Bobby Gene Sanders Memorial Scholarship Recipients For 2022

The Bobby Gene Sanders Memorial Scholarship was established to recognize a young person’s accomplishments on and off the field as well as in the classroom. By evaluating the academics, community service, athletic accomplishments and leadership qualities of these outstanding scholar athletes, the Club awards a monetary scholarship to honor the student athlete and further their education.

Through the fundraising efforts of the Macon Touchdown Club, the Macon Touchdown Club Educational Foundation maintains the endowment in order to fund the scholarships this year, as well as future scholarships. Since 1983, the Foundation has awarded over $420,000 in scholarships for college bound scholar athletes.

If you would like to make a contribution to the Foundation, please go to www.macontouchdownclub.com/foundation for more information.

 

William Cowart – Mount de Sales Academy

William’s 1520 SAT score and 4.02 GPA as a student at Mount de Sales is most impressive. In addition to these academic accomplishments, William is Senior Class President, Quiz Bowl captain, and a Student Council member. He is an accomplished athlete as evidenced by his role as captain of the football team, starter on the soccer team, pole vaulter in track, and a leading wrestler in the state tournament, placing 4th in the 138-pound division. William volunteers with Daybreak and Rebuild Macon and Youth Soccer camp. He has already been accepted in the UGA Honors College.

 

Cal Hatcher – Stratford Academy

Cal is very active in Stratford Academy’s clubs and activities such as Beta Club, Key Club, Investment Club, Film Club and more. In addition to these activities, Cal is heavily involved in Appleton Youth Ministries. He also serves as a church Acolyte. While maintaining a 4.15 GPA and scoring 1320 on the SAT, Cal also served as captain of the football team and captain of the baseball team. Cal was featured on 41 WMGT TV Game Changer segment for his work on and off the field.

 

Cole Hetes – FPD

Cole will graduate from FPD with a 4.17 GPA, and he scored 1320 on the SAT. Cole accumulated over 105 hours of community service through his volunteer efforts for Youth football camp, Serve-a-Day at Centerpoint Church and Ingleside Baptist Church, and he helped Campus Club ministries for 4 years. He also served at Macon Outreach, Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy and other youth camps. Cole was voted captain of the football team. He is also a member of the varsity golf and baseball teams.

 

Logan Hickman – Mary Persons High School

Logan is the holder of four all-time school football records. He scored 1330 on the SAT, 32 on the ACT and maintained a 105.8 GPA. He was 1st team All Region, team captain, and Region 2 AAA Scholar Athlete Award winner as a quarterback for Mary Persons High School. Logan also played varsity baseball, track, and golf. He volunteered time with MPHS youth football camp and fundraising for childhood cancer patients. Logan stayed active in his high school through participation in Key Club, Beta Club, FCA and Student Athlete Advisory Council.

 

Andrew Miles Jones – Jones County High School

Drew maintained a 4.0 GPA while being a 3-year varsity starter on the football team and a 4-year starter on the baseball team. He played offense and defense for the football team, accumulating 154 tackles on defense, 188 carries averaging 5.3 yards per carry, and 26 receptions on offense. Drew also works part time with Bliss Entertainment and works as a landscape care and maintenance employee. He is in dual enrollment and advanced academics courses. His volunteer time is used helping American Red Cross blood drives, Read Across Jones County, and with his church. As an honor graduate, he stayed active in school activities through Health Occupation Students of America and Beta Club.

 

To join the Macon Touchdown Club, click on this link, and Click link in page for a Membership Application.
http://macontouchdownclub.com/join/

Sponsors Page
https://www.macontouchdownclub.com/sponsors/

Promoting High School football since 1946

OrthoGeorgia Special Teams Player of the Year for 2022

Brayden Smith – WR / KR – Tattnall Square Academy

Brayden accounted for 11 kickoff and punt returns in 2023 for 412 yards and 3 returns for touchdowns. This included 4 punt returns for 188 yards and 7 kickoff returns for 324 yards. Playing Offense, Defense, and Special Teams, he also added 50 receptions for 936 yards, with an average of 18.72 yards per catch, and 10 touchdowns. On offense, he rushed 24 times for 232 yards, with an average of 9.6 yards per carry. He was named All-Region Special Teams Player of the Year for the GHSA in 2021 and the GIAA in 2022. He was also named All-State in 2022. Max Preps has him ranked in the Top 15 for all classifications in total return yards for the 2022 season. Brayden has signed his commitment to play for Mercer University for 2023.

 

(Click on Link to go to the OrthoGeorgia website)

To join the Macon Touchdown Club, click on this link, and Click link in page for a Membership Application.
http://macontouchdownclub.com/join/

Sponsors Page
https://www.macontouchdownclub.com/sponsors/

Promoting High School football since 1946

OrthoGeorgia / Bill Turner Lineman of the Year for 2022

Johnny Williams – OL – Northeast High School

Johnny had another tremendous year at Northeast. The 4-year starter helped lead his team to become one of the highest rushing offenses with 278 yards per game and led the way for his teammate to become the second leading rusher in all classifications in the GHSA. From his offensive line position, Johnny graded out at 91 percent for the 2022 season. During the 2022 season, he accounted for 23 pancake blocks. For his career, Johnny was named 1st team All-Region in 2020 and 2022 and 2nd team All-Region in 2021. In 2021, he was named to the All-State team and 1st team All-State in 2022. In addition to his football career, Johnny was also a standout Track and Field athlete in the discus and shot put, qualifying for region in 2021. Johnny was highly recruited by many Power 5 schools. He received offers from Georgia, West Virginia, NC State, Florida State, Virginia, Georgia Tech, Arizona State and Louisville to name just a few. Johnny signed his commitment to play for the West Virginia Mountaineers in 2023 and is an early enrollee.

 

(Click on Link to go to the OrthoGeorgia website)

To join the Macon Touchdown Club, click on this link, and Click link in page for a Membership Application.
http://macontouchdownclub.com/join/

Sponsors Page
https://www.macontouchdownclub.com/sponsors/

Promoting High School football since 1946

OrthoGeorgia / Edgar Hatcher Back of the Year for 2022

Nick Woodford – RB – Northeast High School

Nick is the first recipient of the newly named award to honor longtime Macon native Edgar Hatcher. Coach Hatcher has meant so much to local athletes, coaches and the Macon Touchdown Club. We wanted to recognize him on a annual basis with this award.

In only his sophomore year, Nick Woodford has become one of the most productive running backs in the state of Georgia. He and his Northeast Raiders have become a force across the state rushing the football. In 2022, Nick led the state in rushing in all classifications until the final game of the year. He fell just short of being the state’s leading rusher by only 170 yards. Helping his team reach the Elite 8 playoff game, the sophomore running back rushed for 2,746 yards on only 273 attempts averaging 10.1 yards per carry. Along the way, he scored 40 rushing touchdowns during the season. Nick also added 10 receptions for 139 yards and 3 touchdowns. During the season, Nick’s rushing totals made him the all-time rushing leader in the history of Bibb County. Nick was awarded for his efforts by being named All-Region, the Region 2 AA Player of the Year, and 1st team All-State.

 

Coach Edgar Hatcher, Nick Woodford, Coach Jeremy Wiggins

 

(Click on Link to go to the OrthoGeorgia website)

To join the Macon Touchdown Club, click on this link, and Click link in page for a Membership Application.
http://macontouchdownclub.com/join/

Sponsors Page
https://www.macontouchdownclub.com/sponsors/

Promoting High School football since 1946

OrthoGeorgia Back of the Year Name Change

 

The Awards Committee met Coach Hatcher tonight to let him know that the OrthoGeorgia Back of the Year would be changed to honor his service to local athletes and the Macon Touchdown Club.

The award will now be named as OrthoGeorgia / Edgar Hatcher Back of the Year.

 

To join the Macon Touchdown Club, click on this link, and Click link in page for a Membership Application.
http://macontouchdownclub.com/join/

Sponsors Page
https://www.macontouchdownclub.com/sponsors/

Promoting High School football since 1946

Macon Touchdown Club Annual Spring Jamboree Award Winners

We are pleased to announce this list of Award Winners for 2023.
These players will be recognized at our Annual Spring Jamboree on Monday, March 20th.
Super 7

Elmo A Richardson Player of the Year
Jake Merklinger – QB – Calvary Day School

Ja’Qualin Birdsong – OLB – Troup County High School
Noah Dixon – S – Troup County High School
Ricardo Jones – S – Northside (WR) High School
Zion Ragins – – WR – Jones County High School
Micah Welch – RB – Baldwin High School
Jakhari Williams – QB – FPD

Bobby Gene Sanders Memorial Scholarships
William Cowart – Mount de Sales Academy
Cal Hatcher – Stratford Academy
Cole Hetes – FPD
Logan Hickman – Mary Persons High School
Andrew Miles Jones – Jones County High School
OrthoGeorgia Back of the Year
Nick Woodford – Northeast High School
OrthoGeorgia / Bill Turner Lineman of the Year
Johnny Williams –  Northeast High School
OrthoGeorgia Special Teams Player of the Year
Brayden Smith – Tattnall Square Academy
Marvin Davis Coach of the Year
Jake Walls – Central Fellowship Christian Academy
Bobby Pope Coach of the Year
J.T. Wall – John Milledge Academy
In Recognition of his Dedication and Support to Students and Athletes
Greg Moore – FPD

Macon Touchdown Club Middle Georgia Kick-off Classic on Saturday, August 19, 2023

The Macon Touchdown Club Middle Georgia Kick-off Classic will be held on Saturday, August 19th, at Mercer University’s Five Star Stadium.
This will be the 8th year for this great event.

The first game starts at 4:00 p.m. The second game will start at 7:30 p.m., or 30 minutes after Game One is complete.
Game 1: Jones County vs Northside (Northside will be the Home Team)
Game 2: Northeast vs Mary Persons (Mary Persons will be the Home Team)

Tickets will go on sale in July at all four schools.

There is parking on both sides of the stadium. The Home side is closer to I-75, and the Visitor side is opposite and has the Press Box.

Parking Map – There will be no fee for parking in campus lots.

https://mercerbears.com/documents/2021/4/6/GamedayParkingMap_19.pdf

Results from the first seven years of the Macon Touchdown Club Middle Georgia Kick-off Classic

2016
FPD 34      Howard High School 14
Central High School 48     Mount de Sales Academy 14

2017
FPD 17     Central High School 12
Howard High School 41     Mount de Sales Academy 37

2018
Dublin High School 55     Tattnall Square Academy 0
Peach County High School 27     Northside High School 24

2019
Westside High School 34     Southwest High School 16
Washington County High School 42     Baldwin High School 7

2020
Games Canceled – COVID

2021
FPD 48     ACE 0
Warner Robins High School 48     Valdosta High School 20

2022
Jones County High School 27     Northside High School 21
Mary Persons High School 14     Northeast High School 12

 

Macon Touchdown Club Annual Spring Jamboree Speaker Announcement

 

Stay tuned for an announcement on Ticket sales to the Public
The Annual Macon Touchdown Club Spring Jamboree will be held on Monday night, March 20th, starting at 6:00PM.
We will hold the meeting at the Methodist Home for Children, on Pierce Avenue in Macon. The meeting will be held in the Rumford Center.
Coach Kirby Smart, Head Coach of the 2021 and 2022 National Champion Georgia Bulldogs will be our Featured Speaker.
**We cannot confirm if Coach Smart will be signing autographs or not, that will be a choice that Coach Smart makes based on his schedule that day.**
Guest Tickets will be $50.00 each, and will be available to Non Club members soon. There will be a limited number of tickets for Non Members, and there will not be any walk up ticket sales the night of the event.
We will have multiple items that will be available for Raffle Ticket prizes. Raffle Tickets will be $5.00 each, and you will be able to place your purchased tickets in a container designated for that prize.
This is a list of awards that we will be giving to our Athletes and Coaches on the night.
Super 7
Bobby Gene Sanders Memorial Scholarships
OrthoGeorgia Back of the Year
OrthoGeorgia / Bill Turner Lineman of the Year
OrthoGeorgia Special Teams Player of the Year
Marvin Davis Coach of the Year
Bobby Pope Coach of the Year

Macon Touchdown Club Annual Spring Jamboree Speaker Announcement

Stay tuned for an announcement on Ticket sales to the Public
The Annual Macon Touchdown Club Spring Jamboree will be held on Monday night, March 20th, starting at 6:00PM.
We will hold the meeting at the Methodist Home for Children, on Pierce Avenue in Macon. The meeting will be held in the Rumford Center.
Coach Kirby Smart, Head Coach of the 2021 and 2022 National Champion Georgia Bulldogs will be our Featured Speaker.
**We cannot confirm if Coach Smart will be signing autographs or not, that will be a choice that Coach Smart makes based on his schedule that day.**
Guest Tickets will be $50.00 each, and will be available to Non Club members soon. There will be a limited number of tickets for Non Members, and there will not be any walk up ticket sales the night of the event.
We will have multiple items that will be available for Raffle Ticket prizes. Raffle Tickets will be $5.00 each, and you will be able to place your purchased tickets in a container designated for that prize.
This is a list of awards that we will be giving to our Athletes and Coaches on the night.
Super 7
Bobby Gene Sanders Memorial Scholarships
OrthoGeorgia Back of the Year
OrthoGeorgia / Bill Turner Lineman of the Year
OrthoGeorgia Special Teams Player of the Year
Marvin Davis Coach of the Year
Bobby Pope Coach of the Year

Happy New Year 2023 from the Macon Touchdown Club