Winners at the Southeastern Quarterback Club’s third annual scholarship banquet on Friday night took to heart the suggestion that they pay it forward to future generations.
“It’s something we could come back and do for the younger kids in the future,” said Demetrius Holloway Jr., a member of Jenkins High School’s Class of 2026.
“It makes me feel like I could cherish these moments and makes me want to come back and definitely show love to the youth,” said Gary Maxwell, a new graduate of Savannah High.
The Southeastern Quarterback Club, started in Savannah with a dozen young men’s common interest in football and still including two original members, was established in 1957.
“That’s a long time,” said Raleigh “Ralo” Wesley, freshly graduated from Bethesda Academy. “What they’ve done for us, I feel like I can do it, too. Helping others is what I’m about.”
The Southeastern Quarterback Club is a non-profit organization with events such as the banquet at the Carey Hilliard’s Restaurant on Abercorn Street, where six high school seniors each were awarded scholarships of $2,500 – in giant, oversized checks as well as functional, pocket-sized paper versions – and silver medallions.
The winners, who qualified as seniors who are attending college in the fall, were football players Holloway, Maxwell, Wesley, Benedictine’s Joshua Washington, and Long County’s Tusiofo Tiapula, as well as Liv Rotker. His school, Woodville-Tompkins, doesn’t have a football team, and this is a QB club. However, Rotker played soccer (called football in other parts of the world) and ran cross country.
From left, Tusiofo Tiapula of Long County, Liv Rotker of Woodville-Tompkins, Raleigh Wesley of Bethesda Academy, Joshua Washington of Benedictine, Demetrius Holloway Jr. of Jenkins and Gary Maxwell II of Savannah High were honored as Southeastern QB Club scholarship recipients in Savannah. (Courtesy: Bree Media)
“Every little bit helps. I’m extremely grateful for this,” said Rotker, who will attend Georgia Southern and study political science. “Looking back at the past and realizing that all these people applied for this scholarship and getting it, it just means so much to me.”
Washington, who will play safety at the University of New Hampshire, an FCS program, listened as his father, Herman Washington, the master of the ceremony, made the suggestion that this generation of standout student-athletes take advantage of their education and give back in 20 years.
“This means a lot to me, with my dad being part of the club and him being able to kind of live through me with this honor,” Joshua Washington said afterward. “I’m happy to be recognized.”
Holloway said afterward: “I just want to thank the Southeastern Quarterback Club for acknowledging me and giving me a scholarship. It really showed that the hard work and dedication didn’t go unnoticed, and that’s really big to me.”
It takes a village
Recognizing excellence is part of the quarterback club, which reached beyond Savannah and Chatham County to include Long County High in Ludowici.
Members of the Southeastern QB Club gather for a group photo during the organization’s scholarship banquet in Savannah. (Courtesy: Bree Media)
“The vision of the club is to support and help the young people in our communities and local high schools right here in Savannah and the surrounding counties, so we can try to help them further their education,” Southeastern Quarterback Club president Johnnie Kicklighter said before the start of the banquet. “We do know it takes a village to help these kids. Everything is so expensive right now.
“This is our way of giving back.”
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson gave his time as the guest speaker when a flight issue prevented Edwin Bailey from getting to his native Savannah in time. Bailey played guard for 11 years for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks (1981-91) after starring at Tompkins High School and NCAA Division I-AA All-America honors at South Carolina State. He was inducted into the Greater Savannah Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998.
Mayor Johnson observed that the program printed for the banquet included the names of the scholarship-winning students as well as their support system, as it were.
“They tell us that it takes a village to raise a child. Behind the names of these young people, you see the village,” Mayor Johnson said. “You see the school. You see the parents. You see the coach. You see the quarterback club. You see the (scholarship) money. Because visions require provisions.
“You can have the biggest dreams of all,” he continued. “Too many young people have great goals, great aspirations, great dreams, they have the ability, they don’t have the cash and, therefore, don’t have the opportunities. That is why what the Southeastern Quarterback Club is doing is so important because they are being a part of the extended village that is helping these young people be great.”
Coaches laud former players.
Their high school careers concluded, each of the six winners heard praises from their coaches during the banquet.
Benedictine head football coach Danny Britt said that Joshua Washington was one of the biggest reasons the Cadets made a return trip to Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium to play for the GHSA Class 4A state championship.
“An incredible young man,” Britt said of Washington, who was a receiver and running back on offense as well as a defensive back when the team needed him.
“This past year, he was the guy that set the tone for our entire team. He was the guy from the moment we started spring practice, the moment going through the summer, he was just this unbelievable rock that everybody else stuck to. Just did a great job for us this past year.”
Wesley, who will play wide receiver at Fairmont (W.Va.) State University, a Division II program, was a critical part of Bethesda’s first two SCISA state football championship teams in 2023 and 2025.
The sprinter also set records while winning multiple individual state track titles in the 100 and 200 meters. Wesley overcame a hamstring injury to help the Blazers capture their second consecutive SCISA state track and field crown earlier this month.
“Ralo was all about the team. His heart was the heart of a Blazer,” Bethesda head football coach Antwain Turner said. “He will be a Blazer Hall of Famer.”
From left, members of the Southeastern QB Club pose with Bethesda Academy standout Raleigh “Ralo” Wesley and his mother during the organization’s scholarship banquet in Savannah. (Courtesy: Bree Media)
Woodville-Tompkins’ Kalen Pinckney coached Rotker in cross country and soccer as well as taught him in the classroom.
“Every coach and teacher dreams of a student like Liv Rotker. Not only is Liv athletic and studious, but he has drive and passion,” said Pinckney, noting Rotker’s dedication to his studies as well as training and performance in athletics.
Rotker, who was a goalkeeper and midfielder, captained the Wolverines to two region titles and two trips to the state quarterfinals, Pinckney said. He was also voted team captain by his cross-country teammates.
Pinckney said Rotker never complained, and when he injured his wrist as a junior during soccer season, “He never missed a game, never missed a practice or any other opportunity to support his teammates.”
Woodville-Tompkins standout Liv Rotker receives a Southeastern QB Club scholarship during the organization’s banquet in Savannah. (Courtesy: Bree Media)
Maxwell’s teammates at Savannah High knew how impactful he was as the program made positive strides under first-year head coach Moses Green.
“Gary was the life of the party. He made everything a little bit brighter,” said Green, adding that it wasn’t all about bringing fun and laughter with his big personality. He’s also a big lineman.
“He was one of those bright spots, no matter what, and he worked his behind off this year,” Green said. “He was fully dedicated. One of the big reasons that you’ve seen a difference in the program.”
Green called Maxwell one of his favorite players, who was a “model citizen” in the classroom and a four-year starter who was accountable. Maxwell will play defensive end at Knox College, a Division III program in Galesburg, Ill.
Long County football coach Mike Pfiester lauded the accomplishments of Tiapula, who excelled in football, wrestling, and track and field. He said Tiapula, who will study business at Georgia Southern, will be successful in anything he chooses.
“One of the absolute best young men you can be around. He is the true scholar-athlete,” said Pfiester, noting Tiapula was part of several school-related organizations. “If there’s a club that involves being committed to helping other people, and being great, he’s in it.”
From left, Tusiofo Tiapula’s mother, Long County standout Tusiofo Tiapula, his father and Long County football coach Mike Pfiester pose during the Southeastern QB Club scholarship banquet in Savannah (Courtesy: Bree Media)
Jenkins head football coach Tony Welch sees great things ahead for Holloway, who quarterbacked the Warriors to the Region 3-3A title and state quarterfinals last season.
“He’s a player that you won’t have to worry about when he’s not at practice,” Welch said. “A lot of kids that have the talent don’t know how to behave. That stops a lot of our kids from getting to the level they need to get to.”
Holloway will play quarterback at Thomas University, an NAIA program in Thomasville.
“I thank Demetrius for coming to us and providing our team with the leadership and the character-building stuff that you do every day on and off the field,” Welch said.
When Holloway’s playing days are over, Welch sees him using those leadership skills to give back to the sport by “being a tremendous head coach somewhere, and somewhere soon.”
Photos courtesy of Bree Media
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