2023 Homecoming

What you will find in our pages...

Homecoming Court - Pages 3-4 2023 Football Schedule - Page 5 2023 Football Roster - Page 7 Senior Football Players - Pages 11-13 Football Coaching Staff & Families - Pages 15-20 Athletic Training Staff - Pages 21-22 Football Groups - Pages 23-29 Cheerleaders - Pages 30-32 Senior Cheerleaders - Pages 32-37 2023 Pride of Pinelands Marching Band - Pages 38-39 Senior Band Members - Pages 40-44 Concession Stand Menu - Page 45

Senior Football Players

Legacy Numbers

2023 Football Coaches

Coach Helton is a graduate of Washington County HS where he was a two time 1st Team All-State Player for Coach Rick Tomberlin and the Golden Hawks. After graduation, Coach Helton played football at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana for two years. While at BSU, Coach Helton was a member of the Mac West CoChampion Cardinal football team and a participant in the Toronto International Bowl. After his redshirt freshman year, he transferred and finished his playing career at Valdosta State University. During his time with the Blazers, he was a 3 year letter winner, and a member of a Gulf South Conference Championship team.

This is Coach Helton’s 7th year as the Head Football Coach of the Yellow Jackets. Coach Helton and staff led the Yellow Jackets to the State Playoffs in both their 1st and 2nd seasons with an overall record of 40-25. Before coming to Jeff Davis, Coach Helton served two stints as the Assistant Head Football Coach, Offensive Coordinator, and Strength and Conditioning Coordinator at Dublin High School for Coach Roger Holmes. He coached the Centers and Guards for the Fighting Irish. Coach also spent one season as the Offensive Line Coach at Coffee High School working for Coach Robbie Pruitt. Coach Helton received his bachelor’s degree in Health and Phys. Ed. From Valdosta State University. Coach is married to the former Lauren Haywood of Sandersville, Ga. They have one daughter Camryn Rose (11), and one son Knox Thomas (8).

Coach Lawson is a graduate from Warner Robins High School in Warner Robins, Ga and is coaching his seventh season for the Jackets.

He obtained his Bachelor of Liberal Arts in History from Georgia Southern University (‘12) and his Master of Arts in English Language Learners from Western Governors University (‘19) . This is his 11th year teaching and coaching.

Coach Lawson spent 3 years at Jenkins County High School before coming to Jeff Davis where he served as the offensive line coach. He has also had stints at Portal High School and Bulloch Academy. Along with coaching the Offensive Line, Coach Lawson is the head varsity boys soccer coach. Coach Lawson is currently an ESOL teacher at JDHS. Coach Lawson is married to Jessica Lawson who is the art teacher at JDHS and they have two sons, Blaise 12 and Bode 8.

Coach Tyler Williams is a 2009 graduate of Jeff Davis County. Coach Williams obtained a B.S degree from Georgia Southern University.

Currently, Coach Williams is entering the 6th year as the Outside Linebacker and his first year as the Defensive Coordinator at JDHS. Coach Williams is the athletic director of JDMS and teaches 6th grade P.E. and 7th and 8th grade girls weight lifting. He also coaches wrestling at Jeff Davis Middle School.

Coach Williams is married to CaraLee Williams, and they are the new owners of 2 Brothers Catering. They have two boys, Cason (6 yrs) and Bear (4 yr).

Coach Churchwell is a 2014 graduate of Bleckley County High School in Cochran, Ga. After High School Coach Churchwell went on to play College baseball at South Georgia State College in Douglas, Ga. He later graduated with his Bachelor's degree at Middle Georgia State University in Macon, Ga, and he is currently in his Master’s program at Brenau University.

Coach Churchwell has been teaching and coaching for 3 years with the Jackets. Coach Churchwell currently coaches the Wide Receivers.

Coach Churchwell is married to the former Ivey Grace Smith, who is a graduate from Jeff Davis County. She is a proud alumni of Georgia Southern University. Ivey Grace now serves as the Project Coordinator for the Jeff Davis Hospital.

Coach Austin Oliver is a proud graduate of Wheeler County High School in Alamo, GA, class of 2014. After attending and playing baseball at East Georgia State College from 2014 through 2016, he transferred to Valdosta State University where he finished obtaining his degree in Middle Grades Education. He is entering his fifth year of teaching/coaching and is currently working on completing his masters in Physical Education from VSU. Coach Oliver runs the boys weightlifting program at Jeff Davis Middle School and is the Offensive Coordinator for the High School football team. In the spring, he serves as the Jeff Davis High School golf coach.

Coach Oliver is married to Mrs. Elizabeth Oliver, owner of a local marketing company, EK Creative. They have two sons, Clay (10) and Taft (1) and a goldendoodle, Miller, who they consider their third child!

Coach Ford is a proud graduate of Westwood Schools in Camilla, Georgia. He went on to continue his education at Georgia Southern University from which he graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Health and Physical Education in May of 2022, and a Masters of Science in Health and Physical Education in May of 2023.

Prior to coming to Jeff Davis, Coach Ford coached at Bulloch Academy in 2018 and SouthEast Bulloch in 2019. He then served as a student assistant with the Georgia Southern Football team from 2020-2022 working with the cornerbacks and safeties.

This will be Coach Ford's second year at Jeff Davis. He is coaching defensive backs and is an assistant for the middle school wrestling team. He is currently teaching weight training and physical education at Jeff Davis High School.

Coach Ford is engaged to Mackenzie McClure of Canton, Ga.

Coach Strickland is a 2015 graduate of Dublin High School where he played football for Head Coach Roger Holmes and Offensive Coordinator, Lance Helton, for 3 years as Quarterback. After high school he went on to graduate from Georgia Southern University with a Bachelors Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Once finished at Georgia Southern University, Coach Strickland went on to Reinhardt University, where he worked for 2 years as a Graduate Assistant Coach for women’s basketball and helped coach the Lady Eagles to an AAC Conference Championship and 2 National Tournament appearances. While at Reinhardt he earned a Masters Degree in Sports Administration and Leadership and a Masters Degree in Business Administration.

This will be Coach Strickland’s first year at Jeff Davis. He is coaching Z Backs and will also be an assistant coach for the boys basketball team. He is currently teaching English at Jeff Davis High School.

Coach Alligood is entering his 19th year in education and coaching. He is originally from Hahira, Ga and a graduate of Lowndes High School (‘96) where he played under head coach Milt Miller. He obtained his bachelors degree in health and physical education from Valdosta State University (‘04), masters degree in social studies education from Nova Southeastern University (‘09) and specialist degree in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University (‘10).

He has been married to Brittany Alligood for 17 years and they have 3 children; Savannah who attends Valdosta State University and is a member of the softball team, Aaron who is a student at Jeff Davis High and Anna Grace who is a student at Jeff Davis Middle.

Coach Jabo is a 1999 graduate of Jeff Davis High. After graduation, Coach Jabo played baseball at South Georgia College. He is currently employed at Plant Hatch Nuclear and has been a community coach for the JD football program for 7 years. He has also coached youth football in Jeff Davis for the last 20 years.

Coach Jabo is married to Heather Beecher, who is a teacher at Jeff Davis Middle. They have two daughters, Lanie and Tenley.

Coach Jones is a 2001 graduate of Bleckley County High School and went on to play college baseball at ABAC as well as Georgia Southwestern. He is a 2006 graduate of Georgia Southwestern. Coach Jones is entering his 17th year of education and coaching. Previously, Coach Jones spent 10 years coaching in Hawkinsville and 6 years at Wilcox County. Coach Jones is excitedly beginning his 1st year as a Jeff Davis Yellow Jacket and he will be coaching Defensive Line.

Coach Jones is married to his wife of 16 years, Casie. She is employed at JDPS and serves as Majorette Instructor for the Pride of the Pinelands Marching Band. Together, they are blessed to have 2 children. Rylee (9) who is in 3rd grade at JDES and Rhett (7) who is in 2nd grade at JDPS.

Roger Metts is beginning his 10th year as Athletic Director of the Jeff Davis Yellow Jackets. He is in his 27th year of coaching. Coach Metts received a Bachelors (1996) and Masters (2020) in Health and PE from Valdosta State University. Coach Metts spent eight of his coaching years at Clinch County where he coached football, baseball, and basketball. At Clinch County, he was part of the Football State Championship staff in 2002. Here at Jeff Davis he also coaches baseball. He has been part of the Baseball State Champions staff in 2017, 2019, and 2021. Coach Metts teaches team sports at the high school.

Coach Metts has been married to his wife, Donna Metts, for 27 years. Donna teaches at Jeff Davis Primary, and they have three children, Bailey (25), Britt (22), and Bentlee (17). Bailey is married to William Waters. They live in Bogart, Ga. She is an Occupational Therapist. Willy is a nurse in Athens, GA. Britt teaches and coaches at Brentwood School. Bentlee is a senior here at Jeff Davis.

She plays varsity softball, basketball and golf for JDHS.

Coach Jeff Weems is the Certified Athletic Trainer that oversees the athletic healthcare needs of JDCS studentathletes. He’s a native of Mobile, AL, earned his undergraduate degree in Athletic Training from the Univ. of West Alabama and Master’s degree from Auburn University where he worked as a graduate assistant with the football team for three seasons. His work experience as an athletic trainer also includes a summer internship with the Atlanta Falcons, five years in the New York Mets organization, seven years at the Dir. of Sports Medicine for Coffee Regional Medical Center, five years with Optim Orthopedics and the last seven years here at JDHS. Jeff is married to the former Kristy Allen of Douglas. They have one daughter, Kennedie (24), who is married to Hill Thomas and they live in Richmond Hill, GA where they both teach at RHHS. They also have one son, Hayden (21), who is attending South Georgia State College and working full time at Austin’s Respiratory in Douglas.

Athletic Trainer Coach Jeff Weems and Student Trainers Maggie Smith, Nikki Ely, Brenda Nunez, Katie Lynn Wallace

2023-2024 Jeff Davis Cheerleaders

High School Competition

Middle School Competition

High School Spirit

Middle School Spirit

Senior Cheerleaders

Cheer Coaches

Senior Band Members

2023 Auxiliary

Jeff Davis "Pride of the Pinelands" Concession Stand Price List - Fall 2023

Bubble Gum Candy Bars Cheese Fries Chicken Strips (4 count) Chips (Doritos, Potato Chips, Cheetos) Coke Products 20 oz. Botles Coton Candy French Fries Funnel Cakes Hamburger Hot Dog Ice-Cream Sandwich/Drum S�cks Nachos with Cheese Peanuts Pickles Popcorn Pop-Ice Popsicles Sausage Dog Slim Jim’s Ring Pops Sunflower Seeds

3 for 25¢ $2.00 $3.50 $6.00 $1.00 $2.50 $2.00 $3.00 $5.00 $4.00 $3.00 $2.00 $3.50 $3.50 $1.50 $2.00 50¢ $3.50 $2.50 $1.00 $1.50 Hot Dog/Hamburger/ Nacho add ons: Cheese Sauce…..50¢ Peppers….……....50¢ Sliced Cheese…..50¢