Evan Pate earned a trophy football Sunday in Atlanta at the team Punt, Pass & Kick championships.

TIFTON, Ga. — Evan Pate nearly had the chance to represent Tiftarea Academy in the national Punt, Pass & Kick competition, but was just short Sunday.

Pate was fourth in his age division at the Atlanta Falcons’ team competition, according to Griffin Martin, who hosted the local tournament at Tiftarea in July. Pate qualified there for sectionals before advancing to Atlanta.

Though out of the running for nationals, Martin said Pate did top one figure from the first round. Pate had a pass of 125.1 feet. “That beat his pass at the local competition,” said Martin.

A Leesburg native, Pate opted to attend the Tiftarea camp over one held in his hometown after a positive experience at the first Chula competition in 2015. Martin said it was “an honor” to coach him.

Martin is already preparing for a 2017 Punt, Pass & Kick competition. He exceeded both numbers and qualifiers in his 2016 event and has ever higher hopes for his next try.

“We’re going to sweep the state,” he said.