Valdosta fans watch spring game against Jones County

Valdosta fans watch the spring game against Jones County on Saturday May 15, 2021.

Credit: GPB Sports

Valdosta fans in the stands

Valdosta fans traveled over two and a half hours to see their team play its spring game against Jones County.

Acting Valdosta Head Coach Felton Shelton on the sidelines

Acting Valdosta Head Coach Felton Shelton on the sidelines during Valdosta's spring game against Jones County. Shelton replaces controversial coach Rush Propst whose contract was not renewed.

Credit: GPB Sports

Valdosta football team on the field

Valdosta football team on offense versus Jones County in its spring game.

Valdosta player scores touchdown

Valdosta scores a touchdown during its spring game versus Jones County.

The drive from Valdosta High School to Jones County is approximately 166 miles and a little over two and a half hours. If that includes a football team, you’re probably talking about a stop in between to stretch your legs. It might even include a meal — considering your kickoff on the road is at 8 p.m.

Either way, Saturday night was the end of a period on the 2021 calendar that dealt with anything but football on the field for Valdosta. It was a spring scrimmage in middle Georgia against a tough opponent in an unfamiliar environment.

This spring, up until the Saturday night’s game against Jones County, has been more about meetings, audio tape, lawyers, more meetings, judgments, appeals, and final decisions. That's at least “for now,” as the city of Valdosta and the Board of Education try to determine any possible recourse on a decision from the GHSA that handed down a 2021 postseason ban and a substantial fine for “lack of institutional control.”

Football means everything to communities like Valdosta and spring football was a chance for Wildcats fans to see the fruits of two weeks of work where the team could focus on activity between the heavy, white lines instead of answering questions about everything off the field. For acting head coach Felton Shelton it is all about "controlling the controllable." 

It’s a time for focusing on development and progress...

All about going forward. 

The Valdosta high school football team travelled to Jones County on Saturday May 15, 2021 to face off in its Spring game against Jones County. Acting Head Coach Shelton Felton has replaced controversial Coach Rush Propst for the Wildcats. Propst's contract was not renewed earlier this year after the GHSA  handed down a 2021 post-season ban and a substantial fine for “lack of institutional control.”

Credit: GPB Sports

 

The lone scrimmage for the Wildcats will be on Aug. 13 against Camden County. Eight days later, the 2021 season opener is against Warner Robins at Mercer University.

It’s not that far away, if you think about it... but no doubt can’t come soon enough for this Valdosta team looking to focus its attention on the field rather than off.

Play it safe, everyone... We’ll see you soon...