VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) - There are Games of the Weeks, and then there's the Winnersville Classic. The Valdosta-Lowndes rivalry is in it's 58th year. It's a sell-out, and this year it's a match-up of unbeatens as both teams are 5-0 entering Friday night's showdown. The last time these two faced off undefeated? 1980. Valdosta won in the regular season, but Lowndes knocked out the Wildcats in the postseason en route to their first ever State Championship.
Lowndes has taken the last two in the series, and Valdosta's Alan Rodemaker admits they haven't shown up the past two years. They're looking to change that this season, while Randy McPherson and the Vikings are looking to keep their streak going.
"We have a huge chip on our shoulder. It's going to be a good task," said Rodemaker. "They're a heck of a football team. I'm not sure they're not better than they were in the last two years, but we're excited about it and we're excited about the opportunity."
"It's a heck of a rival game, it's certainly a game that every year, either team could win," added McPherson. "It's going to be a great game. This year is no different."
The 58th Winnersville Classic kicks off at 8:00 on Friday night at Lowndes High School.
