TIFTON — The jilted bride got her heart broken again.
This time, Valdosta High fell in double overtime, 10-7 to state co-No. 1 Tift County Friday night at Gene Brodie Field.
In the second overtime, both teams had field goal attempts. Tift County kicker Charlie Edwards — an All-State kicker last season — split the uprights from 43 yards away to give the Blue Devils a 10-7 lead. After Tift’s defense drove Valdosta back, kicker Brad Barr had to try a 42-yard kick. But the kick sailed wide, and Tift County escaped with the win.
Both Valdosta and Tift had their chances to win.
Tift had a chance to win the game with a 37-yard field goal with eight seconds left to play. Edwards has the range to make a 50-plus yard field goal, and a 37-yarder would seem routine. But his kick was wide, and the game went into overtime.
Early in the fourth quarter, Valdosta faced fourth-and-1 from the Blue Devil 9, and chose to go for it. Valdosta quarterback Michael Turner dove forward on a quarterback sneak, and appeared to get past the 8 and the first down marker. But he was marked just short of the 8, and the ball went over to Tift on downs.
In the first overtime, Valdosta had the first possession and tried a 27-yard field goal. But Tift’s Randy Parker, who blocked a kick last year in Valdosta, came around the end and blocked another one. Tift took over and lined up in the power I, content to run the ball up the middle and set Edwards up for the game-winning kick. But on the first play, Tift’s Kaream Hess fumbled, and Valdosta’s Derrick Sharper picked up the fumble.
Then came overtime No. 2, and Tift prevailed.
It was a tight game throughout.
Late in the first quarter, Tift got on the board with a big play.
Tift receiver Israel Troupe is one of the best players in the state, and you can’t afford to let him get open. Valdosta did — and he beat the cornerback on a 54-yard bomb from quarterback Sean Baxley. Edwards’ extra point gave Tift a 7-0 lead.
Valdosta responded with a 74-yard drive, but came away empty. The Wildcats moved the ball all the way to the Blue Devil 5, helped in part by a third-down completion to James Boyd and a fourth down run by Alfrie Johnson on a reverse, both of which gave Valdosta a first down. On third-and-goal from the 5, Turner fired towards Brian Mathis at the goal line, but the pass went just out of Mathis’ reach.
On fourth down, Valdosta lined up for a field goal, but faked the kick. Turner rolled right, then rolled left and threw for an open Thomas Walker in the end zone. But Walker dropped the pass, and VHS came away with no points.
Late in the second quarter, Tift got the ball at the Valdosta 36 after a short punt. But the Wildcat defense held firm, and Edwards’ 48-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right. Tift went to the locker room leading 7-0.
On their second possession of the second half, the Wildcats tied the score. Two plays after Turner hit Demetrius James on a 24-yard pass, Turner faked the handoff, and rolled left. He found a wide open Marcus Ewings, who caught the ball at the Tift 40, then took off running. Ewings got a block downfield, then outran the Tift safety to the end zone for a 55-yard touchdown. Barr’s extra point made it 7-7, and the score remained that way until the second overtime.
For Valdosta, Turner completed 15-of-24 passes for a season-high 197 yards and a touchdown. For Tift, Baxley was 11-for-17 for 160 yards and a touchdown.
Valdosta now finds itself 1-5, and more importantly, 0-2 in Region 1-AAAAA. The Wildcats must start winning region games, or they’ll face the prospect of missing the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
Local Sports
Another heartbreaker for Valdosta
Wildcats fall to No. 1 Tift County Blue Devils in double OT, 10-7
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