Valdosta Wildcats and Lowndes Vikings: The 2026 Football Season

By Ricky Browning — July 2026

If you grew up around here, you already know the calendar doesn't really turn over in January. It turns over the third week of August, when the lights come on and half the county picks a side. Valdosta and Lowndes have been doing this to each other long enough that folks who never attended either school still have strong opinions about both.

Here's the honest, no-hype rundown for 2026: what actually changed with the classification shuffle, both full schedules, and the one date you should already have circled.

What changed for 2026? Both teams are Class 7A now

The Georgia High School Association expanded from six classifications to seven, effective with the 2026-27 school year. Every class effectively shifted up a letter, so the schools that were in 6A — including both Valdosta and Lowndes — now sit in the new top class, 7A. If you see "Region 1-6A" on an old page or a printout, that's last season's label, not this one.

The practical effect locally is small but worth knowing: Region 1-7A is a compact five-team group, which means fewer region games and more freedom to schedule tough non-region opponents. Both teams used that freedom this year — each scheduled two Florida programs.

When does the 2026 season start?

Both Valdosta and Lowndes open the regular season on Friday, August 21. Before that, each hosts a preseason scrimmage on Friday, August 7 — Valdosta against Worth County, Lowndes against Veterans. Those don't count in the standings, but they're the first live look at both teams.

Statewide, the season kicks off a little earlier with the Corky Kell & Dave Hunter Classic beginning August 12. The regular season runs through November 6, and the state playoffs start November 13.

Valdosta Wildcats: 2026 schedule and what to expect

Valdosta is coming off a 12-2 season that ended in the state semifinals, a 39-7 loss to Buford in December. Along the way the Wildcats won their first region title since 2016, which for a program with this much history had been a longer wait than anyone in town cared for. Shelton Felton, head coach since October 2021, returns for 2026.

Valdosta High owns more all-time wins than any high school football program in the country — well over 950 by the NFHS record book's count — and plays at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium, which locals just call Death Valley.

Lowndes Vikings: 2026 schedule and what to expect

Lowndes finished 10-2, going 9-1 in the regular season before beating Collins Hill 37-16 in the first round of the playoffs and falling 29-17 to North Gwinnett in the second. Adam Carter enters his fourth season as head coach; he came to Lowndes from Grayson, where he won a state title in 2020.

The Vikings have five state championships (1980, 1999, 2004, 2005, and 2007) and play at Martin Stadium — the Concrete Palace — which seats roughly 12,000. The schedule-maker was kind this year: eight home games, and the first seven in a row. Lowndes doesn't leave Valdosta until October 23.

When is the Winnersville Classic in 2026?

The Winnersville Classic is Friday, October 30, 2026, at Martin Stadium, with Lowndes hosting. It is a region game, so beyond the bragging rights that last all year, it carries real weight in the Region 1-7A standings — which is exactly how it played out last season.

In 2025, Valdosta won 23-14 at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium and clinched that region title. If you plan on going this year, plan early: last year's game sold out.

One honest note on the record books. The all-time series count depends on which source you trust and which games get counted as "the Classic." The Valdosta Daily Times reported Valdosta leading the series 26-22 as of October 2025; other published tallies differ, and even the edition number of the game is inconsistent between sources. If somebody at the tailgate quotes you a number with total confidence, take it with a grain of salt — nobody agrees.

What should I know for game night?

Three practical things, learned the hard way by anyone who's sat through an August kickoff down here.

The heat is real in August and September. A 7:30 kickoff in South Georgia can still be in the 90s at the whistle with humidity to match. Bring more water than you think you need, especially for kids and older folks in the stands — our South Georgia summer safety guide covers the warning signs of heat illness. If you need to restock on electrolytes or sunscreen on the way, Hogan's Pharmacy, a hometown pharmacy here in Valdosta and one of our sponsors, is an easy stop.

Away games mean I-75. Valdosta travels to Jones County, Colquitt County, and Lowndes; Lowndes heads to Richmond Hill and Moultrie. Before you pull out, our free I-75 Traffic Watch shows live wrecks and closures on the interstate, and it'll email you if the road shuts down while you're out.

Scores while you're away from the game. Our free Scoreboard tracks Friday night football alongside the college and pro teams folks around here follow — useful when you're at one game and trying to keep up with another. And if the sky looks unsettled, Storm Desk will tell you whether that's a passing cell or the reason they're about to clear the stands.

Common Questions

What class are Valdosta and Lowndes in for 2026?
Both are in Class 7A, Region 1-7A. The GHSA added a seventh classification for the 2026-27 school year, moving both schools up from the old 6A.

When is the Winnersville Classic?
Friday, October 30, 2026, at Martin Stadium, with Lowndes hosting. It counts as a region game.

Who are the head coaches?
Shelton Felton at Valdosta, in his fifth season. Adam Carter at Lowndes, in his fourth.

Where do the two teams play?
Valdosta plays at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium; Lowndes plays at Martin Stadium. Both are in Valdosta, about six miles apart.

Who won the rivalry game last year?
Valdosta, 23-14, on October 31, 2025, which clinched the region title for the Wildcats.

The Bottom Line

Two programs with 15 state titles between them, five miles apart, in a five-team region where they have to play each other with the standings on the line. Valdosta returns a semifinalist. Lowndes gets seven straight at home to start. And on October 30, the whole thing lands at Martin Stadium.

Circle August 7 for the scrimmages, August 21 for the real thing, and October 30 for the one that decides who's insufferable until next fall. Dates and times do occasionally shift — always confirm with the schools before you drive.