Fullington out to avoid upset in Valdosta

Local Sports

September 1, 2010

Harvey Simpson Cordele Dispatch The Cordele Dispatch Wed Sep 01, 2010, 06:00 PM EDT

Pinehurst — By HARVEY SIMPSON

Dispatch Sports Editor

PINEHURST — Shocked 18-14 in last Friday’s opener by a John Hancock team that’s on an upswing after years of enduring lean times, Fullington Academy’s Trojans’ goal this week is to not get stunned by another foe that’s struggling of late.

Serving as the opposition in a Friday night game set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. just north of Valdosta at its school located on U.S. 41 is Valwood, a surprise 25-21 victor over Class AAA Tiftarea in its 2010 debut.

“We’ve seen film of that game and let me tell you right off the bat that the Valiants are very impressive personnel wise,” Fullington head coach Ken Fowler said earlier this week.

“They already had everybody coming back from last year (when Fullington posted a 41-21 victory) and it looks now like they’ve picked up a couple of new kids to go with all those returnees.

“As a result, they’re big and quick with a line that averages at least 250 pounds and two running backs one of whom is a bruising style runner whereas the other relies more on speed.

“On top of that, they’ve got a quarterback, who’s a very accurate passer, and a couple of tall kids he goes to as his primary targets. Consequently, they’re very balanced between the run and pass out of the pro-I formation they employ.”

Insisting that Valwood’s talent isn’t restricted to the offensive side of the football, Fowler backed up that contention by pointing out its defense was able to limit what Tiftarea could do when it had possession of the football.

“Their front eight (consisting of four down linemen and four linebackers) and their secondary players are all very good,” Fowler said. “They did get off to a rough start when they fell behind 13-0 but once they settled down they pretty much held the Panthers in check the rest of the way.

“Their line on that side of the ball is stout and they’ve got a couple of very good linebackers, particularly No. 30 who’s their hardest runner on offense. No. 9 also looks good at tight end and defensive end.

“It’s pretty obvious overall that they’re solid at every position and have progressed greatly since we faced them last season.

“With them coming off a huge momentum-building win over one of their big rivals and with us coming off an upset loss, it’s going to be very, very difficult task for us to go down there and beat them in their own house.

“That is our goal, though, as we’re going in with the intention of doing everything we can to come away with a win (that would up Fullngton’s lead in the series between the schools to 10-7-1).”

If that objective is to materialize, Fowler said the Trojans’ offense must be able to move the football with regularity and its defense must keep the Valiants’ from doing likewise.

In one final reflection upon the Trojans loss last week to the Rebels, the Fullington coach noted that his troops “played well enough to win except for the fumbles and interceptions we had.

“We kept giving them opportunities with all our turnovers (8) and in the end that was the story of the game,” he said.

The availability of quarterback David Faircloth and running back Dylan Gay remains day to day due to shoulder injuries the Trojan stalwarts suffered in the loss to John Hancock.

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