Join us tonight for Week 5 of our 2022 GPB Sports Football Fridays in Georgia schedule as the Lowndes Vikings travel 220 miles north from Valdosta to take on the East Coweta Indians at Garland Shoemake Memorial Stadium in Sharpsburg.

Coverage starts at 7:00 p.m. ET with Recruiting 2022 including the “Top Prospects to Watch,” followed by the Game of the Week at 7:30.

East Coweta will be trying to do something the Indians have never been able to do and that’s beat Lowndes. The Vikings lead the all-time series 5-0 dating back to 2003 including a 27-3 road win the last time these two teams played in 2019.

Interesting enough East Coweta is 25-10 since that loss to Lowndes after going 9-16 in Coach John Small’s first 25 games as the Indians head coach. But in reflecting back on that 2019 loss in which it was a 7-3 game going to the fourth quarter, Coach Small believes that was the start of the turnaround for his program. We’ll find out tonight if East Coweta has progressed to the point where the Indians can beat one of the state’s most prestigious programs.

The Vikings have won five state championships in their 57-year history but none since winning the last of three in four seasons in 2007. Lowndes did reach the state finals in 2019 before falling to a Marietta team which was one of the most talented in state history.

All that was under legendary Head Coach Randy McPherson who retired after that state championship game. Zach Grage is the second coach since then, replacing Jamey Dubose after a 2020 semifinal finish and a 2021 quarterfinal finish. Dubose returned to Alabama to coach and Grage got the job in April after leading Thomasville to its first state final since 1993.

One of the bright young coaches in the state, Grage returned the Bulldogs to their glory years going 54-23 in his six seasons there with three region titles and a semifinal finish and two quarterfinal finishes in addition to reaching the championship game last year. Back in 2014, Grage was the offensive coordinator for Rush Propst and the highest scoring team in state history winning the state crown.

The 2021 Vikings will be playing their first GHSA opponent tonight after three games against teams from Florida with wins over Gadsden County and North Miami Beach after opening the season with a loss against USA Today National Top 25 No. 12 American Heritage.

East Coweta has never won a state title getting close in 2002 before being beaten in the semifinals and even though the Indians have reached the playoffs every year but one since 1997, they have not advanced beyond the second round since that great season 20 years ago.

Off to a 3-1 start this season with wins over county rival Newnan, then Hillgrove and Sandy Creek in overtime following a season opening loss at Starr’s Mill, Small believes this could be the season for a breakthrough. Tonight’s game could prove to a great litmus test.

That’s the preview. Let’s take a look at the Top Prospects to Watch in tonight’s game:

Lowndes Vikings

Kevis Thomas

Kevis Thomas

3-Star Kevis Thomas - The 6-0, 179, Senior committed to Maryland in July over 25 other offers including Vanderbilt to whom he was originally committed. Projected to play CB at the next level, Thomas is primarily a WR for the Vikings this season who Coach Grage will pop over on the defensive side of the ball when the situation warrants. In three games, Thomas has 6 catches for 139 yards and Lowndes’ only TD reception so far this season. This is his second season with the Vikings after playing CB last year after playing QB as a freshman and sophomore at Taylor County (Fla.) High School. He is the highest-rated prospect in the Terrapins Class of 2023.

Junior RB Jacarre “Smoke” Fleming – 5-7, 179 - Five Offers including Troy, Liberty, and Western Kentucky. Member of the Vikings 4x100 state championship relay team. Injured in the Vikings season-opening loss but returned to lead Lowndes to a 43-18 win over North Miami Beach two weeks ago. Because of the injury, Fleming has only 15 carries but has scored 2 TD. Coach Grage compares Fleming to former Colquitt County all-time leading rusher and Kentucky RB Siheim King who he coached when he was the OC for the Packers.

Lowndes Sophomore LB Coleman Lewis - 6-0, 201 – Power 5 offers from Auburn, Purdue, Arkansas and Iowa State. Started as a freshman last season and ended-up leading Lowndes in tackles the last 6 games of the season. Has 10 tackles and 8 solo stops in the Vikings first three games this season with a couple of QB hurries. Two-sport Athlete for the Vikings, Lewis also plays for the Lowndes baseball team.

Elijah Colvin – 6-0, 210, Senior LB – Committed to Northern Arizona over 4 other offers including Middle Tennessee and South Dakota

Senior Rover Mekhi Crawford - He is Coach Grage’s “Make That Kid an Offer” candidate from his team. He is 5-11, 200-pounds and has 13 tackles, 4 TFL and a QB sack. You’ll see him tonight primarily as a stand-up end. Coach Grage calls Crawford a straight-up South Georgia kid who likes to fish and hunt. Crawford has 66 career tackles with 7.5 TFL.

East Coweta Indians

Aaron Fennimore

Aaron Fennimore

3-Star Senior Interior OL Aaron Fenimore – 6-1, 275 – Committed to Coastal Carolina in June over 17 other offers including Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Maryland and Louisville. Four-year starter for the Indians ever since spring practice of his eighth-grade year. He plays center for East Coweta. Coach John Small says you could make a teaching tape of Aaron and sell it, called “How to play Offensive Line”

Senior Identical Twins DE Keelan and Bailey Kornegay - Both 6-4, 220 – Both committed to Columbia. They’ve combined for 27 tackles in the Indians first four games with 5 QB Sacks and 4 TFL. Chose to commit to the Ivy League school because of the academics. So that tells you a little bit about their priorities. But tonight, their priority will be getting after the QB.

East Coweta Senior CB Kaleb Harris – 6-1, 175 - Offered by Air Force – Coach Small calls him “Mr. Dependable.” Indians have a lot of confidence in him. He’ll play a lot of man coverage. Huge play in East Coweta’s OT victory at Sandy Creek last week blocking the Patriots game-tying FG attempt to seal the Indians third win of the season. 12 tackles with 3 pass break-ups in East Coweta’s first four games and a 22-yard catch on offense.

Christian Langford - 6-2, 190, Sophomore QB – Offered by Liberty – True dual threat at the QB position and not just an athlete – 700 yards passing over 300 yards rushing – 10 TD passes

Zach Clayton – 6-5, 275, Junior OL – Offered by Temple and Georgia State

Dionte Jones – 5-11, 180, Junior RB – Offered by Morehouse – Averaging over 7.5 yards per carry

Makai Sullivan – 5-7, 150, Senior SAF – Offered by Lindsey Wilson College – Despite his lack of size Coach Small says “he’s just a dude” – 3-year starter for the Indians

Senior MLB Cosby Ellis - 6-3, 227 – 29 tackles, 2 TFL and 2 FF – He is Coach Small’s “Make That Kid an Offer” Candidate. Highly versatile player in the Indians defense – Can walk up and play the edge or drop back into coverage – Receiving interest but nobody has pulled the trigger on an offer because he’s kind of a “tweener” position wise. Runs 4.6 40 and Coach Small says “strong as a bull.”

So, it all starts with the Gabby Award-winning and Emmy-nominated Recruiting 2022 at 7 p.m. followed by Football Fridays in Georgia as the Lowndes Vikings play at the East Coweta Indians at 7:30 p.m. Join Wayne Gandy, Jon Nelson, Hannah Goodin, Wiley Ballard and me for the call. And remember, when it’s over, it isn’t over! Stick around for the already-famous GPB Sports Postgame Show for all the big scores, and interviews with the top coaches around the state.

Now if somehow, you miss it live, don’t worry, we replay the entire Football Fridays in Georgia at the end of our live show on GPB. You can also watch live on the GPB Sports app or our Twitter or Facebook page from wherever you are or watch it on demand anytime at GPB.org.

Enjoy your Football Friday in Georgia!