Statistics prove that the Valdosta Wildcats football team is the better team with an 8-4 record overall and 3-2 regional record in the 2015-2016 season. On top of that, the Wildcats have 6 national titles, 23-time state champions, and 41-time region champions. They aren’t named “Title Town” for nothing. Although, statistics also prove the Vikings is the understated underdog. Last season, the Vikings were 6-5 overall and 2-3 in regional play. The record difference isn’t that substantial, if you think about it.
Both teams played Colquitt, Camden, Lee, and Tift County. When the Wildcats played against Colquitt, they took a huge L, losing by almost 30 points. In comparison, the Viking played Colquitt, the only trailed by 22 points with a score of 42 to 20. It seems that both teams can hold their own against the Colquitt powerhouse and fairly equal, performance wise.
Against Camden County, the Wildcats scored 10 points to their 31; while the Vikings scored 19 points to their 38. And again, both teams appear to be evenly matched performance wise, or at least closely matched.
Typically, tradition tends to hold strong between these two rivals. The Wildcats are leading the series 34-18, although, the Vikings could pull an upset and change the series to 34-19. Yes, that doesn’t seem like much but that is one step closer to possibly tying the series at some point. Right now, it seems slightly far-fetched. Even when Valdosta and Lowndes played one another last season, the score was Wildcats 17 and the Vikings 7. Technically, that is one touchdown and a field goal. That is only a two possession difference.
What’s puzzling is that the Wildcats beat the Vikings. Although the Wildcats had a better record than Vikings regionally and overall, they only defeated Tift County by 3 points and Lee County by 6 points. On the flip side, The Vikings won against Lee County 42-7 and defeated Tift County 42-16. Maybe these two teams aren’t so evenly matched.
But why are these teams’ rivals? Rivalry is defined as competition for the same objective or for the superiority in the same field. They are located in the same town and both have football teams. The answer is fairly obvious. Air go, the hometown rivalry between the Wildcats and the Vikings. On top of this, Rivalry is what the fans live for and is what makes the concept of the game that more exciting. Just image the feeling a player gets as he walks into the stadium. Hearing the crowd and taking in the atmosphere of the stadium.
Their rivalry has been going since 1986 and is so prominent that in 2014, the Wildcats and Vikings games was as one of the top 100 must-see match ups for the 11th Annual Series of Great American Rivalry.
Of course, hometown rivalries aren’t unheard of. You may have heard of Auburn University and Alabama University, or USC and UCLA. South GA high school is a small venue in comparison to the college level. High school football is like the infamous basketball phrase, “work on the fundamentals and the rest will follow.” Hometown rivalries increase the desire to prosper in these young athletes. There is nothing wrong with a little bit of healthy competition, especially, the competition could be the start of a lasting career. D1 prospects in the making? Most definitely.
What makes this rivalry juicier is that Valdosta and Lowndes play against each other in the first game, kicking off the regular season. This game can set the tone for the rest of both the Wildcat’s and Viking’s seasons. Also, bragging rights are at stake in this game and tradition.
Can Valdosta keep the tradition alive, or will Lowndes begin their own tradition? On August 19, who will you be rooting for?
Maya Bramletta
In The Game Sports Network/June 2016
Hometown Rivalry: Valdosta vs Lowndes
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Photos By: greatamericanrivalry.com
