Toombs Returns Lots Of Talent
The Toombs County High School Bulldogs are coming off a great season that saw them reach the Elite 8 in the GHSA State AA Playoffs before falling to Rockmart, who went on to play for the State Championship. Toombs will be bringing back many of the players off that team and are looking to make another big playoff run.
This year the Bulldogs are moving down from AA to A Division 1 in Region 3. In that Region they will match up with rival Vidalia, Savannah Christian, Savannah County Day, and Swainsboro. It will be a tough Region, but the Bulldogs have the firepower to fight for the Region Championship.
They are bringing back starting quarterback TJ Stanley, who has committed to play college football at Georgia State, LaGonza Hayward, who has committed to play at the University of Tennessee, and Mike Polke, who has also committed to a Division 1 scholarship at Mercer University. There are several other key players that will be coming back for the Bulldogs as well.
This is the second year for the Bulldogs under Head Football Coach Buddy Martin. They lost nine seniors off of last year’s team, but according to Coach Martin they have a lot of talent returning, and they currently are gelling really well for this point in the season. They have another great group of seniors, and then a good selection of younger guys that they are going to be looking forward to this year.
The Bulldogs had a solid summer in the weight room and at camps. They attended camps at Georgia Southern, went to and hosted 7 on 7 camps, and hosted an OTA at the end of June. They were at the FCA camp at Piedmont University, and it gave the team a real chance to gel and had a good showing against several teams that they wouldn’t normally have seen. TCHS won the red zone challenge at the camp by scoring the most points in the event. On the coaching staff, they have no changes for the first time in eight years. Coach Martin said that they are just a great group of men, and he looks forward to working with them every day. Jared Hamlin will be the Offensive Coordinator and has done a great job with the Bulldogs. Logan Daves is the strength and offensive line coach and is the Co-Offensive Coordinator, Rigg Ferrell will coach receivers, and Ken Dixon will handle the running backs.
On the defensive side, Jeff Smothers is the Defensive Coordinator, and he brings a ton of energy to that side of the ball. Wesley Bratton will be coaching inside linebackers, Nick Hayes will handle the outside linebackers, and Cornelious Bullard will coach the defensive line. Rig Tinoco is the Special Teams Coordinator. Renee Bullard is the Director of Football operations and handles everything that the team needs. And Steven Toole is the team pastor and has been a staple on the Bulldogs sidelines for years.
On offense, the Bulldogs are returning Stanley behind center. Martin says that he is a phenomenal player and young man who is a leader for their team. He has a strong arm and deceptive speed that will be big for Toombs this year again.
At running back, the Bulldogs will be looking to Dabvn Wadley as the #1 back. Zaylen Davis is coming off an injury and is looking to do good things this year. Kadayvious Mccall is another back that will get carries. Coach Martin said he has been working hard and will get time in the backfield. Don Mincey and Alex Scott will also get carries and with the big group they will be able to keep them fresh on offense and for defense.
At receiver, Hayward will be leading the way. He runs great routes and has good hands and will make big plays. Polke is another great route runner and is a great playmaker. Gavin Fletcher is another player that is going to get his continued from page
name called a lot of times and is has great hands. There are also several younger players that will get some time on the field and the chance to catch some passes.
On the front line for the Bulldogs, they will have Dakota Malone and Ben Bailey will both see time at center. Augustus Underwood has also worked at center over the summer and may get reps at that position as well. Javier Gonzalez and Underwood, along with RJ Langston will play at guard for the Bulldogs. At tackle, Landon Lewis has moved into the position. Maurice Oglesby is a big guy that they are looking to have a big year at tackle. Brody Benton doesn’t have the traditional size, but Coach Martin says he is a workhorse and gets after it every play. JJ Pacheko is a younger guy that is trying to work into a position on the line as well. There are some other guys that can fill in as well for Toombs.
On the defensive side of the ball, there will be a few of the same names as the Bulldogs are trying to develop some more depth at those positions. Hayden Johnson had a good year as a freshman and will be looked to do even more. Davis will also get time on the defensive line after moving in from linebacker. At nose guard, DJ Jordan, Jamarcus Johnson and Nick Frazier, and Zade Taylor have worked hard and are working into the line as well.
At linebacker, Scott and MJ Burton will get the start as inside linebacker. They have both grown and gotten bigger and stronger and will be playmakers in the middle for Toombs. McCall will also get rotations on the inside. On the outside, they will have Hayden Roy leading the way. Kareem Palmer has also put on a lot of strength and will be at the other side. Wadley and Slade Mc-Donald have had good summers and will also see time on the outside of the linebacker core.
In the secondary, starting at cornerback are Polke continued from page
and Aiden Stokes, who is moving over from linebacker. Deion Moore will also get a lot of time at corner. At safety, they will again be led by Hayward with Alex Scott getting plenty of time at safety. Coach Martin said he would argue that they are the best pair of safeties in the state. Fletcher and Junior Bullard will also get some time at safety.
On special teams, the Bulldogs are looking to replace Braylen Dietrich as their kicker. They have Alex Otero, who will come in to try to fill those shoes. Punting the ball, Fletcher will get the start and Lawton Toole will also punt. At long snapper, Malone will be returning to that position.
Coach Martin said, “I have been a head coach before down in Florida, but was just the football coach, not the Athletic Director as well. But doing both of those here, you really just see so much of the other stuff that has to happen. I couldn’t do this job without the administration that we have. Barry Waller, our Superintendent, is just incredible. He is in the weight room with us a couple days a week, out on the field a few days a week, he just loves these kids and really cares about it. It sets the example from the top down. The Board, the school staff and faculty all do everything that they can to help us out.
“A lot of time we get some crazy ideas as coaches on things that might help our players, and they always tell us, let see if we can make that happen. You know they have your back and the kids know that as well. This is just a special place to be and to coach.”
Martin added, “This community, just wow! If we are playing at The Pit, it is a tough place for teams to come to, and it is always packed out. The community travels so well, not just for football, but you saw them in Columbus for the softball team, through the playoff run of our basketball team, and to the State Championship for the soccer team, our people just show up and it is great to see, and we really appreciate it.”
TCHS Inside Linebackers – (L to R, Front): MJ Burton, Zireese Scott, Kadayvious McCall; (2nd Row): Jamall Boyd, Zay Walton, Jared Wilson, Nick Mobley; (Back): Coach Wesley Bratton.Photo by Mike Branch
TCHS Quarterbacks – (L to R, Front): Carter Branham, Cole Lovett, Joseph Owens; (Back): Lawton Toole, Coach Jared Hamlin, and TJ Stanley.Photo by Mike Branch
Photo by Mike BranchTCHS Defensive Backs – (L to R, Front): Nick Carrol, Don Mincey, Carter Branham, Markeal Crawford, Cole Lovett, Deon Moore, Aiden Stokes, Brandon Stevens; (2nd Row): Kaleb Bailey, Hunter Palma, Ethan Harrison, Jayden Greene, Cash Bland, Alex Scott, Cornelius Bullard; (3rd Row): Adam O’Neal, Gavin Fletcher, Justice Wilds, Mike Polke, Lagonza Hayward; (Back): Coach Jeff Smothers.
