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Note: Statistics for the 1992 Valdosta team were compiled by Ryan Sanderson as part of a project to gather information on Georgia state championship teams of the past 35 years for the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Any help in locating statistics or box scores for other Valdosta state champions would be greatly appreciated. You can reach the author of this report at ryans@valdostawildcats.com.

Season Recap

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1992 Valdosta Wildcats -

State and National Champs

"In muscle and size, this team may not compare to some;' said Valdosta High Head Coach Nick Hyder immediately after his Wildcat charges topped Clarke Central 17- 14 for the 1992 Georgia AAAA State title. "But you can't measure heart. They have an awful lot of that. I couldn't be prouder of this team'."

That succinct statement best sums up the key ingredient behind Valdosta High School's 22nd state title, and third in the last four seasons. Hard work, proper direction, and dedication can in many ways prepare an individual or team to get to a championship level of play. But to win it all, it takes something else. And the 1992 Wildcats, an overachieving group of student athletes who labored in the shadows of so many great squads before them, found that "something else:' heart, which enabled them to win not only another state crown for the black and gold, but a sixth national title as well.

Hopes were once again high as another Wildcat team broke camp in August of 1992. But along with those hopes was a great deal of pressure on the young Wildcatters, pressure for the most part self-imposed. The 1991 edition, as talented a group as ever to take to the gridiron of Cleveland Field, had their season cut short by the national championship bound LaGrange Grangers. And the upperclassmen who returned in '92 were determined not to allow that to happen again. But with a tougher schedule and a decided lack of depth at several positions, no amount of hope could alter the fact that a return to the title game would not be easy.

Chris Beckham, sports editor of the Valdosta Daily Times, along with beat writer Len Robbins, witnessed the Wildcat march to the championship game. And in a special edition of that newspaper on December 19, 1992, they collaborated to describe the path by which VHS again returned to the mountaintop of Georgia prep football. That account follows.

VALDOSTA 39, RICHMOND ACADEMY 7:
The Wildcats started the year with a bang as they blew out the Musketeers from Richmond Academy at Cleveland Field. The score was close at halftime as Valdosta held a 14-7 lead. But quarterback Steven Everson hit John Bell with a 30-yard touchdown, added a 42-yard score to Chris Rockey and ran in a 24-yard touchdown in the third quarter to put the game away.

Everson also ran for a 10-yard touchdown in the opening period and hit Bell with a 15 -yard score in the second period to build the first half lead. Everson finished his senior debut with 57 yards on 11 carries and he completed five of seven passes for 103 yards. Bell had three catches for 73 yards.

Richmond's C.J. Hardwick scored on an 11 -yard run with 6:19 left in the second period. It would be the last time Valdosta would allow an offensive touchdown until the ninth game of the year.

VALDOSTA 21, CAMDEN COUNTY 0:
The Wildcats got an early look at a Camden County squad that spent most of the season ranked in the Class AAAA Top 10. The Wildcats scored all of their points before halftime as the `other' Wildcats kept up with Valdosta in the second half in a clash at Cleveland Field.

Senior Alfred Barnes went over from 1 -yard out in the first quarter while Tommy Speed and Everson each added 1 -yard touchdowns in the second quarter. The game was the first of two all season that Valdosta would be outgained in the yardage columns as the St. Mary's bunch totalled 231 total yards to Valdosta's 177.

Barnes led the rushing attack with 45 yards on six carries while Everson completed seven of 11 passes for 75 yards. Five of those passes went to tight end Shadrick Green for 60 yards.

VALDOSTA 35, CEDAR SHOALS 0:
The Wildcats blitzed the visitors from Athens with 21 second - quarter points to build a 28-0 lead at halftime. Cedar Shoals couldn't find a crack in the Valdosta defense, gaining only 102 yards throughout the evening.

Bell caught a 17-yard pass from Everson for the game's first score but Barnes scored in the second quarter to put the Cats up by 14. Speed had a 3-yard touchdown run and Green caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Everson for the big halftime lead. Bell added a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

Barnes led Valdosta with 48 yards rushing on eight attempts while Everson completed 10 of 17 passes for 114 yards and no inte