VALDOSTA —
Lowndes football team won’t take the field this Friday night. The Vikings open their regular season Aug. 31 against Luella.
With the extra week to ready for the upcoming season, the Vikings aren’t beginning their preparations for the Luella Lions, just yet. Instead, the Vikings are using this week to focus on getting better and improving themselves before turning their attention towards Luella next week.
“This is going to be a week of no opponent,” Lowndes head coach Randy McPherson said. “It is kind of back to a modified camp schedule. Luella will start this weekend.”
Focusing on themselves won’t be an issue, either, said McPherson, who credited his team with a hard work ethic throughout practices.
“This group we got here, we haven’t had any trouble practicing well,” McPherson said. “I don’t anticipate any problems. They really want to be good.”
Heavy rain forecasted for the Valdosta and Lowndes County area for much of the week could alter the Vikings’ practice schedule. When speaking with the Times before Monday’s practice, McPherson said the team isn’t worried about rain, but rather lightning.
“Rain doesn’t bother us, lightning does,” McPherson said.
If severe weather forces the Vikings off the field this week, they will practice in the gymnasium, according to McPherson.
The Vikings’ week of preparation follows a 52-0 blow out victory of Thomasville in the preseason exhibition game on Friday at Martin Stadium. Looking back at the game film, McPherson said he liked the effort of his team, much like he did when he stood on the field following the win.
“We played hard,” McPherson said. “I thought it looked like that from the sideline. After looking at the tape, it was confirmed.”
McPherson said the Vikings made a lot of mistakes in the victory, which featured the varsity playing in the first half and the junior varsity in the second half. Regardless, the game was a good start to the season, said McPherson.
The Vikings featured a two-quarterback system during the varsity half Friday night. Senior Alex Stephenson and junior Seth Carlo rotated on each series. Carlo finished the game 3 of 6 for 95 yards with a touchdown and interception. Stephenson was 0 for 1 passing.
“I thought both quarterbacks played OK,” McPherson said. “What we’re planning on doing right now is getting both of them better. That is where we’re at. I know everybody wants to know who the quarterback is going to be, but we are working two quarterbacks, and about five running backs. Man, we are just trying to get better.”
In Friday’s scrimmage, Lowndes played a stable of running backs, something Viking fans have come accustomed to seeing in recent years. This season won’t be any different.
“We’ve always used a lot of running backs, and I think this year is going to be no exception,” McPherson said.
Local Sports
Vikings not focused on Luella
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VSU softball wins South Region, headed to nationals
For the third time in four years, and second in a row, Valdosta State’s softball team will play in the national championship tournament.
The Blazers won their third South Region championship Saturday, beating Alabama-Huntsville 8-3 in game three of the best-of-three series at Steel’s Diamond at Blazer Park. -
VSU baseball season comes to an end
Delta State scored seven unanswered runs to defeat Valdosta State 7-2 in an elimination game of the NCAA South Region Tournament at the UT Baseball Field Saturday afternoon.
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Blazers take 1-0 series lead
Angela O’Connor launched a pinch-hit two-run home run over the left-field fence, tying the game against Alabama-Huntsville in the bottom of the sixth inning, and sparking the Blazers and their fans along the way.
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Blazer baseball stays alive, beats Stillman
Valdosta State scored five runs in the first inning to defeat Stillman 6-2 in an elimination game of the NCAA South Region Tournament at UT Baseball Field Friday morning.
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Lowndes’ Harwell, Wortham sign with Valdosta State
Lowndes’ Ty Harwell and David Wortham won’t have to go far to play college baseball.
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Blazers host respected rival UAH in Super Regional
One would expect a matchup featuring two of the top softball programs in Division II to come in the national championship game.
Unfortunately for Valdosta State and Alabama-Huntsville, who have combined to appear in four straight national championship games, they won’t be meeting in title game on Memorial Day in Salem, Va. -
Pop Warner Football coming to Valdosta
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The nationally known organization that puts an emphasis on education and developing American youth has been established in the Valdosta area and will begin playing football this August. -
Blazers lose to Delta State, fall to loser’s bracket
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The Blazers (33-17) dropped their first game of the tournament Thursday, falling to Delta State 4-2 at UT Baseball Stadium.
VSU will face Stillman College, which lost to No. 1 seed and tournament host Tampa Thursday, Friday at 11 a.m. to advance to the weekend portion of the tournament. The loser will be eliminated. -
Lowndes’ Willis, Breit named Region 1 Coaches of the Year
The All-Region 1-AAAAAA soccer teams were announced Wednesday and Lowndes was well represented.
Lowndes coaches Chris Willis (girls) and Jordan Breit (boys) were named the Region Coaches of the Year, after leading the Lowndes teams to region championships and going undefeated in region play. -
Vikings commit 4 errors, fall to Roswell, 5-2
The small things matter in baseball, especially in a winner-take-all game three.
On Wednesday, Lowndes’ baseball team made too many mistakes on the little things. The Vikings committed four errors that led to five Roswell runs and were eliminated in the Class AAAAAA state playoffs with a 5-2 loss to the Hornets. - More Local Sports Headlines
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