VALDOSTA —
There is an awful lot to digest after Lowndes’ thrilling game against McEachern. That was about as wild of a game as I can remember, certainly the most entertaining and exciting Lowndes game I’ve covered in two years. Here are a few thoughts about it, and what I think it means.
1. The sky is not falling for the Vikings. Yes, it was another gut-wrenching road loss to a top 10 Class AAAAA team, but it wasn’t in the playoffs and it wasn’t in the region. The season isn’t over and the loss means nothing as far as playoff seeding.
The Vikings played well enough to win that game, which is more than can be said for the Grayson loss in 2008 or even the Camden County loss last year.
Friday’s game was odd. In a game with a ton of wacky plays, it all came down to one play, and it was a play McEachern won by an inch. Quarterback Dondre Purnell barely crossed the goal line with three seconds left as he was hit by three Vikings. If he’s stopped short, he’s probably in bounds and the clock runs out. The Vikings win. But Purnell got the inch he needed and the Indians won.
Funny how, in a 60 minute game, it came down to one play and a couple of inches. This is why Vikings fans shouldn’t fret. That’s how close you were to 3-0. Maybe next time you get the inch.
2. One of the unfortunate things about an ending like that is great individual efforts get lost in the shuffle. Before Purnell scored that game-winning touchdown, Lowndes cornerback Carey Stanley made some incredible game-saving plays. McEachern has some big receivers, and Purnell went to them three times in the end zone at the end of the game, and Stanley broke up all three passes. He also broke up passes earlier in the game.
The one mistake Stanley made wasn’t completely his fault. He missed a tackle on Victor Brannon’s 58-yard touchdown catch-and-run in the third quarter, but Brannon is about twice Stanley’s size and Stanley wasn’t covering him on the play.
The bottom line is when Stanley is in one-on-one coverage and the ball is in the air, expect him to make a spectacular play. The kid can play.
3. With Stanley and fellow cornerback Kenneth Durden making exceptional plays on the ball, the sidelines were taken away from McEachern. However, the Indians found a weakness in the Vikings’ defense that certainly other teams will try to exploit. The deep middle of the field is where an offense can hurt the Vikings. Too many times the Indians completed long passes down the seam. It could have happened several times in the first half, but the Indians’ other quarterback, Trent Thompson, continuously overshot his man. Purnell did not on the game-winning drive. He found Chris Davis on a 48-yard pass play that swung momentum right back to the Indians.
4. It could be that the Vikings’ pass defense in the middle of the field isn’t so bad, it’s just that McEachern is that good. The Indians’ receiving corps of Rory Anderson, Davis and Amba Etta-Tawo is about as big and talented as it gets. All three have great hands, run great routes and make plays. They’ll all be playing Division I football somewhere soon.
Really, the whole McEachern team was impressive. Purnell is probably the starting quarterback for the rest of the season, and linebacker Marquis Roberts was an absolute terror. His hits could be heard from the press box.
Lowndes head coach Randy McPherson wasn’t blowing smoke when he said he believed the Indians were state contenders. They have the talent and the team to go a long way.
5. Region 1-AAAAA’s champion will definitely be decided on Oct. 8 at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in the Winnersville Classic. After Colquitt County fell to 0-3 with a loss at Thomas County Central, it’s clear that the region is a two-horse race between Lowndes and Valdosta.
While Region 1-AAAAA is about as open and shut as it gets, Class AAAAA is wide open ... after Camden County. The Wildcats on the coast beat the No. 2 team in the country in Miami Central.
This win made the two-time defending state champs the hands down favorite, even though only three starters from last year return.
As for the rest of Class AAAAA, who knows who is going to challenge Camden County? Lowndes, Valdosta, McEachern, South Gwinnett, Newnan, Stephenson, Peachtree Ridge, the list goes on and on. None of the top-tier teams have made that early season statement yet. It could take a while, maybe even deep into the playoffs.
Local Sports
Column: Five Thoughts
- Local Sports
-
-
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. -
Ely backs out of VHS softball job
VALDOSTA — Two months ago, the Valdosta High School softball team received a huge burst of excitement with the hire of Kristina Ely. -
Fans welcome home champion Blazers
Much like it had done all season, the local Valdosta community showed its support for the National Champion Valdosta State softball team Sunday.
The support started when the team reached the Georgia state-line on its trip home Sunday morning when it was greeted by 13 police vehicles -
COLUMN: Blazers title win caps off another year of local sports
The Valdosta State softball teams 4-1 victory over UC-San Diego in the Division II National Championship Game capped off another season of local area sports.
The next thing to look forward to will be the start of football training camps in August. -
Valdosta teammates Foster, Bridges sign with Albany State
Valdosta basketball players Sierra Foster and LaPorchia Bridges have been teammates for years. Now they will remain teammates at the next level.
Foster and Bridges have both signed letters of intent to play basketball for Albany State next year. -
David Dean youth football camp set for May 29 start
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 CHAMPIONS!
The Valdosta State softball team faced all kinds of adversity throughout the national tournament. After losing to UC-San Diego in the first game of the tournament on Wednesday, the Blazers staved off four elimination games en route to an appearance in the Division II National Championship Game on Saturday afternoon.
-
VSU seniors come up big at national level
For the eight seniors on the Valdosta State softball team, Saturday’s 4-1 win in the national championship game capped off a four-year run filled with success.
-
Blazers to play on championship Saturday
The Valdosta State softball team advanced to the final day of the NCAA Division II Softball Championship Tournament following two wins on Friday.
-
VSU beats Southern Connecticut State, 6-3
Morgan Johnson hit a 3-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to carry the top-ranked Valdosta State Blazers past the Southern Connecticut Owls, 6-3, on Friday morning.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
Wildcats close spring practice
