VALDOSTA — Lowndes continued its recent Winnersville dominance Friday night.

Lowndes defeated archrival Valdosta 18-8 Friday for its fourth consecutive Winnersville Classic victory, and seventh in the last nine games. This was the first time the Vikings have beaten the Wildcats four years in a row.

Only three programs have ever had a four-game winning streak over Valdosta: Thomasville (1941-43, Colquitt County (1993-96, 1997-99) and now Lowndes.

Lowndes head coach Randy McPherson couldn’t have been happier about the victory.

“I’m so proud of the kids. They played so hard, and never gave up,” McPherson said. “We beat a good football team. Valdosta’s got a good team, without a doubt. This was definitely a total team effort.”

The Vikings won with dominant defense, a couple of big plays on offense, and by making almost no big mistakes. Lowndes held Valdosta’s offense to just 78 yards rushing and 94 yards through the air.

“Our defense played great,” McPherson said. “Until we fumbled (late in the game) and they scored, I thought we had a real good chance at a shutout. Our defense played its best game of the year.”

“Lowndes has a great defense, and they played well tonight,” Valdosta head coach Rick Tomberlin said.

Like most Winnersville Classics, this game was a hard-hitting defensive struggle that went down to the final 82 seconds. Greg Reid’s 53-yard touchdown run with 1:22 left sealed the Vikings’ victory.

“It was a great game. It’s always like that,” McPherson said. “It’s always a physical game.”

“This was a good football game,” Tomberlin said.

Lowndes took the lead on its second possession, going 47 yards in four plays for the score.

Following a punt, Lowndes took over on the Wildcat 47. The Vikings went to their “Tebow” formation, and used it to move the ball down the field. Greg Reid, playing tailback, ran twice for 18 yards, then completed a 12-yard pass to Jerry Postell on third down to move the chains. On the next play, Lowndes went back to its standard wing-T offense. Fullback Tavaris Williams busted up the middle on a dive, and raced 17 yards for the touchdown. On the extra point try, the snap was low, so holder Christian Glisson picked up the ball, scrambled, then fired a strike to Darriet Perry for the two-point conversion, giving the Vikings an 8-0 lead.

They would hold the lead the rest of the game.

The Vikings had a chance to add to their lead in the opening minute of the second quarter. Lowndes linebacker Blake Summers picked off a pass by Valdosta’s Michael Turner, and returned it all the way to the Wildcat 6 before being hauled down. On second down, Lowndes quarterback Khary Franklin escaped a sack, then threw an apparent touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Black. But the Vikings were flagged for having an ineligible man downfield, wiping out the score, and the drive stalled. On a 44-yard field goal attempt, Mark Willis slipped, and his kick fell well short.