek and coach Hawks are in the beginning stages of building something special. Ask anyone inside TCHS, from his fellow coach, to athletes, to regular faculty and students inside the school — no one cares about the kids more than Hawks.
“Having a head coach, or a coach that is willing to get to know every single player, and put forth effort to every single player, and not just focus on a few that is something I would say is needed at Tates Creek,” Underwood said of Hawks. “We need somebody who can love and care for everybody, but then again not be soft. He pushes [his players] to work hard and pushes them to develop themselves mentally and physically.”
While the announcement of him becoming Creek’s new headman was long overdue, it’s the perfect time to reestablish the rich history that is Tates Creek football and etch his name alongside the all-time great Creek coaches like Roy G. Walton and Joe Ruddell.
If you ask Hawks, though, it doesn’t start with him. It starts with his athletes.
“At the end of the day, it’s not about me, it’s not about my success. It’s about the success of these kids,” Hawks said. “So as these kids start to grow, and as these kids start to do the things that they want to do in life, it’s important for us as coaches, and people, and parents, and family to protect them at all costs, and just give them everything we’ve got every single day to help them become the most successful people that they want to become today.”
Highlights
Below are some highlights from Underwood’s senior season:
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