VALDOSTA — The Lowndes Vikings want to navigate tonight’s scrimmage the same way most teams do. There always seems to be that checklist: play with great physicality, execute plays as flawlessly as possible, and get as many players in the game as possible.

“We want to execute our offense, defense and special teams well, because we’ve certainly worked hard enough all summer at it,” Vikings coach Randy McPherson said Thursday.

Lowndes travels to Centennial Field to face the Bainbridge Bearcats in a preseason game at 7:30 p.m.

Lowndes hosted the Bearcats in last year’s preseason meeting. The Vikings’ varsity won 26-9 in three quarters. The junior varsity also won its quarter, 7-0.

The game’s format will be the same tonight: three quarters of varsity followed by a clearing of the scoreboard for a period of JV action.

The Vikings’ offense will have its first live test run since its spring scrimmage against Valdosta in May. Seniors Palmer Henderson and Jalen Goss are back to bolster the offensive line in front of returning Region 1-7A Player of the Year, quarterback Michael Barrett, and running backs J.D. Lee and Travis Tisdale.

Several of Barrett’s targets from last season’s stellar offensive campaign are back, including Tayvonn Kyle, Romikko Washington, Marcus Gary and Ghetti Brown.

Lowndes’ offensive assembly will face Bainbridge’s fast and physical four-man front.

Defensively, the Vikings will keep a close eye on Bearcats running back Dameon Pierce. Pierce, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound senior, averaged 6.9 yards per carry last year, running for 1,686 yards with 20 rushing scores.

Senior QB Mark Loeffler (6-1, 175) will also challenge Lowndes’ defense through the air with receivers Trajan Harris (6-0, 198), La’Derrick Murphy (5-11, 165) and Zyon McGee (6-2, 201).

“They’re going to throw it, they’re going to run it. They’ve got a good plan,” McPherson said.

Much like Lowndes’ OL, its defensive line has starting spots that need to be filled. Senior Mike Gentry is the lone returning

starter among the Vikings’ front three. Senior transfer Jordan Deakoff is among a handful of players vying for a starting role alongside Gentry.

McPherson believes the scrimmage will help Lowndes settle some of those openings.

“I think it’ll help, for sure, anytime that you go against somebody else besides yourself,” he said.

Lowndes first-year defensive coordinator Byron Slack will coach his first game since the Valdosta scrimmage. He joined the Vikings after a long stint at region rival Camden County.

Tyson Shaw, Jamari Hill, Will Tolbert and Kadeem Burgman will cover linebacker duties. Terrell Belcher, TJ Harris and Josh Brown will be among the cornerbacks. Seniors Fred Stewart and Tymere Moore will start as safeties.