Central Georgia Sports ReportJune 19, 2026Comment

Friday's Report: Obituary: East Laurens’ Metts, Northeast’s Woodford, Mercer, Russell Henley Tech’s Hall, UGA baseball, Braves, Falcons MLB, CWS, NBA, golf, World Cup, NFL, NHL

Central Georgia Sports ReportJune 19, 2026Comment

📰C📰O📰V📰E📰R📰A📰G📰E📰

Alumni Update

Northeast’s Woodford moving to Central Michigan

The all-time leading rusher in Central Georgia is taking his talent to the Midwest.

Former Northeast star Nick Woodford has signed with Central Michigan of the Mid-America Conference.

The move comes as no surprise, as opposed to Woodford’s first college decision, to attend Morehouse.

He was a substantial coup for the Division II HBCU SIAC program that hadn’t had much success. Woodford couldn’t change that. The Maroon Tigers went 3-7 last season, leading to the dismissal of head coach – and former Atlanta Falcon – Terence Mathis.

Woodford kept on going, though, rushing for 427 yards – 57.2 percent of the team’s rushing offense – and five touchdowns (of the team’s nine).

His total in 2025 was only 52 yards more than what he gained against Fannin County in a playoff game his senior season.

Woodford’s 6,282 career yards are 25th all-time in the state of Georgia, and he’s 16th on the single-season list with 2,728 yards 2022 and 28th with 2,603 yards in 2024

He’s the second Central Georgia football to join the Chippewas for 2026. Former FPD standout Gavin Spillers has transferred from Mars Hill and will be a sophomore tight end.

Central Michigan went 7-6 last year, 5-3 in the MAC. It was CMU’s first winning season since going 9-4 in 2021.

Around/About Central Georgia

Obituary: Former East Laurens coach Metts

More than three decades have passed since Doug Metts roamed the sidelines at East Laurens.

But Falcons fans will always remember his five-year stint, thanks to East Laurens’ only region title, coming in 1991.

And they’re mourning his death Tuesday at Atrium Health Navicent.

He is No. 2 on the East Laurens wins list with 30, to go with 35 losses. The Falcons went 10-2 – East Laurens’ lone 10-win season – in winning the program’s lone region title.

The Army veteran, who spent more than 40 years in education and held non-athletics roles, was 75

Here is the obituary.

From East Laurens on Facebook:

“Coach Metts proudly wore the black-and-gold as a teacher, Head Football Coach, Athletic Director, and Assistant Principal at East Laurens HS. His record includes winning the 1991 Region 3-AA championship – the only football region title in school history.”

Visitation is 9-11 a.m. Saturday at Marie Baptist Church in north Dublin, with the funeral service to follow.

Henley grinding at US Open

Russell Henley’s first round at the US Open isn’t done yet, but it’s had plenty to talk about.

Henley has four birdies to go with two bogeys and a double bogey.

And he still has two holes left.

Weather and then darkness pushed the first round into Friday, and Henley is one of about four dozen who still have to finish their first round.

He’s in a group tied for 18th, even.

Henley got into rough on the par-3 11 and struggled, then missed a 5-footer for bogey. He then birdied the 523-yard No. 12.

He returns to the course at 7:56 a.m. to finish the first round.

Mercer’s Ridder finalizes new hoops staff

Signing

Hawkinsville’s Jacob Hood has signed to play men’s golf at Brewton-Parker.