VALDOSTA —
Valdosta exploded for four touchdowns in the second half, and pulled away for a 42-24 victory over Coffee on Friday night at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
The win improved Valdosta’s record to 7-1, and evened its Region 1-AAAAA record at 1-1. The Wildcats can clinch a playoff berth if they beat Tift County next Friday in Tifton.
“It was huge (to win this game),” Valdosta head coach Rance Gillespie said. “There’s only four region games. If you lose one, you’re behind the eight-ball. It’s do or die now every week. We’ve just got to try to find a way to win week-in and week-out.”
“It was important for us to respond (after last week’s loss to Lowndes), and we came out and played a great second half, and top to bottom, played a solid game. I’m just really proud of our football team,” Gillespie added.
Valdosta went into halftime holding a 14-10 lead. In the locker room, Gillespie challenged the Wildcats to step up in the second half. And they did.
“We did not play very well in the first half,” Gillespie said. “We kind of slopped around in the first half, and didn’t play very well, and made some critical mistakes. And then we went in at halftime, and I challenged them, and they responded to that. And in the second half, we looked like Valdosta High School football.”
Valdosta got the ball to start the second half, and drove 66 yards in nine plays for a score. On third-and-2 from the Coffee 22, quarterback Ryan Whilden faked a handoff, and threw the ball towards Jay Rome along the Coffee sideline. Rome caught the ball inside the 5, and stretched it over the goal line for the touchdown, giving Valdosta a 21-10 lead.
Coffee answered with a touchdown of its own, driving 69 yards in four plays. The drive was kept alive by a defensive holding penalty on third down. On the next play after the penalty, Will Gardner threw deep. Coffee receiver Monshun Evins stretched out and caught the ball as he was crossing the goal line. The 40-yard touchdown pass cut Valdosta’s lead to 21-17.
But the Wildcats came right back with another score. Facing first-and-19 at the Valdosta 7, Whilden hit DaShay March for 39 yards. Then Whilden found Wesley Bee for 13 yards on third-and-8 from the Wildcats’ 48, and Valdosta got 15 more yards when Coffee was flagged for a personal foul. Two plays later, Whilden threw the ball into the end zone, and Malcolm Mitchell outjumped a defender to haul in the touchdown pass. Zach Wang’s extra point increased the Wildcats’ lead to 28-17.
Three plays later, Mitchell picked off a pass, and returned it to the Coffee 17. Then on first-and-goal from the 2, fullback Jarvis Roberts plowed into the end zone for the touchdown to make it 35-17 one play into the fourth quarter.
Valdosta’s defense forced Coffee to turn the ball over on downs at the VHS 32, then the Wildcats’ offense drove 68 yards in nine plays, and put the game away with one final touchdown. On first-and-goal from the Coffee 3, Phillip Moore took the handoff and went left. A defender met him near the 1-yard line, but Moore powered his way over the goal line for the touchdown, giving Valdosta a 42-17 lead with 4:46 left in the fourth quarter.
With 47.9 seconds left in the game, Gardner threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill, making the final score 42-24.
The Wildcats took an early 7-0 lead, scoring a touchdown with 4:18 left in the first half. Charone Gatlin’s 26-yard punt return gave the Wildcats the ball at the Coffee 26-yard line. Then on third-and-5 from the 21, Whilden faked the handoff, rolled right and found an open Bee near the 10. Bee caught the ball, and ran untouched into the end zone for the Wildcats’ first touchdown, giving Valdosta a 7-0 lead.
Coffee got on the board early in the second quarter. Jacob Moore’s 34-yard field goal made it 7-3.
Valdosta responded with a touchdown. On third-and-15 from the Coffee 33, Whilden fired deep as he was being drilled by a defender. Mitchell caught the ball on the run near the Valdosta sideline, and ran into the end zone for the touchdown, making it 14-3.
Coffee cut the Wildcats’ lead to 14-10 with a touchdown in the final minute of the first half. Hill picked off a pass and returned it to the VHS 37. Three plays later, Hill took a handoff and dashed 26 yards up the middle for a score.
For Valdosta, Whilden passed for 244 yards and four touchdowns. Mitchell caught eight passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns.
For Coffee, Gardner passed for 194 yards and two touchdowns.
Local Sports
Wildcats pull away in second half, win 42-24
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VSU teams hosting summer camps
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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
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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
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Valwood’s Savino, Elliott named All-State soccer
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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. -
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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
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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
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Lowndes' Phelps named tennis Coach of the Year
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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
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VSU teams hosting summer camps
