Troupe is among the seniors with a lot of affection for Pate.

“He is my boy. He is a big inspiration to all of us,” the senior wide receiver said.

Troupe and the rest of the Blue Devils do not treat Pate any different than any other teammate.

“They don’t bug me, they just treat me the same,” Pate said.

Some of his teammates do not even realize that Pate is legally blind.

“I think most people that I have every-day contact with know, like most of the juniors and seniors,” Pate said. “A couple of people on the second team might not know, but most people I hang around with probably know.”

Tift’s current success is not a surprise to Pate and the Tift senior class.

“We told each other when we were in the ninth grade that we were going to win the region by the time we left,” Pate said.

With the region championship in hand, Pate and the Devils are now preparing for the state playoffs as Tift opens tonight against East Coweta.

“I am loving it, thinking about how far we have come in four years. It is just amazing,” Pate said. “I am excited about Friday night.”

With the region title, Pate and his teammates will receive a patch to go on their letterman’s jackets. But the senior wants another piece of hardware to remember this season by.

“I want that (state championship) ring,” said Pate. “That will be something I can show off forever.”