The second half got interesting in what looked like a lopsided game Friday night between two fierce Georgia high school football rivals. In the end, quarterback
Jacurri Brown made the big plays in leading No. 9
Lowndes (Valdosta) to a tough 33-21 victory at No. 48
Valdosta.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound junior signal caller threw two early touchdown passes to
Dominique Marshall, then ripped off touchdown runs of 51 and 64 yards in the last eight minutes to help secure a wild and entertaining victory that was broadcast by ESPNU.
The nation's No. 6 ranked dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2022 according to 247Sports, Brown finished with 175 yards rushing and two touchdowns while throwing for 101 more yards and two scores, lifting the Vikings to 5-0.
Quarterback Jacurri Brown and running back Justin Lee (21) made big plays all night, leading Lowndes to a hard-earned win over Valdosta.
Photo by Gary McCullough
Valdosta (2-2), led by successful but polarizing coach Rust Propst, fought back from a 19-0 deficit behind junior quarterback
Amari Jones. Making just his third varsity start after USC commit
Jake Garcia was
ruled ineligible by the Georgia High School Association last week, Jones rushed for a 2-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter to cut the lead to 19-7.
Then he scrambled out of the pocket and found
Aalah Brown with a 25-yard touchdown with 9:31 remaining to cut the lead to 19-14.
On Lowndes' next possession, Brown faked an inside handoff and sprinted left for a nifty 51-yard touchdown run, making it 26-14 with 7:54 left.
Jones wasn't done, however, firing a 33-yard scoring strike to tight end
Nevin Spivey. Once again the home team had life, trailing 26-21 with 1:43 remaining.
After recovering a squib kick, the Vikings finally finished things off as Brown again sprinted around the left side and broke free near midfield to secure the 64-yard touchdown and the victory.
Brown completed touchdown passes of 34 and 18 yards to Marshall before
Preston Hart kicked a pair of field goals giving Lowndes a 19-0 halftime lead.
The Vikings have now won four in a row against their crosstown rival in a series that dates back to 1968. The two Valdosta programs have combined for 29 state titles in Georgia.
Quarterback Amari Jones accounted for three touchdowns in the loss.
Photo by Gary McCullough
Lowndes head coach Jamey DuBose along with some of his players celebrate with the Winnersville Classic trophy following Friday night's victory over host Valdosta.
Photo by Gary McCullough
