VALDOSTA — Lowndes High head coach Randy McPherson constantly preaches team football.
He says the 2007 Vikings do a great job of playing as a team.
“Every once in a while, you get a team that really buys into the team concept,” McPherson said. “I’ve never seen a group buy into that the way this team has.”
That team will face Camden County in the Class AAAAA state semifinals at 9 p.m. Saturday night in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome.
Playing good football requires playing as a team. Nowhere in Georgia prep football is that more evident than in Lowndes County, where the three high school teams have combined for 31 state championships, winning some of them over teams with more individual talent.
“They are sold into the concept that the only way we’re going to have a shot to win it all is as a team,” McPherson said. “I love that about this team. You’ve got kids helping on offense, helping on defense. It’s just a team deal. I wouldn’t trade any of these guys, I’ll tell you that. Not a one.”
Lowndes runs an offense, the wing-T, that emphasizes team over individual. There are three running backs in the offense, and the carries are generally split between the three. Rarely does one back dominate in the statistics. So the backs have to be team-oriented. At Lowndes, wingback Darriet Perry has rushed for 1,110 yards, but teammate Greg Reid has gained 654 yards, fullback Adrian Hargett has rushed for over 500, and fellow fullback Tavaris Williams has close to 300. Quarterback Khary Franklin also has around 300.
“It doesn’t matter who does what to these guys. They do it as a team,” McPherson said. “That’s what I love about the wing-T. It’s a team deal.”
The offensive line also needs to block as a team, and for everyone to do their assignment. Lowndes’ linemen are not huge, but the unit — tackles Levi Vedas and Ed Christian, guards Layne Grant and Brady Brantley, center Ethan Barwick and tight end Jordan Black — has opened holes for the running backs all season long.
McPherson also points to the team’s offseason conditioning program as a reason for its success.
“Another thing about this team is they’ve had a great year in the weight room. Very strong,” McPherson said.
This Lowndes team is also a young team. The Vikings start only four seniors on each side of the ball — Perry, Hargett, Barwick and Vedas on offense and cornerback Kelly Dawsey, Williams, linebacker Blake Summers and defensive tackle T.J. Manning on defense. The rest of the team will be back next year.
“We’ve got eight seniors (starting),” McPherson said.
Tickets for Saturday’s Lowndes-Camden game are on sale at the Lowndes ticket office. Tickets will be $15 per day, as set by the Georgia High School Association. This price covers all five games played on Saturday.
The ticket office will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Tickets will also be available at the gate, but purchasing them in advance can help fans avoid the long line at the game.
Local Sports
Lowndes keeps winning by playing team football
Vikings getting ready for Camden County on Saturday
- Local Sports
-
-
Lady Packers beat Lowndes, 55-48
The Colquitt County Lady Packers handed the Lowndes Vikettes a second straight loss Tuesday night, 55-48.
Jamesia Jones led Lowndes with 10 points, while Courtne Washington had nine. Tasia Brown finished with eight. -
Braves unveil another alternate home uniform
Hank Aaron recognized the look. Just not the feel.
The Atlanta Braves unveiled a new alternate home uniform Monday that is based on the attire worn when the team moved from Milwaukee in 1966, with Aaron as its biggest star. -
Valdosta native Garland named to Armstrong Atlantic HOF
Armstrong Atlantic State University has announced its latest induction class for the Armstrong Atlantic State University Athletic Hall of Fame. Among the six inductees and one Service Citation award winner is Valdosta native Nikki Garland, who ran cross county and track and field with the Pirates.
-
Freeman, Trojans finalize '12 schedule
The Brooks County Trojans’ football motto is to ‘bring the hammer’ each and every Friday night.
Well, the Trojans now know exactly who they will have to bring that hammer to this upcoming season, as head coach Maurice Freeman recently finalized Brooks County’s 2012 football schedule. -
New York wins Super Bowl
Eli Manning and the Giants one-upped Tom Brady and the Patriots again, coming back with a last-minute touchdown to beat New England 21-17 Sunday night for New York’s fourth Super Bowl title.
- Super Bowl boosts Indy’s image
-
Blazer softball sweeps Nova Southeastern
On Super Bowl Sunday, Valdosta State showed why it has been one of the super teams in the south region for years now.
-
Blazers fall to Saints
Just 24 hours after earning an impressive opening day victory, the Valdosta State baseball team struggled to find a rhythm against North Georgia, as the Blazers fell to the Saints 8-3.
North Georgia pitcher Blake Hobby was a major factor for VSU’s struggles. The senior right-hander held the Blazers to just one run on four hits across his eight innings of work on the hill. -
Tift County wins region wrestling championship
Tift County won the Region 1-AAAAA traditional wrestling championship on Saturday at Lowndes High School.
Tift had three individual region champions, had wrestlers place in the top three in 13 of the 14 weight classes and qualified wrestlers for next weekend’s sectional tournament in all 14 weight classes. Tift earned 184 team points, two points more than second-place Lowndes. -
Wildcats beat Crisp in overtime
Valdosta’s boys basketball team dominated the overtime period, and defeated Crisp County 66-56 on Saturday night at the VHS gym.
The Wildcats outscored the Cougars 17-7 in overtime to pull away for the win.
“Another big win,” Valdosta head coach Antonio Haynes said. “I’m happy for the guys. They played hard. They deserved this win.” - More Local Sports Headlines
-
Lady Packers beat Lowndes, 55-48
