Brookwood's Alfonso Spencer tracks down a pass while running a route in practice Wednesday.

THOMASVILLE — Brookwood’s Bradley Jones and Alfonzo Spencer were spark plugs for their team in 2016. 

Tonight they’ll join other players from around South Georgia—from public and private schools—at the Florida-Georgia War of the Border Game, where they’ll be competing with players they may not have played with in a while.

Both Jones and Spencer were threats in the Warrior offense last season, mostly at running back. Jones rushed for 856 yards on 111 attempts, reaching the end zone nine times. Spencer ran for 822 yards and seven touchdowns.

Despite those numbers, Jones will be competing on defense as a safety and Spencer will be a wideout for Georgia’s team. They both had some time in those positions over their careers as well, with Jones totaling 37.5 total tackles, one forced fumble and an interception in the Warriors secondary last year. Spencer racked up 21 catches for 351 yards and three touchdowns at receiver.

Both were named all-area offensive players in 2016, and both are grateful for the chance to showcase their skills. For Jones, it will certainly be different to only play defense this time around.

“It’s a special feeling,” Jones said. “Being on the same side of the ball against some of the guys you played against, you wonder how it feels to be on the same side of the ball as them. It’s amazing to be able to come out and compete with these guys.”

It’s true that both of them are familiar with teammates from around the area, partially from their time playing middle school football with them. However, as a private school, Brookwood doesn’t get the opportunity play programs like Thomasville, Thomas County Central and Cairo in the fall. The game will give Jones and Spencer a chance to play among players from GHSA schools, but they don’t think it’ll be that different.

“It’s a big deal, but football is football,” Jones said. “It’s about going out and competing every time you get on the field. Nothing really changes with public and private, it’s just getting out there playing football again.”

One of the primary focuses of the event, of course, is playing in front of college scouts for a scholarship offer. Both of them already have some teams from talking to them from Division I to the NAIA, with Central Michigan already having offered Jones. The chance to play among guys that could be playing after high school is something they don’t take for granted.

“I just like coming out here and challenging myself to get better,” Spencer said. “Some of these guys, they’re going to go to the next level. You get to see firsthand what a next-level receiver will look like.”

Unlike the area public schools, Brookwood’s two representatives have a little bit of experience playing against some Tallahassee schools like Maclay. That doesn’t mean there isn’t some unfamiliar territory in competing against Florida players, but there might be a chance to add a little to their legacy at Brookwood playing against some of those players one more time.

“There’s gonna be a lot of bragging rights for Brookwood next year, to brag about it to Maclay,” Spencer laughed. “You never know what kind of talent there is. It could be way different. They might just have a bunch of speed guys and no size. Maybe we have a bunch of speed guys.

“It’s a blessing. Not too many people get to do this. I’m just thankful that I get to be a part of something this big.”

The War of the Border game, which will feature players from Thomas County Central, Cairo, Thomasville and Brookwood, will take place tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium.