MOULTRIE — It went down to the wire again for the Wildcats, and again misfortune struck.
Valdosta lost to Colquitt County, 17-15 Friday night, coming up just short in a fourth quarter rally.
In South Georgia’s oldest football rivalry, which dates back to 1913, the Packers prevailed for the first time since defeating VHS 17-7 in 1999.
“That’s a fine team over there,” said Valdosta head coach Rick Tomberlin after the game. “I thought our defense played well against an offensive juggernaut like that.”
The game looked out of reach for the Wildcats (1-4, 0-1 Region 1-AAAAA) for 44 minutes, until the Wildcats turned the momentum. With less than four minutes left to go in the game, the Wildcats suddenly rallied, and scored 12 unanswered points to close the gap.
Colquitt punter Matt Demott had pinned the Wildcats on their own 10-yard line. On first-and-10 from the 10, Valdosta tried to launch a bomb to a sprinting Alfrie Johnson. Johnson managed to get separation and caught the ball all alone. He ran all the way into the end zone for a 90-yard touchdown reception.
On the extra point, Colquitt defensive back Dontrell Johnson managed to come up the middle and blocked the kick. With 3:57 left in the game, the score was 17-9, Colquitt holding on to the lead.
The Wildcats then lined up for the onside kick, but kicker Brad Barr hit it straight down the middle of the field to a Colquitt player who made the recovery. Valdosta caught another break though, two plays later, when Colquitt quarterback Channing Hudson was intercepted by junior Patrick Moore. The Wildcats took over on their own 43-yard line with 3:01 left to play.
After six straight runs, Valdosta had the ball on the Colquitt 8-yard line, looking at second-and-4. Running back Demetrius James took the hand-off, went outside, and after gaining four yards he coughed up the football.
Players scrambled, but none faster than receiver Brian Mathis and offensive lineman Calvin Burgess. Mathis managed to dive on the football in the end zone for the touchdown. Because of the missed extra-point, the Wildcats were forced to go for the two-point conversion with only 42.4 seconds left to go in the game.
Turner took the snap, rolled left, and with pressure from the defense, he threw a lob pass to Rashad Austin. Austin jumped for the ball, but as soon as it hit his hands, he was drilled in the side and the ball fell to the ground. Valdosta remained down 17-15.
“I thought, at times, our offense played good. We have to do better on special teams though,” said Tomberlin. “We just had too many mistakes.”
The onside kick went deep again, and the Packers were able to recover without any pressure. Colquitt (4-0, 1-0) ran out the clock and put Valdosta High School at 1-4 for the first time since 1974.
Colquitt scored the first touchdown of the game with 9:19 left in the first quarter on an 11-yard run by B.J. Howard. The extra point was also good. Valdosta scored next on a 23-yard field goal from Barr to make the score 7-3.
Colquitt then scored 10 unanswered points. The other Packer touchdown came on a 1-yard dive from Hudson. The play was made possible after a bad punt snap-and-catch put the ball on the one-yard line. The score at halftime was 14-3, Colquitt in the lead. Colquitt later converted a 32-yard field goal in the third quarter to make the score 17-3 Packers.
“If we can play with these guys, we can play with anybody,” said Tomberlin. “We’re not going to give up. We can still be a playoff team.”
Offensively for Valdosta, James had 20 carries for 102 yards and one fumble. Turner was 4-for-9 with 25 yards, two interceptions, and 44 yards rushing on 10 carries.
Defensively for Valdosta, Johnny Gary had three tackles and two sacks. Derrick Sharper and Curtis Ewings had five tackles each. Moore had two tackles and one interception.
Next week the Wildcats face Tift County in Tifton.
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Discussion
Wildcats’ rally comes up just short, Packers win
Colquitt stops two-point conversion in final minute
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