The Tampa Bay Game of the Week features two heavyweights in their respective states as the Valdosta Wildcats make their way to the Tampa area as they take on the Jesuit Tigers on Friday night at Corral Memorial Stadium.
Valdosta (3-0) is led by senior quarterback Todd Robinson (Georgia commit) who has blossomed onto the scene in the early going as he has completed 70.5% of his passes (43-of-61) for 572 passing yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. Robinson has also gotten the job done with his legs as he has 25 carries for 87 yards and four touchdowns through the team’s first three games of the season.
The Wildcats are coming off a 43-0 thumping win over Doughertry (Georgia) where their defense recorded 8.5 sacks and forced two turnovers as well.
Another name to keep an eye on for the Wildcats offense is sophomore running back Deron Foster (Holds offers from Maryland, UCF, USF and others) who currently leads the team in carries (36), rushing yards (273) and has six touchdowns on the ground this season. Foster had 144 carries for 912 yards and 12 touchdowns last season as a freshman.
Don’t fall asleep on the Valdosta wide receivers either as they have a dynamic duo who can cause havoc for opposing defensive backs in junior Eldemetrius Hunter and senior Elijah Lewis who each have over 100 receiving yards in the team’s first three games of the season.
Jesuit (1-1) is coming off a 31-3 thumping win over Benjamin (Palm Beach Gardens) in their last game where they were led by junior quarterback Will Griffin (Florida commit) who went just 9-of-14 passing for 130 yards and had a touchdown pass in the win as well.
The Tigers have an elusive running game as well where they are led by senior running back Justin Thurman (Notre Dame commit) who can make plays happen in the backfield as well as in the receiving game. Thurman has a team-high 28 carries for 147 yards and four touchdowns through the team’s first two games of the season.
The Tigers also have multiple versatile weapons at the wide receiver position where they’ve been led by senior wide receiver Trent Teeling and sophomore Mikey Vernon where they each have over 100 receiving yards so far on the young season.
Both teams have high expectations and could very well make deep playoff runs as Valdosta reached the GHSA Class 7A, Region 1 Semifinals in 2023 where as Jesuit reached the FHSAA Class 3M Region 2 Final a season ago.
