WINNERSVILLE CLASSIC TONIGHT
Oct. 6—VALDOSTA — Clear off the calendar and get out your team colors. Tonight is the night of Winnersville.
Bazemore-Hyder Stadium is the site of this year's classic, with the usual kickoff at 8 p.m, Lowndes matching a 3-2 record against Valdosta's 4-2. Synonymous with excellence, this is only the fifth time in series history that neither team enters ranked. Valdosta held No. 9 until an upset by McEachern two weeks ago.
Tonight is the Region 1-7A opener for both schools. With only five teams in the region, a win goes a long way to assure a state berth. A loss could be devastating as Colquitt County, Camden County and Richmond Hill loom for both schools.
The teams started on different paths this season. Lowndes won its first three before running into East Coweta. The Vikes have surrendered 82 points over their last two games after permitting 50 in the first three.
Valdosta lost in a dream matchup with Massillon, Ohio, then struggled before pulling away against AA-sized Cook, 37-20. The 'Cats then routed their next three opponents, beginning with the odd hurricane game in Adel against Banneker. They destroyed 5A's No. 2, Warner Robins (45-12) and rose to No. 9 in 7A the week of their big game hunt against Deerfield Beach, Fla.
The streak ended at McEachern last week. Lowndes and Valdosta were off last week.
Winnersville's tale for 2023 might be told on big plays. Most of the yards for both schools come on the ground.
Lowndes' Jacarre' Fleming is the region's third leading rusher at 426 yards and Valdosta's Shakevious Wright is fourth at 409. Fleming has scored seven rushing touchdowns, but Wright is averaging 8.7 yards per carry.
Valdosta's lineup of rushers is a bit deeper than Lowndes', with Prince Jean, Deron Foster and Todd Robinson all with at least 160 yards. Jean has 320 and both he and Foster have five rushing scores apiece. Aalim Brown and Marvis Parrish are the Vikings most likely after Fleming to get carries.
Despite an early injury, Robinson remains one of 1-7A's top throwers with 658 yards and four touchdowns. Parrish has thrown as often as Robinson, but less yards: 485. He does have one more touchdown.
Jean, extremely versatile on offense, has 317 yards and three of Robinson's scoring passes. Most of the Vikings' air yards have gone to Jaylin Carter, at 243.
Eric Brantley and Amari Tomblin are the leading tacklers for the 'Cats. Brantley, Mr. Everything, can probably be figured in if head coach Shelton Felton needs a showstopping play on offense.
Coleman Lewis and Camerin Rigdon have the top tackle numbers for Lowndes. Omarion Whitlock has six tackles for losses.
Sack totals are nearly even for the teams. Lowndes has 10 interceptions to Valdosta's four.
An unnamed Winnersville first kicked off in 1968, the first year that Valdosta and Lowndes were in the same region. The Lowndes County Golden Eagles first played in 1959 — the end result of nearly a decade of an effort to consolidate county high schools — but it took two years after a consolidation with Hahira and a name and nickname change to the Lowndes Vikings for the school to be AAA-sized, the largest classification in the state at that time.
Valdosta ruled the first decade, until a 7-2 upset in 1977 put the Vikings on the map in the series. While Valdosta dominated the first 30 years, Lowndes turned fortunes around, winning 12 of 15 from 1999-2013. The last decade has been advantage Lowndes, with the Wildcats' 13-6 win last year their first since the state championship year of 2016.
Where do they go from here?
Valdosta makes their longest trip of the region schedule, all the way to Richmond Hill. Lowndes will have a non-region game next week against Dunbar, Fla.
Around the region, Richmond Hill makes the drive down I-75 to see Camden County. Colquitt County stays at home for its second off week of the season.
Elsewhere: Georgia Christian goes to Dawson to battle Terrell Academy. The Generals won their first last week, defeating Pataula Charter, 29-19. It was their first points since the opening week and the first victory since Oct. 21, 2022 against Grace Christian (which has since switched to eight-man football). Terrell is undefeated this year and only challenged once, against Deerfield-Windsor.
Valwood takes a break after its 41-0 mauling of Tiftarea.
Brooks County hosts Cook Friday night. Berrien heads off to Sumter County, No. 3 Clinch County travels to Lanier County.