Patsy Perdue Brandon and Gary Perdue, children of the late Trigg County football coach Paul Perdue, were recognized at Trigg County's Oct. 14 on the field named for their father.
On October 27, 1972, Trigg County defeated Todd County Central 54-6 in the first football game played at Perdue Field. The home of the Wildcats has seen many milestone wins since it opened — the program’s only win over Mayfield in 2004, a state semifinal win over Paris in 1989, and countless school records.
Future NFL players such as Jerry Reese, Randall Cobb, Michael Bush, and Micah Johnson all suited up at Perdue Field through the years as did Trigg County legends David Sadler and Al Baker,
Trigg County has played 280 games on its home field, winning 55-percent of those. Trigg County beat Webster County 27-20 last week for win number 155.
It also wrapped up Trigg County’s fifth unbeaten season at Perdue Field, although that could change if the Wildcats play at home in the postseason.
Perdue Field has also served as the home for eight Trigg County state champion track and field teams in addition to countless community events.
Paul Perdue was the first football and boys’ basketball coach at Trigg County High School. He was given the task of starting the county’s first football program from scratch. Many of the players on Trigg County’s first team in 1938 had never seen a football game played before. After failing to score a point in their first three games, Trigg County beat Providence 13-6 for the school’s first football win on October 28, 1938. The Wildcats would win just three games in its first two seasons.
However, Perdue led the 1940 team to a 6-2-1 record, which included a scoreless tie with Princeton Butler in the season opener – the closest Trigg ever came to beating the school in 13 career meetings. Only three of the nine teams Trigg played that year scored on the Wildcats, and the 25 points allowed that season still stands as a school record and is among the best in state history. Perdue stepped down as football coach after the 1940 season with a record of 9-15-1.
Perdue later served as principal at Trigg County High. He was part of the inaugural Trigg County Athletic Hall of Fame Class in 2011.
