VALDOSTA – The No. 7 Valdosta High School football team powered past Stockbridge with a dominant 58-21 win Friday night, fueled by senior running back Deron Foster’s five first-half touchdowns. The victory extends the Wildcats' perfect season to 5-0 and marks the fifth consecutive game they have surpassed 50 points, a new school record for scoring consistency.
Foster, an Oregon State commit, showcased his talent with 18 carries for 165 yards, reflecting a night where, he said, "I feel like I was on tonight." His performance was key to the Wildcats' offensive explosion, as Valdosta accumulated 408 total yards, including an impressive 307 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. The team recorded 20 first downs and faced only four third downs throughout the entire game, scoring 58 points while maintaining possession for just 16 minutes and 14 seconds.
Contributing significantly to the ground game was Stanford commit Marquis Fennell, who carried the ball seven times for 95 yards and added two touchdowns. One of Fennell's scores, a 32-yard run, pushed Valdosta to a commanding 58-7 lead early in the third quarter.
Defensively, the Wildcats were equally effective, stifling Stockbridge’s offense, which had entered the game on a three-game winning streak and averaged 42 points per game. Valdosta’s defense limited Stockbridge to a season-low 21 points and 277 total yards, with two of their scores occurring late in the game after the outcome was decided. Stockbridge’s Preseason All-State quarterback Joshua Scott was held to 13 of 26 passing for just 87 yards with one touchdown, along with 74 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. The Wildcats also held the Tigers to 4 of 12 on third down conversions.
Coming off a bye week, Valdosta initially appeared to struggle, going three-and-out on their opening drive. Stockbridge capitalized, with Scott leading an eight-play, 61-yard drive, culminating in a 19-yard touchdown pass to senior wideout Jayden Gibson, giving the Tigers a 7-0 lead with 6:55 left in the first quarter.
However, Valdosta quickly responded, as they have done in previous games. Foster broke loose for a 38-yard touchdown run, capping a four-play, 66-yard drive in just 1 minute and 15 seconds, bringing the score to 7-6. Following a bad snap by the Tigers that resulted in a safety, Valdosta took the lead. Fennell then punched in a 3-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 16-7 with 3:58 remaining in the first quarter.
The Valdosta defense continued its strong play, forcing a Stockbridge three-and-out. A favorable punt return from Fennell set up the Wildcats at the Stockbridge 37-yard line. Senior quarterback Tripp Perry immediately connected with Jamarian Mingo for a 35-yard pass down to the 2-yard line, allowing Foster to score his second touchdown of the half, making it 23-7 with 1:33 left in the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, the Wildcats defense turned over the Tigers on downs by stopping Scott’s pass attempt to top receiver Gavin Kinchen on fourth-and-6 from the 11-yard line. This stop led to Valdosta’s longest drive of the game: 12 plays for 88 yards over 3 minutes and 14 seconds, ending with Foster’s third touchdown of the half, increasing the lead to 30-7 with 7:57 left in the second quarter.
"The defensive staff did a great job," said Valdosta coach Dr. Shelton Felton, crediting the strategy to neutralize Stockbridge's potent offense. "We took away the pass and tried to make them one-dimensional." Foster added his fourth touchdown from 18 yards out, making it 37-7 with 4:50 left in the first half. Backup quarterback LJ Thomas then scored on a 15-yard run, and Foster secured his fifth and final touchdown of the game with a 1-yard plunge, giving Valdosta a commanding 51-7 lead by halftime. Coach Felton noted the team's resilience, stating, "One thing about it I do like is we’re gonna respond."
Fennell’s 32-yard touchdown early in the third quarter extended the lead to 58-7. Stockbridge managed to score two more touchdowns late in the game, with Scott scampering for a 19-yard run and Kijuan Stephens adding a 9-yard run as time expired on a running clock in the fourth quarter.
Valdosta will now have a two-week break as their October 2 matchup against Booker has been forfeited. The Wildcats will return to action on October 16 to face rival Colquitt County.
