Bitter crosstown rivalries can be found all over the state when it comes to high-school football, but two in particular stand out above all the rest. Every year, one game in the cities of Warner Robins and Valdosta determine which group of fans have bragging rights for the next 365 days. But which rivalry is the most compelling? Score Atlanta writers Erik Horne (Valdosta-Lowndes) and Zander Lentz (Northside-Warner Robins) tell us why each respective rivalry is the best in Georgia.
THE NUMBERS GAME …
The Northside/Warner Robins and Lowndes/Valdosta rivalries have more similarities than you might realize. First of all, they are not as even as you would think: Warner Robins leads Northside 32-18 all time, while Valdosta holds the edge over Lowndes 33-13. Secondly, the underdog has turned the tables on the traditional power in recent years, with former whipping boys Northside and Lowndes dominating their respective rivalries in the past 10 years. What separates the two rivalries is a length of dominance by one team that unfortunately plays against the annual Lowndes/Valdosta clash.
Until recently, the Lowndes Vikings were the redheaded stepchild of the Valdosta community in comparison to the old guard of the Valdosta Wildcats. From 1968 to 1998, the Vikings only notched six wins against the Wildcats in 37 meetings. That includes separate losing streaks of nine and 13 consecutive games to the Vikings from 1968-76 and 1986-96. That is 30 years of dominance from the Vikings.
On the other hand, while Warner Robins dominates the overall rivalry, the matchup has never been nearly as one-sided as the one from ESPN’s so-called “Titletown.” The longest consecutive win streak for any team in the Northside/Warner Robins rivalry was seven seasons (1968-74 and 1979-84), both held by Warner Robins.
And yes, Lowndes and Valdosta do have the edge in historical state titles compared to the Warner Robins schools (29 to 11). State titles and national prestige, however, do not define a rivalry. If you want to adhere to the old saying, “What have you done for me lately,” the battle for state supremacy between the Eagles and Demons has more relevance and mutual success. Northside and Warner Robins have won three of the last four Class 4A state titles, with a 2-1 advantage to Northside. While Lowndes has been an absolute terror in Class 5A, winning state three times in the past four seasons, Valdosta has not claimed a title since 1998. There’s simply more balance in the Northside/Warner Robins slugfest for town bragging rights. A rival is someone who puts up a fight; a legitimate threat to one’s dominance. While that doesn’t ring true for the historical wins and losses for both pairs, there’s far more balance as of late between Northside and Warner Robins (think Yankees vs. Red Sox).
The numbers don’t lie.
Erik Horne can be reached at ehorne@scoreatl.com.
TRADITION FOR TITLETOWN …
When the Lowndes Vikings travel to face the Valdosta Wildcats this season to try to extend their four-year winning streak, it won’t just be a game. It will be the yearly renewal of the Winnersville Classic.
As the weather starts to cool off in South Georgia, the football starts to heat up. This year, on Oct. 10, the mercury will burst though the thermometer. On that date, the streets of Lowndes County, including its county seat Valdosta, will empty out and all 11,249 seats at the Valdosta’s Bazemore-Hyder Stadium will fill up. Those not lucky enough to have tickets will have to settle for their choice of radio stations to listen to the game. The Mix 95.7 is the Wildcat station, while those with Viking tendencies can tune into the game on 99.5 Kix Country. The rivalry will be reignited between the two powerhouse Class 5A teams that battle yearly for bragging rights in a town so good at football that it recently underwent a name change. Apparently “Winnersville” wasn’t good enough anymore, so now Valdosta is known as “Titletown” thanks to ESPN.
Winning and winning championships are ingrained in these two teams. Valdosta has dominated in the long-term rivalry winning a record 24 state titles and six national championships, but it is Lowndes who can boast the recent edge, grabbing three of the last four Class 5A state championships. Valdosta is without a title since 1998, adding heat to an already blazing fire.
While Oct. 10 is circled in red on almost every calendar in every home in Lowndes County, it is not the only date marked down. Fans of both teams have also put a red circle around the second weekend in December – the weekend of the GHSA State Football Finals. Since the Vikings and the Wildcats both enter every season with title expectations, being part of the events at the Georgia Dome is almost a certainty for at least one of these teams, if not both. And if somehow the two teams ever end up knocking heads in the title game at the Dome, the rivalry might go thermonuclear. At least there might finally be enough seats for a change.
Zander Lentz can be reached at zlentz@scoreatl.com.
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