ACE, FPD, Valdosta, Warner Robins are ready for some football in Macon TD Club Middle Georgia Kickoff Classic
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
Two years ago, a scheduling miscommunication forced a change in the lineup of the Macon Touchdown Club Middle Georgia Kickoff Classic, late in the process.
And then weather interrupted, in a big way, and the Washington County-Baldwin nightcap didn’t start until around 11 p.m.
Last year was, of course, last year, when “plans went awry” was an understatement.
All involved in this year’s event are doing double prayer duty this week to just have two simple football games with lots of folks in the stands.
The four head coaches involved and several players from each team gathered in Mercer’s field house Monday afternoon to talk about this Saturday’s doubleheader as teams around the state joyously celebrated the beginning of game week.
The Vikings take on FPD at 4 p.m. at Mercer’s Five Star Stadium, with Warner Robins and Valdosta to follow about 45 minutes after the buzzer.
Last year, the four teams did play, but at home sites. FPD beat ACE 37-14, while Valdosta topped visiting Warner Robins 28-25, but gave that back – along with all of its wins – in a forfeit as part of, well, you know what went on in Valdosta the last year or so.
Valdosta is ineligible for the playoffs this year because of the scores of violations tied to former coach Rush Propst.
This is FPD’s second time in the classic, the Vikings topping Central 17-12 in the first version in 2017.
“The guys on our team that have been fortunate enough to do this before, this event, still count this as one of the highlights of their high school career, when they have come and gone from FPD,” Moore said. “Everything about it is first class.”
ACE begins its fourth season of varsity action, and comes in with a 9-18 record.
“This is probably the biggest stage some of our guys will see for awhile,” said Jason Stephens, the program’s only head coach. “We’re still kind of in the developmental stages, so to have this opportunity is major.”
The nightcap features a pair of powerhouse programs with national names, currently living different lives.
Valdosta has an interim head coach who had success at Crisp County, moved around, and was fired from Tennessee for cause for violations. Shelton Felton is the interim head coach, succeeding the fired Propst. On the field, the Wildcats went 8-4 last year, losing to Buford in the Class 6A quarterfinals.
Warner Robins is off a Class 5A state championship season, finally getting over the hump after losing in the two previous finales.
Adding some icing to the Wildcats-Demons cake this year that wouldn’t have happened last year? The head coaches were high school teammates, Westbrook a defensive back at Crisp County and Felton a linebacker (more on this later in the week).
Kickoff Classic history
2019
Washington County 42, Baldwin 7
Westside 34, Southwest 16
2018
Peach County 27, Northside 24
Dublin 55, Tattnall 0
2017
Central FPD 17, Central 12
Howard 21, Mount de Sales 8
Westbrook went on to play at Florida, Felton at Troy.
“Most important thing to me is the honor of playing against my former teammate and close friend,” Felton said. “Small town, Cordele, Georgia, and we go to two powerhouses in the state of Georgia. It’s a dream come true.”