Wayne Grandy
MOULTRIE — Valdosta made sure Friday’s Winnersville Classic meeting with Lowndes will have plenty of luster.
The Wildcats will take a perfect Region 1-AAAAA record into Friday’s annual meeting with the Vikings after their 20-0 victory over Warner Robins on Saturday at McConnell-Talbert Stadium.
Valdosta is 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the Region 1-AAAAA standings as it prepares to meet Lowndes at Martin Stadium on Friday in what will be one of the top matchups in the state this week.
Lowndes, 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the region, was off last week, giving the Vikings extra time to prepare for the Wildcats, who have won four in a row since its only loss, a surprising 37-6 defeat at Brookwood.
Valdosta has a short week to prepare to the Vikings, but if the Wildcats play defense like they did against Warner Robins, that should not be a problem.
The memory of last year’s 1-9 record is a dim one for the Wildcats and their fans after the dominating effort against the Demons.
Warner Robins, now 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the region, rushed for just 31 yards on 35 carries against the Wildcats defense.
The Wildcats were not overwhelming offensively and led just 7-0 at the half, courtesy of a 30-yard David Arnold touchdown run.
Arnold added another touchdown in the second half and linebacker Curtis Weatherspoon closed out the scoring with a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Coffee continues its impressive rebound from a region-opening 42-13 loss to Lowndes.
One week after taking down Colquitt County 35-7, the Trojans (6-1, 2-1) humbled defending region champion Tift County 31-14.
The loss was the third in a row for the Blue Devils (3-3, 0-2) and ended a 15-game home winning streak. Two Tift County starters had to be taken from the field on stretchers.
Coffee rolled up 259 yards offense in the first half and led 24-0 at the break. The Trojans finished with 401 yards of offense: 266 on the ground and 135 through the air.
Coffee scored its first touchdown on a 7-yard run by quarterback Burke Batten. On their next possession, the Trojans scored on a 60-yard pass from Batten to Rod Jones.
A 30-yard field goal by Ethan Nettles put the Trojans up 17-0 with 8:08 left in the second quarter.
Batten’s second scoring pass of the half, a 5-yarder to Demario Bennett, gave the Trojans a 24-0 halftime lead.
Tift scored twice in the third quarter – on a 28-return of a blocked punt by Sataveon Woods and on a 4-yard run by quarterback Nick Prostko.
Johnny Williams scored the Trojans final touchdown on a 34-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Williams led Coffee with 126 yards on six carries. Kaream Hess rushed for 138 yards on 32 carries for Tift County.
Coffee (6-1, 2-1) will play host to Warner Robins (2-4, 1-1) on Friday. Tift County will be at home to meet struggling Houston County.
