VALDOSTA —
High school football season returns in full force Friday night. All of the high schools within The Valdosta Daily Times’ coverage area are in action this weekend. Lowndes, Cook and Berrien will open their seasons Friday, while Valdosta opens its season Saturday against North Augusta (S.C.).
Brooks County, Valwood and Lanier County are looking to build on victories last week, while Clinch County is looking for a bounce back victory after being blown out by Brooks County last week.
Luella Lions (0-0) at Lowndes Vikings (0-0)
The Vikings are 9-1 all-time in season openers under head coach Randy McPherson. Their only loss in a season opener was in 2007. Lowndes eventually won the state championship that season. Friday’s meeting will be the fourth all-time meeting between the two schools. The Vikings beat the Lions 41-13 in the first round of the 2008 state playoffs. Luella, which began varsity competition in 2004, is just 11-19 the previous three seasons.
North Augusta (S.C.) Yellow Jackets (2-0) vs. Valdosta Wildcats (0-0)
The season opener for Valdosta, this matchup will be played Saturday at North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee. The meeting will be the first between the two schools. Last season, North Augusta was 12-2 and lost to the eventual Class AAAA South Carolina state champion, Goose Creek, in the semifinals. The Yellow Jackets are a combined 34-5 the previous three seasons. Valdosta is looking to build on its region championship season from 2011.
Valwood Valiants (1-0) at Edmund Burke Spartans (1-0)
A rematch of last year’s GISA semifinal matchup, this week’s matchup will surely be one of the better games. Both teams are 1-0 following victories last week. Edmund Burke beat Briarwood Academy 37-14, while Valwood blasted Windsor Academy 49-0. The Valiants will surely be rested, despite the long drive, after head coach Ashley Henderson was able to rest his starters in the second half of last week’s game.
Monroe Tornadoes (0-0) at Brooks County Trojans (1-0)
The Brooks County Trojans made a statement last week with a 43-3 drubbing of Clinch County. Quarterback Malcolm Parrish shined in the win, passing for 198 yards and rushing for 150 yards with five total touchdowns. This week, the Trojans face the Monroe Tornadoes, who they beat 21-12 last season. Monroe was idle last week.
Worth County Rams (1-0) at Cook Hornets (0-0)
When the Cook Hornets take the field Friday night, it will have been two weeks since their blowout loss to the Coffee Trojans in preseason action. This week, the Hornets open their season against the Worth County Rams, who beat Swainsboro 14-7 last week. Friday’s meeting will be the 27th all-time meeting between the two schools. Cook owns a three-game winning streak against the Rams, including a 28-7 win last season.
Berrien Rebels (0-0) at Calhoun County Cougars (0-0)
The Rob Armstrong era begins Friday night in Berrien as the Rebels visit the Calhoun County Cougars. Both programs are in desperate need of victories. Berrien has won a total of just two games the previous two seasons, while Calhoun County has just seven wins over the same span. This week’s matchup is the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
Lanier County Bulldogs (1-0) at Long County Blue Tide (0-0)
The Bulldogs began the David Ward era in Lakeland with a 19-8 victory over rival Atkinson County Friday night. This week, the Bulldogs visit the Long County Blue Tide, who are looking to right the track after winning just one game the previous three seasons (they were 0-10 last season).
Mitchell County Eagles (0-0) at Clinch County Panthers (0-1)
Clinch County is looking to right a lot of wrong from last week’s thrashing against Brooks County, while Mitchell County is looking to begin its season with a win over the 2010 Class A state champions. Clinch and Mitchell met in the first round of the Class A state playoffs last year, with the Panthers winning the game 20-19.
Local Sports
Friday night previews
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VSU eliminated
Valdosta State softball’s bid for a national title repeat came up short this season.
The Blazers were eliminated from the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament Saturday with a 7-5 loss in nine innings to Armstrong Atlantic University, a school based off the Georgia coast in Savannah. -
Win or go home
The Valdosta State softball team faces Armstrong Atlantic University in an elimination game for the 2013 Division II Softball Championship Tournament today at noon.
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HOOPER: An early look at the 2013 football season
I haven’t written a column in quite some time, largely because there has been so much going on and we haven’t always had the space, nor have I felt up to it after writing so many other stories.
But today, I am writing this column and taking up the inches in the daily sports section and giving a little love to the upcoming football season. -
Blazers fall to Molloy in eight innings
With only one out remaining and trailing by three, the Molloy Lions strung together four hits to plate three runs in the seventh followed by another run in the eighth inning to defeat Valdosta State’s softball team 5-4 in the first round of the 2013 Division II Softball National Championship Tournament on Thursday in Salem, Va.
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Albritton, Johnson earn All-America honors
Valdosta State softball players Courtney Albritton and Morgan Johnson gathered multiple All-America honors late Wednesday night.
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Golfers take course for Wounded Warriors
Local patrons participated in the Wounded Warrior Project Golf Tournament at Stone Creek Golf Club in Valdosta on Thursday.
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Valwood football hosting 4-man scramble golf tourney
Head coach Ashley Henderson and the Valwood football team will be hosting a 4-man scramble golf tournament at Valdosta Country Club Friday, June 14.
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VHS football cheerleaders to host Junior Cheer Camp
The Valdosta High School football cheerleaders will be hosting a Junior Cheer Camp June 5 through June 7 at the W.G. Nunn Elementary School gymnasium.
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Gillespie, McPherson pleased with spring practices
Valdosta’s Rance Gillespie and Lowndes’ Randy McPherson both think their football teams got better during the recent 10 days of spring practice.
Then again, both coaches know their teams have a ways to go before the start of the football season. -
Signing day at VHS
It was signing day galore at Valdosta High School Wednesday.
Six student-athletes signed national letter of intents to compete at the next level, while two VHS athletes both signed academic scholarships to Division I universities. - More Local Sports Headlines
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