Putnam County Football

Putnam County assistant coach Charlie Winslette sits in the visiting coaches box at Morgan County High School in Madison, on Aug. 22. Winslette has been coaching high school football for 52 years. Abbey Cutrer/AJC

Putnam County assistant coach Charlie Winslette sits in the visiting coaches box at Morgan County High School in Madison, on Aug. 22. Winslette has been coaching high school football for 52 years. Abbey Cutrer/AJC

52 years of Friday nights: How ‘Papa Win’ has earned ‘legendary status'

Jack Leo
Thursday, September 18, 2025
This story is reprinted with permission from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. For more on the news and events in metro-Atlanta and Georgia, visit AJC.com.MADISON — Two Putnam County football coaches watch through a rain-peppered window in the visiting coaches’ box.
Former Putnam County football player Gerald Kilgore is transferring from Tennessee Tech to play alongside his brother, Jalon, next season at South Carolina. CONTRIBUTED

Former Putnam County football player Gerald Kilgore is transferring from Tennessee Tech to play alongside his brother, Jalon, next season at South Carolina. CONTRIBUTED

Former Putnam football player commits to South Carolina, reunites with brother

Lance McCurley
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Former Putnam County football player Gerald Kilgore has found his next college home at South Carolina. The 6-foot-1, 202-pound defensive back will enroll at South Carolina next semester with three years of eligibility remaining after redshirting and playing just one season at Tennessee Tech.
Kilgore is tied for the team’s most tackles with 18 through two games.

Kilgore is tied for the team’s most tackles with 18 through two games.

Kilgore returns to play in front of family and friends

Brendan Koerner
Thursday, September 14, 2023
Former Putnam County football player Jalon Kilgore returns to his home state this Saturday as the South Carolina Gamecocks travel to Athens to face the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs. Kilgore has made an instant impact on the Gamecocks’ defense.
Joel Harvin is set to be the next head coach at Putnam County. CONTRIBUTED

Joel Harvin is set to be the next head coach at Putnam County. CONTRIBUTED

Harvin hired as PCHS head football coach

Lance McCurley
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Joel Harvin is familiar with the program and culture built by retired Putnam County head coach Shaun Pope. Early County, the program Harvin coached at the time, traveled to Eatonton in 2020 to face the higher-seeded War Eagles for a first-round playoff game at Al Reaves Field.
Jalon Kilgore (23) and Gerald Kilgore (2) pose for a photo after a game together. CONTRIBUTED

Jalon Kilgore (23) and Gerald Kilgore (2) pose for a photo after a game together. CONTRIBUTED

Football, family and faith inspire Kilgore

Brendan Koerner
Wednesday, July 13, 2022
Putnam County’s football program has found its most success in recent memory over the last couple of years, and rising senior Jalon Kilgore has been instrumental in making that happen.
Jalon Kilgore thanks his parents, friends, family and coaches were coming to his commitment ceremony. STAFF/Lance McCurley

Jalon Kilgore thanks his parents, friends, family and coaches were coming to his commitment ceremony. STAFF/Lance McCurley

Beamer Bound: Kilgore to Carolina

Lance McCurley
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Eatonton, Ga. — Putnam County’s Jalon Kilgore has made his college decision.  The 6-foot-2, 195-pound safety committed to the University of South Carolina on Wednesday. According to the 247Sports Composite, Kilgore is ranked the No. 442 overall player and the No. 43 safety.
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