VALDOSTA — The Valdosta Wildcats would love to be heading into Friday night’s Winnersville Classic at 100 percent. But unfortunately for them, they’re not.
On Tuesday, barely 72 hours before the Wildcats were scheduled to face their crosstown rivals, Valdosta’s football coach was worried about his team’s health.
“We’re banged up,” Valdosta head coach Rick Tomberlin admitted. “I’m real concerned about injuries. None of them are career- or season-ending injuries, but they all concern me, because we’re about to play a super-talented team, one of the most talented teams in the country. So we’ve got to treat our injuries and lick our wounds and get our rest, and really take care of ourselves. And we’ve got to get ready (for the game).”
Valdosta (4-2, 1-2 in Region 1-AAAAA) travels across town to face archrival Lowndes (5-1, 2-1 region) at 8 p.m. Friday at Martin Stadium.
Facing the Vikings, who were ranked among the top six teams in the country in every major high school football poll before a 10-7 upset loss to Northside last week, would be hard enough for a healthy Valdosta team. But with one starter out and several more playing at less than 100 percent right now, it will be that much harder.
Valdosta quarterback DaShay March, who has thrown for 502 yards and six touchdowns and rushed for 407 yards and two touchdowns so far this season, remains questionable with an injury he suffered in the Wildcats’ win over Warner Robins two weeks ago. March tried to play in last week’s game against Colquitt County, but lasted only two series before the injury forced him back to the sideline. March has practiced this week, but Tomberlin is still not sure whether his standout quarterback will be able to play against Lowndes.
“He’s getting better. He’s not 100 percent,” Tomberlin said. “We’re getting him treatment every day. He’s seeing a trainer or a doctor or a physical therapist every day. We’re trying to wave that magic wand and get him well as much as we can.”
Backup quarterback Avery Burney is also plagued with an injury, which he suffered against Colquitt. If neither March nor Burney (who has 93 yards passing, 174 yards rushing and 26 yards receiving this year) can play Friday, senior Chad Prain (who is normally a wide receiver) would be called on to quarterback the Wildcats.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve (two injured quarterbacks),” Tomberlin joked. “Chad can do it for us, but we’re still hopeful (DaShay and Avery) can both play.”
Center Taylor McQuaig is out with a partially-torn MCL, but he is the only Valdosta player who definitely won’t play Friday. Tomberlin says a few more players have minor injuries, but are either questionable or probable right now.
Tomberlin said that the team’s two practices this week were not perfect, but that the Wildcats still got a lot of good work done. He said the injuries and the heat definitely affected his team.
Valdosta is trying to improve after a 14-7 loss to Colquitt last week at home.
“We did make some mistakes, and we’re certainly trying to fix that,” Tomberlin said. “(Coaching legend) Lou Holtz said you either get better or get worse — you don’t stay the same — and we certainly want to get better.”
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