From the recently retired to some who departed long ago, five former Central Georgia high school football-playing standouts were inducted Saturday night into the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame.

The ceremony took place at the College Football Hall of Fame, with 40 new inductees.

The selection process breaks down what era the players competed in.

The Class of 2023 included Central Georgians (in order of era, starting with pre-1948: Bill Hartman, GMC; Billy Henderson, Lanier; Vernon “Catfish Smith, Lanier; Julius Adams, Ballard-Hudson; and Charles Johnson, Hawkinsville.

The Hall now has 85 members. Central Georgians inducted in the first year: James Brooks and Ron Simmons, Warner Robins; Terrence Edwards and Takeo Spikes, Washington County; and Jim Parker, Ballard-Hudson.

Other new inductees of note: Dan Reeves, Americus; Ken and Pat Swilling, Stephens County; Rennie Curran, Brookwood; D.J. Shockley, North Clayton; Pepper Rodgers, Brown; Ray Goff, Moultrie; Mike Bobo, Thomasville; Quincy Carter, SW DeKalb; Ronnie Brown, Cartersville.

Other members with post-playing Central Georgia connections: Stan Gann, Northside-Atlanta (Warner Robins and Northside as coach), Rayfield Wright, Fairmont (FVSU legendary player).

Charles Johnson with a valuable soundbite for the next generation at the Georgia High School Football Of Hame. Worth a listen 🗣️

🎥@najehwilk pic.twitter.com/FbgE0tYO8X
— Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame (@GA_HS_HOF) October 21, 2023

Macon Touchdown Club taps Patriot, Viking, Huskie

Co-back- Sophomore quarterback Chase Dupree of Southwest completed 13 of 19 passes for 315 yards and four TDs in the 38-6 victory over Kendrick.

Co-back: Senior FPD QB Jakhari Williams hit on 17 of 32 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns in the Vikings’ 27-22 loss to defending GIAA Class AAA champ John Milledge.

Lineman: Howard senior McKelle Johnson accounted for 10 tackles, four for loss, from his linebacker position in the Huskies’ 28-21 victory over Griffin.

UGA’s Dantzler to visit Macon Touchdown Club

Longtime University of Georgia broadcaster Jeff Dantzler is Monday night’s speaker at the Macon Touchdown Club.

The club meets at the Methodist Home for Children and Youth, in the Rumford Center, at 304 Pierce Ave. It starts at 6:30 p.m. with dinner and the program to begin around 7. Admission for non-members is $30. Membership for the year is $250.

Maconite Chris Hatcher of Samford is next week’s speaker followed by former Florida wideout Chris Doering of ESPN and the SEC Network, and then ex-Florida coach Dan Mullen on Nov. 13.

Dantzler has been broadcasting Georgia sports since the early 1990s, beginning with women’s basketball. He’s behind the mic in some form or fashion for football, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball, also contributing to Bulldawg Illustrated magazine.

Top seed lives up to it in Mercer Tennis Classic finale

Taylor Townsend has been coming to Macon for years to play tennis.

She finally gets to take home some serious swag.

The top seed played like it when it counted the most en route to the singles championship of the 10th Mercer Tennis Classic, at the John Drew Smith Tennis Center.

The Atlantan was challenged by fourth seed Panna Udvardy of Hungary, but always had the answers en route to a 6-3, 6-4 win in the championship on a very tennis-friendly weather day in Macon.

Udvardy earned an early break in the first set only for Townsend to find a groove with serves and returns for the first-set win.

Townsend turned to her power game early in the second set and got two service breaks. Udvardy adjusted to change the tempo a bit, but couldn’t break Townsend in the 6-4 set.

“I was able to enjoy myself and keep my focus,” said Townsend. “She’s a tough player and luckily I was able to play my best. This is so big for me. To be able to finish the year in the top10 in doubles and the top-100 in singles.”

This week’s state college football schedule (All Saturday, all on ESPN+ unless noted)

Thursday, 7:30 p.m.: Georgia State at Georgia Southern, ESPN2
1 p.m., Sussex County CC at GMC (JockJive)
2 p.m., Virginia-Lynchburg at Fort Valley State (No TV)
2:30 p.m., Mercer at Western Carolina
3 p.m., Lincoln, Cal., at Kennesaw State
3:30 p.m., Georgia vs. Florida, CBS
8 p.m., North Carolina vs. Georgia Tech, ACC

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