Macon TD Club unviels new, strong and broader field for 2018 Kickoff Classic

          When the organizers of the early-season Corky Kell Classic announced a chance in the schedule last month, it opened a door for the Macon Touchdown Club.

          For the past two years, Mercer has hosted a regional Corky Kell doubleheader on one week followed by the Macon Touchdown Club Middle Georgia Kickoff Classic.

          Three of the four teams in the Corky Kell had been from Central Georgia, while all four in the Touchdown Club’s doubleheader were from Bibb County.

          The Touchdown Club is taking advantage of the Corky Kell’s departure to expand the field, and will have two Bibb County programs and two storied area/state programs.

          Tattnall will play Dublin and Northside will take on Peach County in the 2018 Kickoff Classic.

                    The Corky Kell began in 2012, and the past two years were the first time it ventured outside of metro Atlanta, and the first time Central Georgia teams were involved. The field has usually consisted of all metro Atlanta or north Georgia teams and one or two south Georgia teams.

          The venture to Macon inspired the Touchdown Club to give it a try as its main fund-raiser.

          Now, the pot is sweetened.

          Tattnall is a GHSA Class A private school that is 33-22 since departing the GISA for the GHSA in 2014. The Trojans won 11 GISA state titles under head coach Barney Hester, currently at Howard.

          Dublin has been a perennial state contender since Roger Holmes took over in 2002. The Class AA Irish, who were in AAA for Holmes’ first two seasons, have reached the quarterfinals six times since Holmes arrived, winning the state title in 2006. Dublin has won at least 10 games seven times since 2002.

          Northside and Peach County have been preseason scrimmage partners for several years, and now will play a regular-season game for the first time since 2005.

          The teams were in the same classification for two of the meetings, the first two in 1970-71 and then only one classification apart for most of the others.

          Northside is a Class 6A program and Peach County 3A, and both are state powers in their class.

          Northside head coach Kevin Kinsler is 87-14 in his eighth season at his alma mater, while Peach County’s Chad Campbell is 116-22 in his 11th season.