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Watch 2003 Semifinals and Finals on GPTV.com
Darlington Tabbed Georgia Coach of Year
Hatten, Spates, Williams Earn All-State Honors
Valdosta Head Coach Rick Darlington was named the Class AAAAA Coach of the Year by the Georgia Sports Writers Association after leading the Wildcats to the state championship game and an 11-4 record. The writers also selected three Wildcats (All-Purpose: Cedric Hatten; Offensive Line: Anthony Spates; Defensive Back: Carlton Williams) to the All-State team. Junior LB Matt Ansley garnered an Honorable Mention.
View All-State Team» | Updated Individual Statistics»
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Camden County 21 Valdosta 7
VALDOSTA -- To deny Valdosta High a state championship, it took the best team in the state.
Camden County won the Class AAAAA state championship, defeating Valdosta High 21-7 Saturday night on Cleveland Field.
Valdosta finishes a memorable 2003 season 11-4 and the state runner-up.
Wildcats Pass Their Way to State!
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| Cedric Hill scores his 2nd touchdown with the help of a crunching block by Steve Dawson. Photo: Courtesy GPTV |
The Valdosta Wildcats punched their ticket to the state championship game by defeating the Westside Seminoles 21-6 in the GHSA AAAAA Semifinals at the Georgia Dome Saturday night.
Cedric Hatten passed for 202 yards and two touchdowns (74 and 61 yards to Cedric Hill) and Victor Harrell opened the scoring with a nine-yard touchdown run in the first quarter as Valdosta staked out a 21-0 halftime lead.
The Wildcat defense was stubborn throughout the game and stopped the Seminole offense two times inside the Valdosta 10-yard line.
Valdosta (11-3) will host Camden County (14-0) on Saturday at 7:30 pm for the state championship.
2003 Cumulative Offensive & Defensive Statistics
Valdosta 21, Cherokee 14
 VALDOSTA -- The Valdosta Wildcats are headed to the Georgia Dome after defeating the Cherokee Warriors Friday night. The Cats staked out a 21 point lead and were able to hold off a second half Warrior rally to pull out the victory.
Senior quarterback Cedric Hatten, pictured right, continued his stellar postseason play with 3 touchdown runs (25, 39, 15) and 134 yards rushing. The Valdosta defense made a goal line stand late in the game to preserve the victory.
Valdosta (10-3) will play Westside Macon (11-2), a 26-7 winner over South Gwinnett, next Saturday at 9 PM in the Georgia Dome. Tickets for the GHSA semifinals are $12 each are valid for all 5 games that day.
Georgia Public Television will broadcast all semifinal games and the WAAC radio broadcast will also be available on GaPrep.com.
Cats Move On to 3rd Round
VALDOSTA -- Senior quarterback Cedric Hatten paced the Wildcat offensive attack with 3 long touchdown runs of 38, 33, and 48 yards as the Valdosta Wildcats (9-3) defeated the Houston County Bears 29-16 in second round action at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. Hatten also threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Cedric Hill with 6:55 left in the 4th quarter to put the Cats up by 13.
The Bears scored 13 quick points in the third quarter to take a 16-14 lead but Hatten answered with a 48-yard run. Willie Cowart ran for the 2-point conversion to make the score 22-16. The Cats then took advantage of a Houston County fumble as Hill caught his sixth touchdown of the season.
Valdosta will host 6-AAAAA member Cherokee (10-2), a 27-18 winner over Walton, next Friday at 8 PM.
Valdosta Outruns Riverdale 63-0
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| Cedric Hatten accounted for 3 TDs (2 rushing, 1 passing). Photo: Dennis Herrington |
The Valdosta Wildcats staked out a 30-0 first quarter lead and never looked back as they defeated the Riverdale Raiders 63-0 in the first round of the AAAAA playoffs.
Three Wildcats (Victor Harrell, Cedric Hatten, and Jarvis Stokes) scored two touchdowns apiece as the Valdosta defense posted its third shutout of the season.
The scoring total by the Cats was the most points scored since the 1984 state and national championship season when Valdosta defeated Dougherty 68-0.
Valdosta will host a second round game at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium next Friday night at 8 PM versus Houston County, a 35-0 winner over Groves.
Cats Cap Regular Season with Undefeated Region Run
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| Coach Darlington addresses the team after the game. Photo: Dennis Herrington |
VALDOSTA -- Valdosta High capped off its first undefeated region title since 1992 Friday with a 25-19 win over Coffee and decided to cut head coach Rick Darlington's life expectancy down in the process.
"I think it took four years off my life," Darlington said.
The Wildcats used a 15-point swing in the final seven minutes to avenge last year's regular-season ending loss in Douglas last year.
Senior quarterback Cedric Hatten scored on a 1-yard run with 4:48 left in the 4th quarter to pull within two points at 19-17.
The Wildcat defense then stopped the Trojans on 3 downs and the Cats started their game-winning drive on the Coffee 47-yard line with 3 minutes left to play. A 32-yard run on first down by Hatten put the Cats within striking distance at the 15-yard line and a few plays later Shawn Berrien scored the game-winning touchdown on a 7-yard reception from Hatten.
Coffee then drove to the Valdosta 20-yard line but defensive back Antonio Tillman intercepted a fourth down pass to seal the undefeated region championship.
Valdosta will play Riverdale next Friday at 8 PM at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium for the first round of the AAAAA Playoffs.
2003 REGION CHAMPIONS
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Click on image for larger size
Thanks to Bill Malone for the great artwork!
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The Valdosta Wildcats clinched the 1-AAAAA Region Championship with a 35-7 victory against the Colquitt County Packers on Friday night at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. Valdosta has won 40 region championships dating back to its first in 1920.
Four different Wildcats (Victor Harrell, Corey James, Jarvis Stokes, and Cedric Hatten) scored touchdowns as the Packers narrowly avoided a shutout by the Wildcat defense with a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Matt King added two field goals to begin and end the scoring for the Cats.
Valdosta wraps up the regular season next Friday against the Coffee Trojans at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
Valdosta Dominates Lee County 47-0
The Valdosta Wildcats continued their region run with a 47-0 victory over 1-AAAAA rival Lee County Friday night at Trojan Field in Leesburg.
Wildcats Take Thriller Over Vikings in Winnersville Classic
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| Victor Harrell tallied 108 yards in total offense and 1 touchdown. Photo: Dennis Herrington |
The Valdosta Wildcats defeated the seventh-ranked Lowndes Vikings 28-26 in a nailbiter as senior defensive back Martain Brown intercepted a pass to stop the final drive by the Lowndes offense with 31 seconds left in the game. Senior quarterback Cedric Hatten accounted for 4 touchdowns (2 rushing of 20 and 1 yards; 2 passing, a 79-yard pass to Cedric Hill and a 68 yard connection with Victor Harrell).
The Cats built an 8-point lead in the 4th quarter on a 7-yd run by Hatten to make the score 28-20 and the Vikings answered with a 99-yd kickoff return for a touchdown. The Valdosta defense stopped the two point conversion and then prevented the Vikings from scoring on two subsequent drives to end the game.
Valdosta is now in first place in Region 1-AAAAA with a 2-0 record (4-3 overall). The Wildcats travel to Lee County (0-2 region, 1-6 overall) for another region clash next Friday at 8 PM.
Wildcats Shutout Tift County to Open Region Schedule
VALDOSTA -- Valdosta High figured it might as well put the GHSA's new 'mercy rule' to work Friday.
The Wildcats scored all their points in the first three quarters and rolled to a 43-0 win over Tift County at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in the Region 1-AAAAA opener for both teams. The clock ran non-stop throughout the fourth quarter due to the GHSA's new rule, passed earlier this week.
Valdosta (3-3, 1-0 region) has won two straight heading into the Winnersville Classic next week with Lowndes High. So how soon do the Wildcats start thinking about their crosstown rivals?
9th Grade Team Maintains Undefeated Season By Defeating Lowndes 42-6
Photo Gallery
Newbern 8th Tops Valdosta 8th 33-0
Photo Gallery
7th Grade Team Defeats Newbern 7th 14-0
Photo Gallery
Valdosta 38, Charlton County 14
VALDOSTA -- Valdosta High intercepted Charlton County's all-state quarterback Jeremy Privett five times and rolled over the Indians from Folkston 38-14 Friday night at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
"D-E-F-E-N-S-E, defense, defense," Wildcats' head coach Rick Darlington said, after Valdosta High held Charlton to just 103 total offense yards in the first half. "The much maligned Wildcat defense played their tails off."
A week after Valdosta High turned the ball over four times in a loss to Ware County, the Wildcats decided to let someone else dip into the turnover jar. Charlton County obliged.
7th Grade Team Defeats Hahira 28-24
Photo Gallery
Cats Lose to Ware Co
VALDOSTA -- All Valdosta High head coach Rick Darlington wants is one more quarter.
The Wildcats came up short in the final quarter for the second straight week, losing 28-14 to Class AAAA No. 5 Ware County Friday at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
"We keep running out of time," Darlington said. "If we could have one more quarter each week I think we'd be all right."
Former Cat, Times-Union Sports Writer Passes at 59
Lawrence Dennis, who covered sports for The Florida Times-Union for more than 25 years, died yesterday at Community Hospice Center after a long bout with liver disease. He was 59.
Dennis played football for two legendary coaches, Wright Bazemore at Valdosta and Bear Bryant at the University of Alabama. Our condolences and prayers go out to the Dennis family. Full Article»
Wildcats Lose Heartbreaker to Lincoln
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| Victor Harrell runs the ball late in the 4th quarter. Photo: Dennis Herrington |
The Valdosta Wildcats lost to the Lincoln Trojans of Tallahassee in a close game Friday night by the score of 21-20. The Cats staked out a 20-7 halftime lead but the Trojans battled back to take the lead midway through the fourth quarter.
A valiant effort to regain the lead proved unsuccessful and the Trojans celebrated the 200th career win for their head coach David Wilson. Valdosta is now 1-2 on the season and will host Ware County next Friday night at Cleveland Field.
The Trojans are currently ranked first in Florida's 4A classification and #8 nationally by USA Today. Fans who missed the WAAC radio broadcast for Friday night's game versus Lincoln can listen on demand at GaPrep.com.
Wildcats Notch 1st Victory of 2003
 The Valdosta Wildcats defeated the Southwest Macon Patriots Friday night at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium by the score of 42-6. The Cats were led by the performance of senior running back Corey James (pictured right), who scored 4 touchdowns and accumulated 149 yards rushing on 15 carries.
The Cats play nationally-ranked Lincoln of Tallahassee next Friday at 8 PM at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. Fans outside of WAAC's broadcast area can listen to the online broadcast at GaPrep.com. More game coverage later this weekend.
Former Cat QB Hank Lee in Friday's AJC
 Forty years ago this week, high school senior Hank Lee was a cover boy for the Journal-Constitution's Sunday magazine, which trumpeted Valdosta as "Football Town U.S.A.''
The program was the winner of 36 straight games and three straight state championships, both Georgia records at the time. Full Article»
Former Wildcat Succumbs to Cancer
 The Wildcat family mourns the loss of
former Wildcat Doug Henderson, who passed away on Saturday, September 6 after a lengthy
and courageous battle with cancer. Doug was a member of the 1992 state and national championship team.
Funeral mass will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, 2003, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with Father John O'Brien, Father Marvin LeFrois and Deacon David Lasseter officiating. Burial will follow in McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. A rosary will be held at 6:30 p.m. today at St. John Catholic Church with visitation to follow until 9 p.m. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to South Georgia Medical Center Foundation or to St. John Catholic Church Building Fund.
Our condolences and prayers go out to the Henderson family.
Full Obituary» | Read more about Doug's battle with cancer»
Wildcats fall short in season opener
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| Cedric Hill, Dewayne Williams, and Carlton Williams at the coin toss. Photo: Dennis Herrington |
The Valdosta Wildcats lost their season opener by the score of 16-6 to Region 3-AAAAA opponent Wayne County.
Yellow Jacket senior running back Chris Byrd, 6'5" and 227 pounds, led the WCHS offense with two touchdowns in the first half while senior Zac Smith kicked a 22-yard field goal to start the scoring.
The Cats avoided the shutout during the last minute with a 14-yard touchdown pass from sophomore starting quarterback Scott Shuman to sophomore receiver Marvin Reed.
The next game is the home opener versus Southwest Macon on September 12th at 8 PM.
Click on image for larger team photo...
Ex-Apopka coach Rick Darlington in a Different World
The different world is "Winnersville, USA," a phrase Sports Illustrated picked up on when it featured Valdosta's rivalry with Lowndes County High, which is perched just outside the Valdosta city limits. Lowndes is good, but Valdosta is great. The Wildcats have 23 state titles, six mythical national championships and an 802-165-34 all-time record since 1913.
Read full article in the Orlando Sentinel»
Wildcats win 2nd scrimmage 25-14
VALDOSTA -- Wildcat football, as a whole, let out a collective sigh of relief after Thursday night's 25-14 preseason scrimmage win over Thomas County Central at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
Valdosta High School coach Rick Darlington was probably the most relieved of them all.
"We got better, but we still made some silly mistakes," Darlington said. "We're getting better, but we're not in great form yet. It was an improvement."
Mistakes hurt Wildcats at Camden scrimmage
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| Cedric Hatten prepares to pitch the football to Dante Brown. Photo: Dennis Herrington |
KINGSLAND -- Mistakes. Too many mistakes.
Mistakes plagued Valdosta High's first scrimmage of the 2003 football season, against Camden County Thursday at Camden's Gilman Stadium. Valdosta looked good at times, but shot itself in the foot at costly times, allowing Camden to post a 14-0 scrimmage victory.
"I'm very disappointed. Anytime you lose, you're disappointed, scrimmage or not," Valdosta head coach Rick Darlington said. "If you're going to tee it up at Valdosta, you'd better want to win.
A new offense: Wildcats making adjustment to flexbone
TWIN LAKES -- The flexbone has come to Georgia prep football.
Valdosta High is the first Georgia high school football team to run the flexbone as its base offense in a number of years. The offense, when run well, is generally exciting to watch, and to Valdosta's first-year head coach, is an offense which fits its current personnel well.
"The best thing I can say about the flexbone is that it fits our kids, because we have a lot of small, quick kids, and that's what you need in this offense," Valdosta head coach Rick Darlington said. "The kids are picking it up well, so are the coaches."
Full Article from the Valdosta Daily Times»
Wildcats stir memories at 4-H Camp
TWIN LAKES -- Bob Bolton and Keith Middleton will never forget preseason football camp at the Lowndes County 4-H Camp here.
The heat, the practices, the anticipation of the season ahead. Every August, two of the most grueling weeks of their teenaged lives. Weeks they remember quite fondly.
Full Article from the Valdosta Daily Times»
Wildcats go retro for camp
TWIN LAKES -- Valdosta High football has gone retro for camp.
The Wildcats have returned to the 4H Camp in Twin Lakes, where they held camp for many years under legendary head coaches Wright Bazemore and Nick Hyder.
Now if only they can duplicate the success of many of those Bazemore teams in the regular season. The Wildcats won eight state championships in Bazemore's final 12 seasons, and four more under Hyder while camping in Twin Lakes.
Greatness still the goal for Wildcats on the field
VALDOSTA -- "Good is not good enough."
Valdosta High offensive coordinator Welton Coffey made that statement as he addressed the Wildcat football players following Tuesday's practice. It's a truth every Wildcat must learn at some point.
When you put on the black-and-gold, you're expected to be great. You want to be great. It's the only way they've done it at Valdosta for decades.
Full Article from the Valdosta Daily Times»
Photo Gallery from Tuesday's Practice» | VDT Photo Gallery»
Wildcat football becoming morning people
VALDOSTA -- Valdosta High's Wildcats are ready to strap on the pads and play some real football.
Monday is the first day GHSA football teams are allowed to practice in full pads. Valdosta will waste no time beginning full-contact drills.
"We're excited," Darlington said. "It's fun to put on the pads and hit people. It's fun to play football." Full Article»
Renovations give Valdosta top-rate facility
The newest upgrade the Wildcats have made is to the weight room.
Prior to its renovation, the weight room wasn't bad, by any means. But $100,000 worth of new equipment and a new paint job has the Wildcats working out in a facility many small college teams probably wish they had.
"I hope the kids will take a lot of pride in it, and take care of it, so that it will be that way for a long time," Darlington said.
Full Article» | View photos»
 Wetherington Headed to Georgia
VALDOSTA -- For John Dennis Wetherington, the only thing that would be better than being a Wildcat would be to be both a Wildcat and a Bulldog.
Wetherington, Valdosta High's All-State defensive tackle, has signed with the University of Georgia as a preferred walk-on.
Wetherington chose Georgia because he said he wants the challenge of playing college football at the highest level. Full Article»
Wildcat fans rewarded with comfy seating
VALDOSTA -- The Valdosta Board of Education voted recently to reward all faithful Wildcat football fans with comfortable stadium seating.
As a result, loyal supporters of the "winningest high school football team in America" will enjoy chair seating and contoured bleacher seating with backs in the fall of 2004, following completion of the Bazemore-Hyder Stadium renovation.
Full Article»
Weight Room Renovations
View the recent renovations of the weight room at Valdosta High School. Additions to the weight room include 16 three-station Samson power racks designed by the VHS coaching staff, four racks of dumbbells and eight Pro-Maxima Leg Press/Hip Sled/Hack Squat Combos. This gallery also includes a few photos of new signs in the football locker room.
 View photos
2003 Valdosta Touchdown Club Officers
| President |
Vic Ledbetter |
| Vice-President |
Joe Ethier |
| Secretary |
Doug McQuaig |
| Treasurer |
David Waller |
Please view the Touchdown Club page for the updated list of the board of directors.
2002 Awards Banquet
Photo Gallery with Award Winners
Locker Room Renovated
The football locker room at Valdosta High School was recently renovated by Head Coach Rick Darlington and his coaching staff. Funding for this project was provided by the Valdosta Touchdown Club.
View photos (includes update from mid-June)
Hatten shines in Cats' spring football scrimmage
VALDOSTA -- They called it the Black and Gold game. But it could have had another name Saturday: The Cedric Hatten Show.
Hatten, Valdosta's rising senior quarterback, rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns, threw for 44 more yards and another touchdown, and showed the speed that makes him such a dangerous player.
That was before the half ended.
Full Article from the Valdosta Daily Times
Photo Gallery
Video Gallery
Spring Football
View photos and video clips from Coach Rick Darlington's first official practice Monday afternoon at Valdosta High School.
Photo Gallery
Video Clips:
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 Rick Darlington Announced as New Head Football Coach and Athletic Director
Valdosta, GA - February 24, 2003 - Mr. Sam Allen, Superintendent of the Valdosta City School System announced this evening at a press conference that Rick Darlington, right with Touchdown Club President Ivey Plair, of Apopka (FL) High School will be the new head football coach for the Valdosta High School Wildcats. Before coming to Valdosta High School, Coach Darlington led the Apopka (FL) Blue Darters football program to an overall record of 37-11, including the 2001 Class AAAAAA (6A) Florida State Championship and three straight playoff appearances.
Read full release»
Special thanks to Dennis Herrington for the great photos and video clips!
 Former Cat Wilson Leads Team to German League Championship
Kareem Wilson, starting quarterback for the 1994 state runner-up team, led the Hamburg Blue Devils to a 16-13 victory in the 2002 German Bowl XXIV, the championship game of the German Football League.
Wilson passed for over 1300 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding over 500 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns for the 12-3 Blue Devils.
 After his high school career, Wilson starred as a double threat quarterback for the Ohio University Bobcats and finished his collegiate career with 49 rushing touchdowns, a NCAA Division I-A record.
Congratulations from the Wildcat family and thanks to former Wildcat Kendrick Moody for bringing this great news to our attention at ValdostaWildcats.com. If you have any news on any former Cats that you would like us to note on this site, please e-mail us.
2 Former Cats Among VSU Signees
Eric Williams and Alex Godfrey will play on familiar territory next season for the Valdosta State Blazers, 2002 Gulf South Conference Champions. Williams, a defensive back who accounted for a team-leading 79 tackles during the 2002 campaign, was named to the Associated Press All-State team.
Godfrey, who rushed for 314 yards and two touchdowns on 70 carries during his second season at Holmes CC (Miss.), played for the Wildcats during the 1999 season.
VSU Signees | VDT Article
Wetherington, Williams Earn All-State Honors
Valdosta High defensive tackle John Dennis Wetherington and safety Eric Williams were recently named to the Associated Press and Atlanta Journal-Constitution AAAAA All-State teams, respectively.
Wetherington (right) has been one of the state's best defensive linemen the past two years. This year, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior recorded 68 tackles and 8 sacks for the Wildcats, giving him 139 tackles and 18.5 sacks over the past two years. The AJC tabbed him as an honorable mention All-State player.
 Making honorable mention on the AAAAA AP team and all-state on the AAAAA AJC team was Valdosta safety Eric Williams (left). Valdosta's team captain registered a team-best 79 tackles for the Wildcats, and had the most tackles over the past three years for VHS. He was a three-time All-Region selection, and this year also ran for 223 yards and 4 TD. Full article from the VDT» | AJC All-State Team | Watch one of Wetherington's big plays» | Watch one of Williams's 4 touchdowns»
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