April 30, 2026 — Jackson Jefcoat is a sixth grader at Dickerson Middle School who knows a thing or two about toughness. For three years, he has been battling in the trenches on the offensive line as part of the Walton football junior program and using his size and strength as a dominant presence with Raiders lacrosse junior teams. But on December 1, 2025, he and his family learned of a new battle that would require extra measures of toughness, while having his strength steadily drained.
“T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma,” his dad, Mike Jefcoat, said when asked what his son is currently facing.
T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) is an aggressive cancer in which underdeveloped T-cells grow uncontrollably and attack healthy cells and form tumors, typically in lymph nodes or the chest.
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With a treatment plan that is scheduled to last over two years, Jackson’s athletic career has been put on pause. After just four months in chemotherapy, his 12-year-old body has endured hair loss, fatigue, and nausea. The prognosis is encouraging, however, with long-term survival rates in the 80-90% range. Many adolescents with this cancer achieve complete remission and are cured. Full health is Jackson’s main goal, but returning to competition is what everyone ultimately wants to see.
A TEAM ON PURPOSE
Walton High School’s varsity boys lacrosse team is preparing for its own postseason battle, as they approach the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Boys State Lacrosse Championships. Having already claimed a region title in 2026, they have their sights set on celebrating a state championship.
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At the same time, the team has placed themselves in the battle of “one of their own” as well. Jackson Jefcoat may only be a middle schooler in their junior program, but the Raiders lacrosse team has his cancer fight at the forefront of their minds.
“We talk about being a family all the time in this program, and that's top to bottom,” Lacrosse boys coach Griffin Spotz explained. “For me, every single kid who comes through Walton Lacrosse is a family member to our program. Jackson is fighting with toughness, and we want to make sure that he knows that we see him and that he's a part of our family.”
SUPPORT SYSTEM
The Jefcoat family has felt that connection in action. Coach Spotz, as well as Coach Daniel Brunner from the Walton varsity football program, have taken great strides in showing their support for Jackson. The attention these men have given to a player in their junior program has been well beyond the norm.
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“I have just been super impressed by both organizations, top down, Walton football and Walton lacrosse,” said Erica Jefcoat, Jackson’s mom. “The way that they have shown up for Jackson. I think they're helping him make plans for the future. They want him to be included and know that he'll have a place with the team when he gets to where he can do rehab.”
Showing up has included varsity student-athletes as a part of the love shown to Jackson, too.
“I'd say from week one or week two, Coach Brunner brought down four of his seniors that are part of his senior council on his football team,” dad Mike recalled. “They were some of the first ones to come down and visit him in the hospital, bring him some swag, a helmet signed by all the seniors. And then Coach Spotz had Jackson come out and be an honorary captain for the senior select team.”
Many of the varsity players came out on a Sunday to show their support for Jackson when he served as honorary captain.
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“You can tell that both coaches (Spotz and Brunner) are pouring into their teams,” Mike continued, “not just as athletes, but as individuals, because every time Jackson shows up to a varsity event, players will come out of their way without being provoked by their coach to come give Jackson a fist bump, say hello, and ask him how he's doing, because they know who he is now.”
ON THEIR HELMETS, IN THEIR HEARTS
The Walton lacrosse team is so invested in Jackson’s journey that they have created helmet stickers for all program players to wear. It’s a symbol of solidarity and encouragement featuring the Walton lacrosse logo atop a green ribbon honoring lymphoma awareness. On both ends of the ribbon is a “J” reading out “JJ” for Jackson Jefcoat. The sticker is more than a symbol — it’s a reminder that this team is Built for Beyond the scoreboard.
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“We wanted him to know that we're thinking of him actively,” Coach Spotz explained, “and that we want him along this journey with us. Anything that we could do to connect with him is another notch of energy that maybe he could latch onto and use as energy to fight.”
The significance of the helmet decal was not lost on Jackson.
“It really means a lot,” the cancer battler admitted, “because I've had stickers on the back of my helmet before for other kids, because the coaches will give them out if, like, some kid has cancer, and so it really means a lot.”
WALKING WITH HIM
There have been other meaningful moments that have meant a lot. Jackson was presented with one of the limited-edition chrome helmets that are only worn on special occasions.
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Youth Day for the Walton program was another special moment for the family.
“They had all the youth players out on the field at halftime of a varsity game,” mom Erica explained before holding back tears. “What I loved about that was they started with the littlest ones running out on the field, you know, to the 50-yard line, and then when Jackson's team got called out, they all started to run, and then realized he couldn't run, so they waited and walked out with him.”
The varsity watched nearby before gathering for pictures.
“It was awesome,” reported senior Corbin Henry, an All-State defender and a team captain for the Walton varsity lacrosse team. “I got to talk to him one-on-one. He seems like a very optimistic kid, and even in his circumstances, he had a smile on his face, talking to every single person he saw. I liked his energy.”
PLAYOFF PUSH
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The Raiders enter the lacrosse state playoffs on an eight-game winning streak. With Spotz at the helm and senior leadership like Henry on the field, Walton likes its chances to make a deep run. It also helps to have Jackson as an inspiration.
“What Jackson’s going through puts everything in perspective, you know,” Coach Spotz emphasized. “The battle he's going through right now is so much more important than the battles we go through on the field. When you see how pure his family’s heart is and how much they're fighting for something that's actually important and valuable, that's what we're going to latch onto and learn from.”
Senior long-stick midfielder Wade Benich, another team captain, recognizes parallels while understanding the differences between Jackson’s battle and the one Walton lacrosse faces.
“I'm inspired by how he handles his situation,” Benich noted. “The way he handles his fight is to just keep going. I feel like it’s the same for us. We just have to push through these playoffs and bring a title home.”
STRONGER TOGETHER
So, the two families – the Jefcoat family and the Walton athletic family – are helping each other. There are lessons and inspirations to be shared all around.
“I just feel like they have really helped to keep Jackson plugged into both programs with his buddies,” Erica said, again holding back tears, “and they’re making sure that he's not forgotten about. They help him see that the hard work he's doing now will pay dividends down the road. Coach Spotz has talked so much about what he sees Jackson carrying out of this. It's stuff that we see, and we say as parents, but it hits different for Jackson when it comes from somebody else.”
Senior midfielder Carson Stucky, yet another team captain, emphasized the togetherness among families.
“We're all by his side,” the captain stated. “If he ever needs anything, he can feel free to call any of us, and we'll be there for him.”
It’s a sentiment that touches a mother’s heart.
“We are super grateful for the way that they are approaching this, embracing this, and helping us support Jackson as we walk through this,” Erica said in reflection. “We have been surrounded by support, and it's not our community, it's Jackson’s, and that has been just remarkable to experience.”
Jackson had a message of thanks and a reminder for the team as well.
“Thank you all so much,” the sixth grader shared. “Y'all have just been so nice to me, so great, and it really means a lot to me. But keep going in the playoffs. Never give up. It's not ever as bad as it seems, and I'll get better.”
Getting better is getting closer. In early April, Jackson received good news from doctors.
“As of now, he is cancer-free,” Mike reported. “He has no active cancer cells in his body. That doesn't mean we get to quit treatments or anything like that. We still have to go through the entire protocol. But to get that kind of confirmation that the treatment plan is working, that the prayers that everybody has said on our behalf are working, it's just reassuring and comforting to know that we're moving in the right direction.”
A Walton lacrosse state championship would be one way to celebrate for both families. It might also add to Jackson’s growing collection of reminders that he’s not fighting alone.
“We're cutting a piece of that championship net and bringing it to him,” Benich said.
But long before the final whistle of the season, the moments that matter are already happening. Teammates are showing up, walking with him when he can’t run, and making sure he never feels forgotten. And with every step forward in his recovery, Jackson is moving closer to the day he won’t just be on the sideline for Walton, he’ll be in the game.
h/t photos of Jackson as honorary captain provided by Jaden Jenkins, all other non-branded photos provided by the Jefcoat family
