ITG Next and US Army Partner to Honor South Georgia High School Teams
ITG Next is pleased to announce that it has joined forces with the U.S. Army’s Valdosta Recruiting Company to identify and award one South Georgia high school sports program each month from August through December 2026.
This collaboration between ITG Next and the Army seeks to recognize a South Georgia team that has demonstrated the same core values that the Army looks for in its recruits, including fortitude, teamwork, and toughness.
The Valdosta Army Recruiting Company area of operations includes Valdosta, Albany, Tifton, Waycross, and Thomasville. ITG Next will work with the Army to identify and review the performances of teams that meet criteria established for the award.
The first Team of the Month is the Lee County High School football program.
Why Lee County Earned the August 2026 South Georgia Team of the Month Award
The Trojans were selected as the August Team of the Month for several reasons.
Lee County’s opening month included four opponents that reached the playoffs in 2025, including a state finalist, a quarterfinalist, and two other blue-blood programs. Those teams had a combined 35-16 record last season.
Despite facing one of the most challenging schedules of any football team in the state, the Trojans raced out to an undefeated 4-0 record.
Their first game of the year was against Hapeville Charter, which won 10 games and played for a GHSA state championship in 2025.
Their next two games were against South Florida powerhouse Miami Carol City and Sequoyah High School from North Georgia. While the Miami Carol City game was played in front of a friendly home crowd in Leesburg, Georgia, the Trojans were forced to get on a bus and travel four hours one way to play Sequoyah in Canton, Georgia.
Lee County won both games despite trailing at halftime by more than two touchdowns in each contest. Lee County showed a never-quit attitude in both games. The players didn’t point fingers at each other. Instead, they challenged their teammates to reach down and find the extra gear that winners have when faced with adversity.
Then, this past week, Lee County traveled to Moultrie, Georgia, to take on one of the best programs in the state at one of Georgia’s toughest high school football venues: the Hawg Pen, home of the Colquitt County Packers.
Lee County led 21-0 before losing the lead and entering halftime tied.
Just as the team had done in its three previous games, head coach Dean Fabrizio challenged his players to fight back, take control, play without fear, and support their teammates.
Lee County came away with a 48-30 win, improving to 4-0 on the season.
US Army Presents Lee County With South Georgia Team of the Month Award
After a recent practice at Lee County High School’s football stadium, Phil Jones of ITG Next and Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Boyd of the Army presented Fabrizio and the entire Lee County football team with a plaque recognizing them as the Army Team of the Month.
Two members of the team also received gift cards.
Boyd congratulated the team on the award and offered words of encouragement to the assembled players.
Fabrizio was pleased to have his team chosen for the award.
“Being picked as the Army Team of the Month is a great honor,” Fabrizio said after the presentation. “Especially considering that this is the first one that the Army and ITG Next has given out makes this extra special.”
Fabrizio also thanked the men and women of the Army.
“We have a great deal of respect for those that serve in our Armed Forces, and to be honored by one of the most important branches like the U.S. Army is truly the highest form of honor you can achieve,” Fabrizio said.
ITG Next and the Army look forward to selecting and announcing the September Team of the Month soon.
