VALDOSTA —
The Lowndes High football team welcomed the Brooks County Trojans to Martin Stadium for a 7-on-7 passing competition Tuesday morning.
The two teams competed for two-plus hours on the turf of Martin Stadium, underneath the blistering-hot sun.
The junior varsity teams competed on one end of the field, while the varsity Vikings and Trojans battled on the other end.
With parents and fans watching from the visitors’ side bleachers at Martin Stadium — doing their best to find relief from the sun in the shaded seats — the Trojans and Vikings took turns playing on offense and defense, switching every 15 plays. No score was kept in the scrimmage and the offensive team started every play from the 40-yard line.
The Trojans, who wore blue shirts and shorts and their customary white helmets, looked impressive on the defensive side of the ball at times, intercepting Lowndes’ top two quarterbacks (Alex Stephenson and Seth Carlo). In fact, the Brooks County defense managed back-to-back interceptions off the Vikings during one series.
At other times, the Trojans seemed to lack communication on the defensive side of the ball, which gave way to big plays for the Vikings.
In his second series, Stephenson, the senior transfer from rival Valdosta and a one-time Ware County Gator quarterback, seemed to settle down and find a groove, hitting receivers in stride and at their breaks. Meanwhile, Carlo found some open receivers, but seemed to struggle for the majority of the scrimmage.
Offensively for the Trojans, junior quarterback Malcolm Parrish displayed his ever-improving arm and quarterback skills. Starting since his freshman season in 2010, Parrish will carry much of the load for the Trojans this season, and head coach Maurice Freeman seemed pleased with his quarterback’s play, except when he tossed an ill-advised interception to a Viking defender.
Both teams will continue to work in passing tournaments for the remainder of summer until camp opens July 25. Brooks County will host a 7-on-7 passing tournament and lineman challenge in Quitman next Thursday, July 19, at Veterans Stadium. The tournament will feature the likes of Albany High School, Madison County (Fla.), Bainbridge and several other high schools from the southern part of the state.
Lowndes is set to compete in a passing tournament on July 21 in Tampa, Fla.
Both teams will hold their first official fall practice on July 25, the first day teams are eligible to hold practice as mandated by the Georgia High School Association. Teams are eligible to begin full-contact drills Aug. 1.
Brooks County opens its regular season Aug. 24, when it hosts the Clinch County Panthers at Veterans Stadium. Lowndes opens its season the following week, when it hosts Luella at Martin Stadium.
Brooks County will visit Valdosta High School on Sept. 7, a game that will surely receive a lot of press after last year’s affair, which saw the Trojans nearly upset the soon-to-be Region 1-AAAAA champion Wildcats.
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Related Photos
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Lowndes’ Brandon Roberts, left, hauls in a pass while a Brooks County defender attempts to break it up during Tuesday’s 7-on-7 passing competition at Martin Stadium in Valdosta. Ed Hooper | The Valdosta Daily Times
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Brooks County quarterback Malcolm Parrish delivers a pass during Tuesday’s 7-on-7 competition. Ed Hooper | The Valdosta Daily Ttimes
Discussion
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