There was a moment of nervous, absolute silence in Mercer’s Five Star Stadium as the ball left the tee from the foot of Deerfield-Windsor’s place kicker. A nearly perfect regular season, extraordinary playoff run, and title dreams hung in the balance as the championship-determining ball sailed through the air.
That silence, however, didn’t last.
The ball hooked outside of the left upright, the clock expired, and the entirety of the Valiant Nation in attendance erupted in jubilation. Players, coaches, cheerleaders, and fans stormed the field to celebrate the crowning of the 2015 GISA Class AAA State Champions.
That narrow victory, by the score of 28-26, was the finishing blow to the rest of the GISA, asserting Valwood’s dominance and assuring their standing as undisputed champions. Having encountered and defeated three consecutive number-one seeds on the road, there is no ambiguity or argument left; Valwood’s 2015 senior-laden, exceptionally coached, and ruthlessly determined team is the best in the Georgia Independent Schools Association.
But this shouldn’t come as a shock. Since head coach Ashley Henderson’s arrival on campus in 2012 and prior to the start of this season, the Valiants had gone 36-3, appeared in two state championship games (winning one in 2012), rattled off 26 consectuive wins from 2012 to 2013, and never suffered a home field regular season loss. With such a strong history behind them, Coach Henderson made the goals and aspirations for his team clear entering into the 2015 season.
“We make no bones about it: our goal each year is to win a state championship,” Coach Henderson says. “The road to the state championship will go directly through our region; then you go one game at a time from there. But the goal remains the same.”
These prophetic words rang true during their march towards the title this year, moving to a 48-5 overall record and two state championships to Coach Henderson and the senior class. Over the past four years, amidst a highly competitive field of teams in their classification, as well as being located in a town with the public school powerhouses of Lowndes and Valdosta, Valwood has established a very particular brand of football: belief in their system, undying perseverance through adversity, and a wholehearted love for the game.
Their continued success on the field is a result of not only the consistent development of talent by a seasoned coaching staff, but is also a testament to the culture of the program, backing of the administration, and support of the community. This year’s team will not soon be forgotten, not only because of the title, but also because of how they earned it.
As Coach Henderson would tell the surrounding Valiants on the field after every game, “Every player, from freshman to senior, is vital to the success of this program, and I love each and every last one of you. Only team, no individuals. We are stronger together than we are apart, and we’ve got something special here.”
SOUTH GEORGIA’S GREATEST ROAD SHOW
One thing became abundantly clear from the start: Coach Henderson isn’t afraid of scheduling big games to test his team. The Valiants opened the season by playing the two defending champions of GISA: Memorial Day from Class AA and Westfield from AAA. Playing two big games to start your season can either get you off to a fast start, or it can place you in a hole early. Fortunately, Valwood’s offseason and preseason preparations paid off as they earned statement wins (by large margins) over both opponents at Goddard Field.
After a stifling loss to out-of-state opponent North Florida Christian, the Valiants quickly rebounded, coasting throughout most of their regular season games. The strong, versatile ground game provided the foundation of the Valiant attack. Running backs Jack Helms, Sam Martin, Cam Walker, and quarterback Jake Parker ran behind a powerful offensive line. Linemen Matt Register, Anthony Oliveira, Kyle Dimick, Garrett Moss, Rod Hughes, and Ben Browning consistently led the offense into the end zone. However, Valwood’s defense, anchored by the hard hitting Gahnon Byington and Mark Henderson, proved to be the true strength of the team as the season progressed. Playmakers Cole McClendon, Earnest Carter, and Tyler Richards rounded out the squad, combining strength and skill to stonewall each opposing offense they faced.
That defensive unit was instrumental in Valwood’s 17-14 win against region rival Brookwood, leaving the Valiants confident as they traveled to Deerfield-Windsor in hopes of claiming the Region 3-AAA title. But turnovers transformed a hot Valwood team into a limping one, and a 34-7 loss sent them on the road for every round of the playoffs after the first. After coasting through their first round game, the tone of the season irreversibly changed. For three consecutive weeks, every game was a pulse-pounding, gut-checking battle against top seeds.
Their quarterfinal contest at Pinewood came down to a handful of game-changing plays. Led by two crucial, second half interceptions by senior linebacker Gahnon Byington, a 70-yard touchdown pass from Jake Parker to Maysoe Wiley, and the game-sealing pick-six by Cam Walker, the Valiants won the fourth quarter and the game, setting them up for heated rematch against bitter rivals and defending champion Westfield.
Westfield had not forgotten about the 55-28 pounding in their Week Two matchup against Valwood, and they came in to the game with a chip on their shoulder. Their offense was potent, and their defense was stingy, but Valwood’s Jake Parker-to-Chris Retterbush combination proved to be the decisive factor as the duo connected for three touchdown passes. Two were on screen passes in which Retterbush’s yards after catch punched past the Patriots’ defense, but the third touchdown earns Play of the Year honors. With the clock winding down on Valwood’s final drive of the game, and on fourth and long from the Westfield 35-yard line, Parker heaved a bomb to Retterbush, who complemented the perfect pass with the perfect catch. That play tied the game, John Miller’s extra point gave them the lead 27-26, and the Valwood Valiants were state-bound.
ONE LAST TIME…
After the semifinal rematch against a team that they had already defeated, it was time for the rematch that Valwood was most looking forward to: another shot at Deerfield-Windsor, the team that had already ripped one championship from their clutch this year.
But this time, on the biggest stage, they would not be denied.
With each team knowing what the other was bringing to the table, the first half was for the offenses. After a few defensive stands and swapping interceptions to start the game, each offense found their stride, scoring against resilient but fallible defenses.
Valwood drew first blood on a three-yard Gahnon Byington run out of the famous “Big Ern” package (named after defensive tackle Earnest Carter, who is brought in for short yardage plays). Deerfield-Windsor responded with a very similar offensive style, plowing in for points behind fullback Cameron McCook, who was an unstoppable force all year as a punishing runner in short-yardage situations.
While these similar scoring styles equaled each other out, Deerfield-Windsor found their advantage through big plays in the passing game. Long balls to double-covered receivers, particularly John Samuel Shenker, were hauled in for big yardage on multiple occasions. Although Valwood never quite found an answer for the big play, they were putting up points of their own through sustained, methodical marches down the field.
Gahnon Byington, Sam Martin, and Jack Helms each had rushing touchdowns, and Jake Parker connected with Terry Carter through the air for one as well, exemplifying a balanced attack. After taking the lead in the third quarter on that passing touchdown, it was up to Valwood’s defense to prevail over quarterback Tyler Lowe and the Deerfield-Windsor big-play offense.
Operating on a “bend but don’t break” philosophy, the Valiants’ defense was gouged in the passing game but absolutely stuffed second-half run efforts. Making the Knights one-dimensional certainly was essential, but it was the special teams units that were the difference in the championship, as it had been so many times before during their grueling playoff run.
Valwood sophomore kicker John Miller was the epitome of calm consistency, even in the most pressure-packed, season-defining situations. Pinewood’s missed extra point gave Valwood the 7-6 lead that won them the game (the pick-six on a last ditch effort put the final score at 14-6). Westfield’s missed extra point resulted in a 27-26 loss. Deerfield-Windsor’s two missed extra points and two missed field goals were the deflating reality that will likely haunt them all offseason.
While no one play loses a game, there was one play that very nearly won the game.
After getting the ball back on their own 30 with only 12 seconds remaining in the game, the Knights completed an against-all-odds, field-flipping halfback pass. Wide receiver Trey Young hauled in a beautiful pass before being pushed out of bounds on the Valwood 20-yard line.
This set up a chance for a miracle. One play, one chance at redemption, and one last shot for Deerfield-Windsor to be champions.
But before the ball hit the ground, the celebration had already begun.
PAVING THE WAY
Losing 16 seniors (on a roster of forty-two), especially ones that know what it takes to bring home two state championships, will be hard to overcome. However, reloading has not been a problem for Valwood during Coach Henderson’s tenure. Each year, he continues to develop his current players, attract outside talent from surrounding schools, and adjust his system around star players in order to put these individuals and his team in the best possible position to succeed.
Because of that, the question mark is more about leadership than talent. Only 10 current juniors are replacing the 16 departing seniors, so Coach Henderson does not have an easy task before him. Regardless, next season will be no different; state championships have come to be expected of Valwood. The standard has been set and the road has been paved by this remarkable graduating class and its coaching staff, and the 2016 Valiants are already working to once again attain that unforgettable feeling of winning a state championship.
South Georgia / January 2016
Special Feature
Valwood School
Valdosta, GA
STRONGER TOGETHER: Valwood Takes Title Over Rematch Rivals
By Cole Parker
Photography by Marque Milla Reese
