VALDOSTA —
The Valwood Valiants will put their early season undefeated record on the line tonight when the Flint River Academy Wildcats visit Goddard Field.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
The Valiants enter tonight’s contest following a 28-7 win over GISA state-power Edmund Burke Academy. Flint River enters following a 48-13 loss to Heritage.
Although tonight will mark the third consecutive season the Valiants and Wildcats will meet, this will be the first game for both head coaches. Ashley Henderson took over the Valwood program in January. Jason Carrera took over the Flint River program after recently serving on the Eagles Landing Christian staff.
Both teams will run the spread offense after being primarily run based teams in 2011.
Flint River is led by quarterback Seth Short, the younger brother to Valdosta State offensive lineman and captain Cam Short. Short is a versatile duel-threat quarterback that can get loose in the field.
“They are a spread offense,” Valwood’s Henderson said. “They run a lot, but they can pass it, too.”
Defensively, the Wildcats run an odd stack 3-3 defense, according to Henderson, and have shown the desire to blitz — a lot.
“The first two games, they were blitzing a lot,” Henderson said. “They are going to make sure you know how to pick up the blitz.”
“They bring a lot of pressure on defense. They play hard. I don’t think there is any question Coach Carrera has them playing hard and hustling to the ball. They are going to hit back and we have to be able to pick up their stunts.”
If the first two games are any indication, the Valwood defense seems to be up for the challenge. The Valiants allowed just seven points — beating Windsor Academy 49-0 and Edmund Burke 28-7, and forced countless turnovers, including six in the week one win over Windsor Academy.
Offensively, Henderson has been pleased with the transformation from going to a running based team to a spread, passing team. Quarterback Jake Lastinger’s transition into the new offense seems to be going well, too. Lastinger has tossed six touchdown passes through the first two games, three to senior wide receiver Rashad Mathis.
Running back Khary Paige has shined, too. While continuing to be a threat with the ground game, the senior has also made himself a viable weapon in the passing game. Last week against Edmund Burke, Paige scored two touchdowns, including a 56-yard touchdown reception from Lastinger. He later capped off the Valiants’ scoring with a 9-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
“Having Khary is a great equalizer for us,” Henderson said. “You have to respect the run, because Jake (Lastinger) can pull it down, too. We are going to attack what the defense gives us. If they crowd the box, we are thinking throw. If they don’t, we are thinking run.
“We want to be able to do both. We are getting there. We are getting better each week, and each day,” Henderson continued.
Tonight, the Valiants could be in store for another big offense performance. In their first two games, the Wildcats are allowing an average of 35.5 points per game.
Valwood football can be heard all season long on The Jock 1150 AM, 96.1 FM.
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Khary Paige and the Valwood Valiants host Flint River Academy today at 7:30 p.m. at Goddard Field. file photo | The Valdosta Daily Times
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