HAHIRA – The Valwood Valiants delivered a dominant defensive performance on a rainy Friday night, shutting out the Brookwood Warriors 52-0 at Goddard Stadium. The victory extended Valwood's winning streak to five consecutive games and improved their season record to 6-1.
Heading into the game, both teams were 5-1, with Valwood riding a four-game winning streak and Brookwood on a three-game streak. What was anticipated as a battle between two of the area's top offensive teams quickly became a one-sided showing by the Valiants, despite rain pouring throughout the contest.
Valwood's scoring began early with a safety. Senior running back Jackson then broke loose for a 26-yard touchdown run. Jackson added a second touchdown later in the first quarter with a 6-yard run, followed by a successful two-point conversion that gave Valwood an 18-0 lead after the first quarter.
Jackson continued to lead the offensive charge in the second quarter, scoring his third touchdown of the night on a 7-yard run. He finished the game with 121 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Valwood senior quarterback Stanton Beverly connected with junior Rylan Neal for two touchdowns in the second quarter; the first was a 24-yard pass, and the second came from a 3-yard touchdown pass after the Valwood defense blocked a punt. The Valiants carried a commanding 38-0 lead into halftime.
The scoring continued into the second half. At the start of the third quarter, a 36-yard touchdown extended Valwood's lead to 45-0. In the fourth quarter, sophomore Holt Folsom broke free for a 70-yard touchdown run, cementing the 52-0 final score.
While Valwood's offense consistently produced points, the team's defense delivered the most significant statement of the night by keeping the Warriors off the scoreboard. Valwood head coach Brad Wells noted the team’s defensive improvement in recent weeks, attributing it to players returning from injury and the team increasingly adapting to its defensive strategy. Wells praised his team's effort, stating, “I thought our energy tonight was good. I thought our effort was good.”
Coach Wells acknowledged the challenging game conditions with the heavy rain but expressed satisfaction with how Valwood responded. He added, “For us, you just got to come out and do what you’re supposed to do and we did that. I’m proud of our guys.” The shutout was particularly notable for Valdosta, as Wells identified Brookwood as a "top-3 offensive team in the GIAA." Wells also suggested that the players were aware of outside predictions surrounding the matchup, which he believed served as "a little motivation for them."
With this victory, Valwood improves their win streak to five games and their overall record to 6-1. The Valiants will look to carry this momentum into their next game against the Sherwood Christian Eagles. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Goddard Field.
