Lowndes survived a late-game scramble to beat Valdosta 32-31 in the 45th Winnersville Classic. Quarterback Jayce Johnson, back after an injury, scored the winning touchdown on fourth-and-goal with 2:28 left, then Lowndes forced two turnovers to hold on. The victory keeps the Vikings undefeated and puts a region title within reach.

By the Numbers
  • Johnson: 141 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns on 22 carries.
  • Lowndes: 366 rushing yards on 50 carries.
  • Lowndes: 9-0; Valdosta: 8-1.
  • Final score: Lowndes 32, Valdosta 31.
Yes, But

Valdosta rallied from an 11-point deficit to take a 31-25 lead and nearly answered after Johnson’s late fumble. The Wildcats reached the Lowndes 8-yard line, but Deron Foster fumbled, and John “JuJu” Hogan recovered to seal the win.

State of Play
  • Lowndes can clinch the Region 1-7A championship and finish the regular season undefeated with a win over Colquitt County next Friday.
  • The win avenged Lowndes’ 23-14 loss to Valdosta in last year’s Classic.
What’s Next

Lowndes travels to Moultrie to face Colquitt County, with the region title and an undefeated regular season on the line.

Bottom Line

Johnson powered the comeback, but Lowndes’ defense made the decisive plays at the end. The Vikings now have a chance to turn a rivalry-night escape into a region championship.