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
-
-
Big win for Lady Blazers
Receiving little respect around the conference, region and nation, the Valdosta State women’s basketball team made a statement Thursday night.
The Lady Blazers put together an impressive defensive performance, mixed in with effective offense, to defeat the Alabama-Huntsville Lady Chargers, who entered the night tied for first place in the Gulf South Conference, 65-55. -
No. 6 Chargers rout Valdosta State, 87-65
The season-long struggles for the Valdosta State men’s basketball team hit an all-time high Thursday night, as the Blazers were blown out by sixth-ranked Alabama-Huntsville, 87-65 at the P.E. Complex.
“It was just a knockout punch from the beginning,” Valdosta State head coach Mike Helfer said. “Give (Alabama-Huntsville) a lot of credit for where they are. They are in the hunt for the league lead and they are a great program. They did what they had to do from the start, which was take control of the game.” -
Lowndes’ Chapman, Talmage named to all-star team
Lowndes softball players Ashley Chapman and Maiah Talmage have been chosen to play in the GACA All-Star Softball Showcase in June.
The GACA All-Star Softball Showcase is an annual softball game between top senior players from South Georgia and North Georgia. The game will be played on June 13 at Alto Park in Rome, Ga. -
Berrien, Cook, Lanier announce 2012 schedules
The Valdosta Daily Times has recently received the upcoming 2012 football schedules for the Cook Hornets, Berrien Rebels and Lanier County Bulldogs.
Lanier County kicks off regular season play Aug. 24 with a visit from Atkinson County. Cook and Berrien begin play on Aug. 31, when the Hornets host Worth County and the Rebels visit Calhoun. -
VLPRA group participates in Special Olympics
On the weekend of Jan. 20-22, 21 Special Olympic athletes from the Valdosta-Lowndes Parks and Recreation Authority traveled to Marietta to compete in the 2012 Special Olympics Georgia Winter Games.
-
Lowndes, Valdosta close out regular season tonight
The Lowndes and Valdosta varsity basketball teams close out regular season play tonight.
Lowndes will host Coffee, while Valdosta hosts Tift County. The girls will tipoff at 6 and the boys at 7:30 p.m.
-
VSU's Harris suspended indefinitely
A shortened, diminished roster for the Valdosta State men's basketball team took another blow Thursday following the suspension of senior guard Sidney Harris.
-
Big weekend ahead for Lady Blazers
It might be an understatement to call this weekend’s two home games for the Valdosta State women’s basketball team a big deal, because that is exactly what they are.
-
Blazers fall to Albany State, 7-3
The Valdosta State baseball team was handed a third-straight loss Wednesday night, as the Blazers fell to in-state foe Albany State, 7-3.
The Blazers were held in check for much of the night, despite being aided by nine Golden Ram walks. With runners on base, the Blazers were unable to produce enough offense to score runs, leaving 12 runners stranded in the game. -
Wildcats rally for 50-40 win over Brooks
Valdosta’s boys basketball team came alive in the fourth quarter, and rallied for a 50-40 victory over Brooks County on Wednesday night.
The Wildcats outscored Brooks 24-9 in the fourth quarter, and turned a five-point deficit into a 10-point win. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
