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.”
Local Sports
Banged-up Wildcats preparing for Lowndes
- Local Sports
-
-
VSU teams hosting summer camps
The national champion Valdosta State softball team will host two separate summer camps this summer, as well as weekly clinics throughout the summer.
The two summer camps will be held on June 11-13 and July 9-11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The camps will cost $100 each. -
David Dean Youth Camp begins next week
The David Dean Youth Football Camp is quickly approaching.
The fourth annual camp will be held May 29-June 1 at the Athletic Fieldhouse off Mary Street. -
National champion head coach rewarded with new truck
National champion head coach rewarded with new truck Valdosta State head softball coach Thomas Macera was rewarded with a new Toyota Tacoma from Valdosta Toyota on Wednesday for his team’s 4-1 victory over the University of California-San Diego in the Division II Softball National Championship Game.
-
Valwood’s Savino, Elliott named All-State soccer
Two Valwood boys’ soccer players have been named to the GISA Class AA All-State team.
-
All-American again
Go ahead and add another award to resume of this year’s Valdosta State softball team.
Between conference player of the week awards, a national player of the week award, All-Conference and All-Region honors and four All-American awards, the national champion Blazers had plenty of individuals honored for performances throughout the season, which ultimately led to VSU’s first ever softball national title. -
Local area events coming soon
Several local area runs will take place in the coming weeks.
Monday, May 28, there will be a Memorial Day 5K, which will begin at 8 a.m. from the VECA School located on the corner of Azalea Drive and College Street. -
Tech bound
Donjahae Jones gets it done in the classroom and on the track.
One of the top students in her class, and one of the top track and field competitors in the state, Jones will be taking her talents to the Division I level after she signed a track and field scholarship with Georgia Tech on Tuesday. -
Blazers garner All-Region honors
Two Valdosta State baseball players have been named All-South Region while a third has garnered Academic All-Region, according to announcements made by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and the Collegiate Sports Information Director's of America (CoSIDA) this week.
-
Lowndes' Phelps named tennis Coach of the Year
Lowndes tennis coach Heath Phelps has been named the Region 1-AAAAA girls’ and boys’ tennis Coach of the Year, after he guided both teams to region championships.
-
Wildcats close spring practice
VALDOSTA — The Valdosta Wildcats put their finishing touches on spring practice Saturday night with the playing of their annual spring game at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
No score was kept in the game, but the Wildcats did play best-on-best, pitting the starting offense against the starting defense. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
VSU teams hosting summer camps
