VALDOSTA — Valdosta had little trouble earning its first Region 1-AAAAA win Friday night.
The Wildcats defeated Colquitt County 24-6 Friday at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium, in a game that was not as close as the score indicated. The Wildcats scored on their first two possessions, and their defense shut down the Packers most of the night.
Valdosta senior quarterback Michael Turner completed 11-of-15 passes for 164 yards. David Arnold rushed for 88 yards on 16 carries and caught five passes for 72 yards, as Valdosta improved to 4-1.
The victory was also head coach Rick Tomberlin’s first region win with the Wildcats.
After holding Colquitt three-and-out on the game’s opening possession, the Wildcats drove 59 yards in five plays to take a lead they would never relinquish. On the second play of the drive, Turner took the snap, rolled right, and hit Perry King going left on a crossing pattern. King got a block downfield, and raced all the way to the Packer 5 before being pulled down. Three plays later, fullback Marcus McNair dove in from the 1. Lawrence Clagett’s extra point gave Valdosta a 7-0 lead.
The Wildcats drove for another touchdown on their next possession. Arnold carried five times for 38 yards on the drive, and Turner scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak, making it 14-0 with 1:18 left in the first quarter.
Colquitt twice moved the ball inside the VHS 30 in the second quarter. But both times, the Wildcat defense rose up and halted the drive, and caused the Packers to turn the ball over on downs.
With 23.9 seconds left in the first half, Valdosta took over at its own 34. The Wildcats seemed content to run out the clock, but on the first play, Arnold dashed 25 yards, down to the Packer 41. On the next play, Turner hit a wide open Arnold for 31 yards, down to the 10 with 3.9 seconds remaining. On the final play of the half, Clagett kicked a 27-yard field goal, and Valdosta headed to the locker room with a 17-0 lead.
The Wildcats then pretty much put it on cruise control in the second half.
Valdosta could have put the game away in the third quarter. It had the ball inside the Packer 10 twice, but came away empty both times. The first time, Arnold dropped a sure touchdown pass, and the Wildcats ended up turning the ball over on downs. The second time, Clagett missed a 27-yard field goal.
But two minutes into the fourth quarter, Valdosta reached the end zone again, going 50 yards in five plays. Turner completed all three of his pass attempts on the drive, helping the Wildcats move down to the 8. On second down, McNair got the ball on a trap, and ran the ball in behind right guard Chris Daniels and right tackle Justin McGill for the touchdown, giving Valdosta a 24-0 lead.
After that, Tomberlin put in the second string. The second-team offense moved the ball effectively, twice reaching the Colquitt red zone, but was unable to score. Reserve tailback Travis Brooks gained 59 yards on four carries.
Colquitt finally got on the board late in the game. John Michael Harrison’s 44-yard pass to Darryl Thomas moved the ball into Wildcat territory, then Thomas ran the ball in two plays later from 10 yards out. The two-point conversion failed, and Valdosta led 24-6.
Valdosta moved the ball down to the 13 on its final possession, but respectfully opted to run out the clock instead of trying for another score.
Valdosta (4-1, 1-0 region) will host Tift County (3-1, 0-0) next week. Colquitt (1-4, 0-1) travels to Coffee (4-1, 0-0).
Local Sports
Valdosta opens region play with 24-6 win
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