Hathaway embracing leadership role for the Wildcats

Published 2:55 pm Wednesday, July 25, 2018

ELLAVILLE – Schley County left tackle Archer Hathaway will be a junior this year and is a co-captain for the football team. He is pretty much a “born leader”, having been a leader on his ninth grade and middle school teams. “I’ve always been one of the ones leading everybody and helping everybody get better…just moving everybody towards what we’re working for.”

Hathaway was born on Valentine’s Day: February 14, 2002, in Valdosta, GA, to Adam and Heather Hathaway. Adam Hathaway is the Schley County School Superintendent and Heather teaches science at Schley County High School. Growing up, Archer Hathaway, along with his 12-year-old sister Sariah, have seen much of the State of Georgia. “My family has moved around because my Dad has had different jobs in schools,” Hathaway said. Before Adam Hathaway became Schley County Superintendent, he served as principal of Gilmer County High School in Ellijay, GA, and was the assistant principal at White County High School in Cleveland, GA.

With his experience and solid technique as an offensive lineman, one might think Archer Hathaway has been playing football since he was very young. The truth is Hathaway didn’t start football until he was about 11 or 12. “They wouldn’t let me play football until I was about 11 or 12 because I was too big, bigger than the other kids,” Hathaway said. “They waited for the other kids to catch up.”

As far as what his favorite position is concerned, Hathaway has always been happy being a lineman. “I’ve always been a lineman just because I’ve been bigger than everybody else. I like left tackle,” Hathaway said. As a rising junior, Hathaway has already had many fond memories in high school, but one particular event stands out. It’s his greatest memory as a Wildcat so far. “We were playing Marion County last year on this field (Schley County). We beat them. I can’t remember what the score was, but we beat them for the first time in a while,” Hathaway said. “That was really special to share that with my teammates and to be able to enjoy that with them.”

In addition to playing football, Hathaway plays on the Schley County basketball team and is also a member of the track & field team. “Football is my main sports, but I play basketball to keep in shape. I do track to help the team and help the school,” Hathaway said.

As far as his favorite hobbies outside of sports, Hathaway likes to hang out with his friends, go swimming, ride four-wheelers and playing pick-up basketball at his house. As far as his favorite academic subject to study, Hathaway said that he likes science. His mother, Heather Hathaway, teaches science at the high school. “I really enjoy doing that because she helps me with that,” Hathaway said. “I was brought up to be better in that subject than any other one. I really enjoy science more than any of the other ones.”

Hathaway has aspirations of playing college football once he graduates from high school. This summer, Hathaway visited the University of Alabama-Birmingham, the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and the University of South Carolina. “I’m being recruited all over this summer and I’ve been recruited before that, but mostly this summer is when the recruiting process has really taken off,” Hathaway said.

Hathaway said that playing for Coach Darren Alford and his assistants has been a great experience for him, particularly with Alford’s emphasis on building strength in the weight room. “Coach Alford is great. He came here and had an 0-10 team. He put us in the weight room and got us working,” Hathaway said. “He really stresses the weight room and how important it is, how it moves us along and helps us get better.”

Every high school student-athlete has their favorite food to eat. To give one an idea of Hathaway’s favorite food, one might find him eating at a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, or local places, such as JJ’s Wings & Things or Wood’s Swinging Wings. “I really like buffalo wings. I don’t know why. I’ve always liked them since I was little. That’s one of my favorite meals to eat,” Hathaway said.

After college, Hathaway plans to follow in his parents’ footsteps. “Both my parents have been teachers and my Dad is a Superintendent. I’m really interested in going into education and becoming a teacher and a coach,” Hathaway said. “

Hathaway has a message for young kids who aspire to play at the high school level and beyond. “When you’re little, football is all fun. You need to keep having fun playing it,” Hathaway said. “You need to keep having fun playing football through your middle school, high school and hopefully, college career. Just keep working hard and don’t give up. Don’t think about it as work. Think about it as hanging out with your friends and having fun.”

Hathaway will be helping to lead the Wildcats to greatness in 2018. Schley County has never won a region championship in football. Hathaway is prepared to help lead this team to win that long-sought region championship and to go far beyond that.