Patriots, Seminoles, Golden Hawks, and Braves ready for the Macon Touchdown Club Middle Georgia Kickoff Classic
Before the game, the eyes might be a little wider than usual.
After all, it’s not often that Southwest, Westside, Baldwin, and Washington County play in a college football stadium and on a college campus.
Once the coin is flipped and the opening kickoff has been caught, it’ll be all about helmet-knocking football when those four teams open their seasons at the Macon Touchdown Club Middle Georgia Kickoff Classic at Mercer’s Five Star Stadium.
Three of the four teams made the playoffs last year, and Baldwin is the lone region champ, the Braves turning in a wild year that started 0-5 and ended with the region title and a playoff win.
Former Westside and Warner Robins legend Robert Davis is the Classic's ceremonial head coach, and will be honored at halftime of the Westside-Southwest game.
Familiarity should make for a physical, action-filled doubleheader.
Southwest and Westside have played nine times, the Seminoles leading 7-2. Baldwin and Washington County have butted helmets 42 times, the Golden Hawks leading 21-19.
Baldwin, Washington County, and Westside made the playoffs in their respective classifications, and each won at least one game, the Golden Hawks and Braves winning two.
Washington County is the lone team among the four ranked in both the Georgia Sports Writers Association and Atlanta Journal-Constitution preseason polls, at No. 6 and No. 8.
Westside enters with one of Central Georgia’s top passing games, led by quarterback Victor Dixon along with receivers Jaylen Barden and Jehlen Cannady, who teamed for more than 1,200 of Dixon’s 2,116 yards passing.
Washington County’s Jabari Brooks is among the top linemen in the area, and Baldwin running back Noah Hill is an all-region performer. Southwest’s Jerome Denson is a second-team all-region performer in 3-AA.
Tickets at the gate are $12. After team payouts, proceeds to go the Touchdown Club’s scholarship fund.