VALDOSTA— In a thrilling playoff opener, the Valdosta Wildcats overcame a spirited effort from Walton High School’s Raiders. The Valdosta Wildcats defeated the Walton Raiders 35-27 on Friday night, solidifying their spot in the next round to face their hardest challenge yet. 

The game began with an explosive statement from Valdosta. Starting from their 20 yard line after the opening kickoff, quarterback Todd Robinson connected with wide receiver Prince Jean for a touchdown pass on the first play. The successful extra point gave the Wildcats an early 7-0 lead with 11:49 remaining in the first quarter.

Walton’s opening drive stumbled as quarterback Kaeden Gilstrap was intercepted by Valdosta’s Tres Ellison, setting the Wildcats up at midfield. A solid pass to Marquis Fennell advanced the chains, but Walton’s defense stiffened, forcing Valdosta to punt.

The Raiders’ offense struggled to gain traction early. Gilstrap was sacked just before the end zone, nearly resulting in a safety, which forced the Raiders to punt. Valdosta regained possession at their own 45-yard line; however, an interception by Walton’s Christian Ferrell ended the drive.

After a series of stalled drives by both teams, Valdosta broke through late in the first quarter. Robinson sent a 50-yard touchdown reception to Eli Lewis, extending the Wildcats’ lead to 14-0. Walton’s offense continued to sputter, and Valdosta capitalized again early in the second quarter. Robinson found Lewis for a 57-yard touchdown, pushing the lead to 21-0.

Walton finally found their rhythm with a strong kickoff return by Malikai Speed, setting up the Raiders in Wildcat territory. Gilstrap followed with a 19-yard scramble, but a holding penalty and two incomplete passes stalled the drive. Walton’s unsuccessful fake punt gave Valdosta possession in Raider territory, but the drive would not last long.

After recovering a failed punt return by Walton, Valdosta cashed in with a short touchdown pass from Robinson to Jean, making it 28-0 with 5:00 left in the first half. Walton responded quickly as Lucas Farrington broke free for a 61-yard touchdown run, narrowing the deficit to 28-7. A late scoring drive by Walton ended with a touchdown pass to Christian Ward, but a botched extra point left the halftime score at 28-13.

Walton carried their momentum into the second half. Gilstrap orchestrated a methodical drive with his keeper runs and short passes, capped by a touchdown run from Farrington. The extra point made it 28-20 late in the third quarter. Valdosta answered in the fourth quarter with Robinson hitting Lewis for another touchdown, extending the lead to 35-20.

The Raiders refused to back down. A massive under-pressure pass from Gilstrap to Aiden Opore resulted in a touchdown, pulling Walton within one score at 35-27 with 4:30 left in the game. The Wildcats’ defense held firm in the final minutes, forcing sacks and recovering a fumble to end Walton’s comeback hopes.

Valdosta’s offense delivered an outstanding performance, led by Robinson, who completed 27 of 40 pass attempts for 414 yards and three touchdowns, achieving a completion rate of 67.5%. 

On the ground, Fennell carried 25 times, racking up 87 hard-fought yards. The Wildcats’ receiving game also shined, with Eli Lewis and Robinson forming a lethal combination. Lewis recorded 11 receptions for 225 yards and three touchdowns, while Prince Jean contributed significantly with seven receptions for 119 yards. 

Defensively, Marcus Williams led the way with six solo tackles, totaling 10 for the night, while Lundy Jimyll also stood out, matching Williams’ six solo tackles and totaling nine overall.

On Friday, the Wildcats are set for an intense showdown against Carrollton High School’s Trojans in Carrollton. With an impressive 11-0 record on the season, the Trojans have proven to be a powerhouse, presenting a formidable challenge for Valdosta.