Gladiator Touchdown Club

The Clarke Central Athletic Department and Gladiator Football Touchdown Club were proud to honor Gladiator Great Derek Dooley prior to the Habersham Central game a few weeks ago.

As an All-State tight end, Derek was a cornerstone of Clarke Central football’s golden era. During his four years, Clarke Central posted a record of 52 wins and 4 losses. The Gladiators won four straight region titles, finished as state runner-up, and captured the 1985 State Championship. Derek continued his career at the University of Virginia where he earned All-ACC academic honors.

After his playing days, Derek had a distinguished coaching career. He worked alongside Nick Saban at LSU, where he helped the Tigers win multiple SEC Championships and the 2003 National Championship. He later served as Head Coach at Louisiana Tech, where he also took on the role of Athletic Director, and later became Head Coach of the Tennessee Volunteers. Derek has also coached in the NFL with the Dolphins and Cowboys.

It was great to have you back in Death Valley!!

Last Friday night, the Touchdown Club and Clarke Central Athletic Department were proud to honor the late Micah Hurst as a Gladiator Great.

A 2005 graduate, Micah was a wide receiver & long snapper for the Glads and a cornerstone of the early 2000s teams that brought a region championship back to Athens and earned back-to-back playoff appearances.

Micah accepted a scholarship to Western Carolina University before completing his academic and athletic career at the University of West Georgia. While his life was cut far too short in 2014, Micah’s legacy lives on. He is remembered by his teammates not just for his talent, but for his humility, leadership, and work ethic.

Micah was represented by his parents, Service and Mary Hurst.