VALDOSTA — In Lowndes’ wing-T offense, opponents never know where the rush will come from, or who will be carrying the ball.
One thing is for certain, though. When Darriet Perry gets the ball in his hands, special things are quite capable of happening.
Perry has started at wingback for Lowndes for four years, becoming one of South Georgia’s top players and one of the state’s top runners.
“He’s blessed with a lot of strength and speed, and couple that with hard work,” Lowndes head coach Randy McPherson said. “He’s one of hardest-working kids we have, and he wants to do well.”
Perry has played and practiced hard early on at Lowndes, rushing for 805 yards his freshman season, 749 his sophomore year and 604 in 2006.
This season, he is continuing that trend and assaulting the Vikings’ career rushing record, needing just 10 more yards to eclipse former teammate Lynn Williams.
“The record is great, but right now I’m about winning, and not very much worried about the record,” Perry said.
Lowndes’ star wingback has plenty to worry about as far as winning goes, as the Vikings host the other undefeated Region 1-AAAAA team, rival Valdosta, on Friday.
The Wildcats will bring a tough defense, sure to hold an offense in check and in need of a star to step up.
Perry has been that star, giving opposing defenses a hard time throughout 40 wins, two region titles and two state championships in four years.
If one mentions those accolades to Perry, he can’t shift the spotlight off himself fast enough.
“For one, the Lord has been with me,” Perry said. “And, of course, my teammates.”
As he reaches record heights at Lowndes, Perry constantly pushes the stats, championships and the half dozen or so Division I colleges desiring his services, taking the attitude of his coach — team first and focus on the next game.
As a running back at Lowndes, that attitude is a requirement, not an option. Perry is one of four key runners this year in the starting lineup.
The Vikings’ offense uses two wingbacks, a fullback and even gets speedy quarterback Khary Franklin involved in the running game. Rushes can come from any one of the four players, and from any direction out of the backfield.
Rather than griping about the carries being taken away, Perry is appreciative of the fact that he is in such a varying offense when it comes to the running game.
“It’s not been a problem,” Perry said. “We believe in each other, and the wing-T is like a trick offense, you never know who’s going to run.”
While Perry is about to stand above the rest in the record books, he stands even with every other running back, receiver, quarterback and other fellow teammates when he pulls on the scarlet jersey, and that’s the way he prefers it.
“He’s a total team player,” McPherson said. “He works hard, is a ‘yes sir, no sir’ guy. He’s great in the classroom, and represents the school very well.”
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