HOMERVILLE —
The final night of the high school football regular season features several games that will decide playoff positioning within the Georgia High School Association. Friday night also features the first round of the GISA state playoffs; Valwood hosts Central Fellowship.
Valdosta Wildcats (6-3) at Coffee Trojans (5-4)
Essentially, the Wildcats and the Trojans are battling for a playoff spot Friday night in Douglas. The Wildcats can clinch a playoff berth win a win, while they would need help with a loss. If Camden County beats Colquitt County and Coffee can beat Valdosta, then all three teams would be tied for the final two playoff spots in Region 1-6A. The tie-breaker, according to region rules, would go to the team that had the fewest “number of points allowed versus teams in playoff positions, including teams tied for playoff positions.” Heading into Friday, Colquitt County has allowed just 64 points, while Valdosta has allowed 96 and Coffee has given up 97. With how close the teams are separated in respect to points allowed, a loss by Valdosta will likely eliminate the Wildcats from the playoffs. In its visit to Coffee a year ago, Valdosta lost to the Trojans, 22-17, but managed to recover and win the region championship.
Central Fellowship Lancers (4-6) at Valwood Valiants (10-0)
The Valwood Valiants open up the GISA Class AA state playoffs by welcoming the Lancers of Central Fellowship to Goddard Field. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools. Valwood has won back-to-back region championships for the first time in school history, and finished the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record.
Cook Hornets (7-2) at Early County Bobcats (6-3)
The No. 3 seed in Region 1-AA is on the line Friday night when the Cook Hornets visit the Bobcats in Blakely. While the winner will secure the three seed, the loser will act as the No. 4 seed out of the region in the state playoffs, which begin next week. Last year, Cook edged out Early County 27-26 to clinch the No. 4 seed in the region, bumping the Bobcats from the playoffs. Cook enters Friday night’s game following a 57-22 win over Berrien, the Hornets’ highest scoring total of the season.
Brooks County Trojans (9-0) at Berrien Rebels (3-6)
The Trojans can clinch their first perfect regular season in school history with a win Friday night over the Berrien Rebels, who have been mathematically eliminated from the Class AA playoff race. Trying to finish the season on a high note, the Rebels face a tough task in beating the high-powered Trojans. Berrien hasn’t defeated Brooks County since 1990. Since head coach Maurice Freeman returned to the Brooks County program in 2008, the Trojans have won their four games over Berrien by an average of 34.25 points.
Clinch County Panthers (4-5) at Turner County Rebels (5-4)
Clinch County entered last week’s game against rival Clinch County as the No. 16 team in the Class A Public Schools power rankings. In need of a win, the Panthers responded and held the Bulldogs to 22 yards rushing and just four first downs on the night, winning the game 3-0 on a 31-yard field goal in the third quarter. This week, the Panthers will need another win in order to qualify for the state playoffs; they visit the Turner County Rebels, ranked 17th in last week’s standings. Last year, Clinch County blew out the Rebels 45-8.
Idle: Lowndes Vikings (9-1)
Season over: Lanier County Bulldogs (2-8)
Local Sports
Friday night previews
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Blazers take 1-0 series lead
Angela O’Connor launched a pinch-hit two-run home run over the left-field fence, tying the game against Alabama-Huntsville in the bottom of the sixth inning, and sparking the Blazers and their fans along the way.
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Blazer baseball stays alive, beats Stillman
Valdosta State scored five runs in the first inning to defeat Stillman 6-2 in an elimination game of the NCAA South Region Tournament at UT Baseball Field Friday morning.
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Lowndes’ Harwell, Wortham sign with Valdosta State
Lowndes’ Ty Harwell and David Wortham won’t have to go far to play college baseball.
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Blazers host respected rival UAH in Super Regional
One would expect a matchup featuring two of the top softball programs in Division II to come in the national championship game.
Unfortunately for Valdosta State and Alabama-Huntsville, who have combined to appear in four straight national championship games, they won’t be meeting in title game on Memorial Day in Salem, Va. -
Pop Warner Football coming to Valdosta
Pop Warner Football is coming to Valdosta.
The nationally known organization that puts an emphasis on education and developing American youth has been established in the Valdosta area and will begin playing football this August. -
Blazers lose to Delta State, fall to loser’s bracket
If the Valdosta State baseball team is going to win the South Region Tournament, the Blazers going to have to do it from the loser’s bracket.
The Blazers (33-17) dropped their first game of the tournament Thursday, falling to Delta State 4-2 at UT Baseball Stadium.
VSU will face Stillman College, which lost to No. 1 seed and tournament host Tampa Thursday, Friday at 11 a.m. to advance to the weekend portion of the tournament. The loser will be eliminated. -
Lowndes’ Willis, Breit named Region 1 Coaches of the Year
The All-Region 1-AAAAAA soccer teams were announced Wednesday and Lowndes was well represented.
Lowndes coaches Chris Willis (girls) and Jordan Breit (boys) were named the Region Coaches of the Year, after leading the Lowndes teams to region championships and going undefeated in region play. -
Vikings commit 4 errors, fall to Roswell, 5-2
The small things matter in baseball, especially in a winner-take-all game three.
On Wednesday, Lowndes’ baseball team made too many mistakes on the little things. The Vikings committed four errors that led to five Roswell runs and were eliminated in the Class AAAAAA state playoffs with a 5-2 loss to the Hornets. -
Vikings, Hornets split
For the first time this postseason, Lowndes’ baseball team will have to play a decisive game three in order to advance to the next round of the state playoffs.
After splitting with Roswell Tuesday, the Vikings will host the Hornets in game three of the state quarterfinals series today at Noel George Field. First pitch of the winner-take-all game is set for 4:30 p.m. and Lowndes will be the home team after winning the coin toss following Tuesday’s doubleheader. -
Former Lady Blazer Ferguson hired to lead Vikettes
The sign above the door still has Shan Garner’s name on it. There is even a Shan Garner plaque sitting on one of the shelves in the corner of the gymnasium office.
That will soon change, though, as Lowndes has hired its newest girls’ basketball coach. - More Local Sports Headlines
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