VALDOSTA —
The Valdosta Wildcats know what they have to do to make the playoffs. If they win Friday night, they are in the playoffs. If they lose, they probably won’t make it.
Valdosta will travel to Douglas on Friday to play Coffee at 8 p.m. in a game with huge playoff implications for both teams.
Right now, the Wildcats (6-3, 3-2 in region play) are tied for third in Region 1-6A with Colquitt County, a team they beat 38-36 on Oct. 26. But Coffee is only a game behind the Wildcats and the Packers, and they know they have to win to have a chance to make the playoffs.
“There’s a sense of urgency. There’s no question about that,” Valdosta head coach Rance Gillespie said. “It’s a huge football game for both teams. Our kids understand that.”
If the Wildcats win, they will finish third in Region 1. If they lose and Colquitt upsets No. 1 Camden County, the Packers would finish third, Coffee would be fourth and Valdosta would miss the playoffs.
If Coffee beats Valdosta and Camden beats Colquitt, the Wildcats, the Trojans and the Packers would finish in a three-way tie for third (Camden and Lowndes have already clinched first and second). In that case, the team that had allowed the fewest points in region games against playoff-eligible teams (Camden, Lowndes, Valdosta, Coffee and Colquitt) would get the third seed. The tie between the other two teams would then get broken by the result of their head-to-head meeting. Going into Friday’s games, Colquitt has allowed 64 points in its three games against Valdosta, Lowndes and Coffee (it hasn’t played Camden yet), while Valdosta gave up 96 points to Camden, Lowndes and Colquitt and Coffee allowed 97 points to Camden, Lowndes and Colquitt.
Valdosta’s coach knows the Wildcats have to come ready to play on Friday. But that’s no different than any other region game, in his opinion.
“This region demands that you’re at your best constantly,” Gillespie said.
——
Last Friday, Valdosta’s offense played one of its best games of the season in a 41-24 win over Brunswick. The Wildcats scored five touchdowns, got two field goals and amassed 363 yards of total offense.
Three players in particular stood out to Gillespie.
Tight end Taijuan Smith, who had only caught four passes all season, had four catches for 112 yards and three touchdowns against Brunswick.
“Taijuan went out and had three touchdown catches, and had really a breakout night,” Gillespie said. “I hope Friday night will go a long way in pushing him towards (playing well the rest of the season).”
Right tackle Ronnie Stoney, a third-year starter, led an offensive line that opened up holes for the Wildcats’ running backs all night long.
“Ronnie Stoney has played as consistent as any offensive lineman I’ve probably ever coached. He’s played really well all season,” Gillespie said.
But the player that Gillespie said was the Wildcats’ player of the game on offense was running back Nelson Herring. Herring rushed for 172 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries in the win.
Herring also had one of the biggest plays of the game. On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Herring took the handoff, found a hole, sprinted past the defenders and raced 65 yards untouched into the end zone, giving the Wildcats a 17-10 lead. Valdosta would hold the lead the rest of the game.
Herring and Malcolm Joseph usually split time in the Wildcats’ backfield. But Joseph was nursing an injury, so Herring had to take on a bigger load, and he did.
“Nelson knew that he was going to have to shoulder the load and carry it a little bit more,” Gillespie said. “That’s different when you’ve got those two guys. No. 1, they’re like brothers. They’re really close. They get along extremely well. No. 2, they’ve always had the other one to lean on, and they work so perfectly together. ... They enjoy one another, they share the load, they don’t mind (sharing carries). But when you take one out of the equation (it’s) different. I think (Nelson) understood that, and he kind of stepped up.”
Local Sports
Related Photos
-
Nelson Herring (13) ran for 172 yards and two touchdowns in Valdosta’s 41-24 victory over Brunswick last Friday. file photo
-
Valdosta tight end Taijuan Smith (36) caught three touchdown passes in the Wildcats’ 41-24 win over Brunswick last week. Smith and the Wildcats will travel to Coffee on Friday. Chris Walsh | Special to the Times
Discussion
Big game for Wildcats
Valdosta can earn a playoff berth with a win on Friday
- Local Sports
-
-
Georgia Sparks win championship in Orlando
The Georgia Sparks Basketball Teams traveled to Orlando, Florida to compete in Spring Fling 2 Super Region Tournament which took place at Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. This was a busy weekend for the Sparks as they had three teams and over 30 parents.
-
52nd Annual Valdosta Open tees off
The Boys and Girls Club of Valdosta and the Valdosta Country Club are hosting the 52nd annual Valdosta Open June 29-30.
-
GSC Awards Ceremony
The Gulf South Conference is proud to announce its 17th annual GSC “Top Ten” Award winners.
-
Georgia Sparks win championship in Orlando
The Georgia Sparks Basketball Teams traveled to Orlando, Florida to compete in Spring Fling 2 Super Region Tournament which took place at Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. This was a busy weekend for the Sparks which brought three teams and over 30 parents.
-
Manu Ginobili sparks Spurs to Game 5 win
Manu Ginobili ran onto the floor as fans stood and screamed.
He went to the bench, and they chanted his name.
The sights and sounds of so many San Antonio spring nights were back Sunday night — and the real party might be just a few days away.
Ginobili broke out of a slump in a big way with 24 points and 10 assists in his first start of the season, and the Spurs beat the Miami Heat 114-104 to take a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals. -
2013 South Georgia Diamond Brawl
The Lowndes Vikings baseball team is set to host the 16th Annual South Georgia Diamond Brawl, featuring 19 teams playing 28 games across four fields.
-
Jaguars Caravan 2013
The Jackonsivlle Jaguars’ caravan made a stop at the Valdosta Mall Saturday for their second visit in as many years.
-
Stormy weather halts play during US Open 1st round
Phil Mickelson rolled a birdie attempt 8 feet past the hole at No. 11. Steve Stricker did the same at No. 12. Bogey. Bogey.
And that wasn’t even the stormy part. -
Blackhawks beat Bruins 4-3 in 3OT Cup opener
The Chicago Blackhawks know all about Andrew Shaw’s reputation around the league. They also know the pesky little forward is so much more than just another irritant for opposing players.
-
Valdosta’s Eldridge inducted to Georgia Golf Hall of Fame
Frank Eldridge has been playing golf so long that he has spent nearly his whole life with a club in his hand.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
