VALDOSTA — Valdosta High fans like a winner. Valdosta football coach Rick Darlington’s past seems to indicate he knows how to win.

In the state prep polls of Georgia and Florida, and you’ll find the names of programs where Darlington has coached.

Valdosta remains at No. 5 in the Georgia AAAAA poll again this week. Apopka, which Darlington coached to a state championship in 2001, is No. 7 in the Florida 6A poll. Eustis, his previous school, was ranked 10th in the 2A poll a week ago. Fort Meade, his first head coaching job, was No. 1 in the 1A poll a week ago, but fell to No. 4 this week. And his alma mater, Lakeland, where he also was an assistant coach for five seasons under state coaching legend Bill Castle, is No. 2 in 5A.

“I’ve been blessed to coach at some good programs,” Darlington said. “I’ve had a good background. I’ve been around some good coaches.

“I think that as a coach, if you’re going to be an assistant coach, you’d better go somewhere where you’re going to win, because you’re not going to like it if you don’t win. I was told that early in my career. Everywhere I’ve coached had a great tradition when I got there, and I have some great memories from there.”

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Perhaps the most improved unit for Valdosta last week was the offensive line. A unit that had its problems all night against Madison’s defense stood tall against a talented Lincoln team.

“I think we grew up a lot on the offensive line,” Darlington said. “I thought they came off the ball well.

“We’re talking about a left tackle (Jim Martin) who didn’t play last year, he played baseball, a left guard (Tom Amiot) who weighs 180, the center (Alex Hall) is a sophomore with a broken foot, the right guard (Brett Chism) has two torn ACLs, and the right tackle (Andrew DeLong) played at Valwood last year. And we rushed for (282) yards on Lincoln, out of the shotgun. They’re growing up. They’re getting better every week.”

Valdosta named Chism its offensive player of the week, because of how well he and the whole line had played. Linebacker Matt Ansley, who had a fumble recovery for a touchdown and an interception in the end zone, was the defensive player of the week.

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Last week, Valdosta High principal Brett Stanton, who played football in college, was talking to Darlington when he came to realize just how young the Wildcats are on offense.

Valdosta is currently starting a 14-year old at quarterback (Michael Turner), and 15-year olds at tailback (Demetrius James), center (Alex Hall) and part time at guard (Calvin Burgess). The only senior starters are fullback Jamal Scott and guard Brett Chism. The only returning starters are Chism and receiver Steve Dawson (who is out with an injury right now).

“For an offense that young to close the deal (against Lincoln), I was real proud of them,” Darlington said after last Friday’s game. “We’ve got two seniors. We’re real young.”

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Scott is currently fifth in Region 1-AAAAA in rushing with 284 yards, only 41 yards behind leader Brandon King of Houston County, and tied for third with five touchdowns. James is tied with Lowndes’ Octavius Everett for the region lead with seven touchdowns. Dawson is fifth in receiving yards (94) even though he’s only caught two passes. Tuzer Chism is second in punting with a 36.3 average.