Valdosta (Ga.) at Lowndes (Valdosta, Ga.)This is the 50th renewal of the rivalry game known as the "Winnersville Classic" by locals. Valdosta has more wins (860) than any team in prep football history along with 23 state titles since 1913. The Wildcats have won 33 of the first 49 in this series despite losing the last seven meetings. Valdosta was 5-0 before losing to undefeated King (Lithonia) last week, 16-3. The Wildcats' defense has been stellar all season, giving up just more than a touchdown per game on average.
Lowndes (5-1) had an extra week to prepare for Valdosta following its 35-17 win over a then-unbeaten Ware County (Waycross) team on Sept. 23. McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), ranked No. 22 in this week's Xcellent 25, is the only team to beat the Vikings this season, winning 20-13 on Sept. 2. Three different Lowndes running backs —
Mike Moore,
Dee Daniels and
Nicholas Burgman — have rushed for more than 100 yards in a game this year.
Mitch Stephens: Lowndes 28, Valdosta 24
Steve Montoya: Lowndes 14, Valdosta 7
Stephen Spiewak: Lowndes 35, Valdosta 31
Kevin Askeland: Lowndes 28, Valdosta 27
Jamie DeMoney: Lowndes 17, Valdosta 14
Valdosta and Lowndes will battle each other for hometown bragging rights, just like they did in this 2006 game.
File photo by Tracey Long
