VALDOSTA — Valwood running back Khary Paige rushed for 126 yards on just five carries and had two touchdowns as the Valwood Valiants cruised to a 50-15 rout over the Flint River Academy Wildcats Friday night at Goddard Field.

Valwood improved to 3-0 under first-year head coach Ashley Henderson with the win.

“It feels good. It was a total team effort,” Henderson said. “I’m proud of my guys. I thought we really came out after halftime playing with a chip on our shoulder, still like we had something to prove.”

 This contest was one-sided before the second half even started.

The Valiants got onto the scoreboard first, capping their first drive of the game on a 3-yard keeper by senior Rashad Mathis.

Valwood took advantage of the great scoring position they earned after quarterback Jake Lastinger’s 26-yard completion to Mathis early in the 78-yard scoring drive.

Mathis finished the game with 47 receiving yards and touchdown.

Valwood failed to convert the two-point conversion attempt, making the score 6-0.

The Wildcats’ offensive struggled early and didn’t get better against the relentless Valiant defense.

Valwood held Wildcat quarterback Seth Short to just 1 of 9 passing in the first half.

With less than a minute remaining in the first quarter, the Valiants kept increasing their lead.

On the first play of the drive, Paige found a gap in the defense and sprinted through on a hand-off for a 52-yard touchdown.

Valwood went up 13-0 at the end of the first quarter.

The Valiants made their lead even more comfortable minutes into the second quarter.

After the Wildcats forced the Valiants to a 4th down, Valwood kept its drive alive with a fake punt that turned into a 37-yard pass completion thrown by kicker Carter Elliot.

Senior Allan Taylor finished the drive with 30-yard touchdown run.

On the first play on the Wildcats’ next possession, team captain running back Will Couch broke free for a 78-yard touchdown run that cut into the Valiants’ 20-0 lead.

The touchdown run made the score 20-7, Valwood, with six minutes remaining in the second quarter.

Valwood quickly responded, though.

Lastinger led a 74-yard drive with a couple of passes, including a 64-yard touchdown connection with Marik Merine.

Lastinger picked up his seventh touchdown in just three games with the touchdown connection.

“He’s made good decisions,” said Henderson of Lastinger’s play. “This is not his first rodeo, he’s started games before and its obvious. He’s picking up the system and making good throws. He gives us a chance to be successful and that’s all you can ask from your quarterback.”

Lastinger finished the game completing 11 of his 15 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns.

After Valwood’s defense forced another punt by Flint River, Paige rushed for a 67-yard touchdown, splitting the defense with the run.

Valwood was up 34-7 at the half.

On the first drive of the second half, Lastinger led the Valiants down the field. The short 59-yard drive was capped off on a 14-yard touchdown throw from Lastinger to Char Merine.

“I have a lot trust in Jake but he couldn’t do it without the O-line,” said Paige of his quarterback. “The O-line comes first, so without them we wouldn’t be 3-0.”

While getting it done on the offensive side of the ball, Paige also led the Valiants with a team-high five tackles. He also recorded two of the Valiants’ six sacks on the night.

“Khary Paige played a heck of a game at linebacker,” Henderson said. “Even in the second half he was still flying around.”

Paige came up with three straight tackles on one of the Wildcats’ offensive possessions, including a sack in the end zone, recording a safety against Flint River.

With just seconds left in the third quarter, Taylor punched his second touchdown of the game on a 12-yard run.

Taylor, who took his first career rushes Friday night, finished with two touchdowns on just three carries.

Valwood entered the fourth quarter with a 50-7 lead.

The Wildcats scored again with three minutes left, coming on a 13-yard run by Couch.

“We’re blessed with a good bunch of seniors and we’ve said it since day one, ‘we’ll go as far as they take us,’” said Henderson.

Valwood hosts Memorial Day next Friday night at Goddard Field.