VALDOSTA — A year ago, Valdosta High won just one football game. Now the Wildcats are 3-1 heading into the Region 1-AAAAA portion of their schedule.
Valdosta opens the region season Friday, hosting longtime rival Colquitt County at 8 p.m. at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
The Wildcats are pleased to be 3-1 right now. But as head coach Rick Tomberlin says, the games that really matter start this week.
“We’re glad to have three wins so far over three good football teams,” Tomberlin said. “We’d rather be 4-0, but 3-1 isn’t bad. But those games don’t matter like these next six do. Our next six games will determine whether or not we make the playoffs. We have to play well in these games, because they are very important.”
The Wildcats take on a rebuilding Colquitt team in their region opener, then face defending region champion Tift County, followed by 2006 state semifinalist Warner Robins, archrival Lowndes, and current state No. 2 Coffee. They’ll end the season with Houston County.
Last Friday, Valdosta outlasted a talented Tallahassee Lincoln team 21-17 at Bazemore-Hyder. Michael Turner’s 7-yard touchdown pass to David Arnold with 2:37 left in the game gave the Wildcats the lead. The Wildcat defense then stepped up and forced the Trojans to turn the ball over on downs in the final minute, sealing the victory.
Tomberlin was real pleased with the way his team played, against one of the best teams they’ll face all year.
“We played great,” Tomberlin said. “Our effort was exceptional. We made some mistakes. But overall we played well. We didn’t have any turnovers. We beat an outstanding team and an outstanding group of athletes.”
If there was a player of the game last week, it was probably David Arnold. The senior I-back rushed for 189 yards on 26 carries, and also caught three passes for 31 yards and two touchdowns. Valdosta has thrown three touchdown passes this year, and Arnold has caught all three.
Another player who had a good game was Turner. The senior quarterback completed five of the six passes he attempted, for 56 yards. Two of those completions went for touchdowns to Arnold. Turner guided the Wildcat offense to 297 total yards.
“Mike had a great game,” Tomberlin said. “He graded out 93 percent. He was 5-of-6 and made some good throws.”
For the third time this season, Valdosta’s defense shut down the opposition’s running game. Lincoln was held to 49 yards rushing on 24 carries, an average of barely two yards per carry. Only Brookwood, which has a huge offensive line and a star running back in Kenny Miles, has moved the ball effectively on the ground against the Wildcats.
Wednesday was Valdosta’s best day of practice this week, according to its coach.
“We had a great Wednesday,” Tomberlin said. “Monday, it was hot, and I didn’t think we had the enthusiasm and the focus we needed. Tuesday, our offense looked good, but our defense and kicking game needed to be a little better. But today, we looked sound in all three areas — offense, defense and the kicking game. This may have been our best Wednesday practice so far.”
Valdosta has some injuries, though Tomberlin wasn’t positive how serious they were. Vashun Johnson, who missed the past three games with a leg injury, is back, giving the Wildcats more depth at running back.
“We’re a little banged up,” he admitted. “We’ve got two or three pulls. We’ve got a kid who’s going to the doctor (on Thursday). We could be playing without a couple of starters. But luckily we have some capable back-ups.”
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Wildcats now 3-1, preparing for region play
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