Winnersville Classic: A Personal Story and the Legend of Greg Reid

From the stands in 1998 to Greg Reid’s unforgettable run in 2007, this rivalry captures what community, pride, and football truly mean in Valdosta.

This year marks the 44th meeting of the Winnersville Classic between the Lowndes High School Vikings and the Valdosta Wildcats football programs. While the two schools have faced each other since the late 1960s, it was not officially named the Winnersville Classic until later years. The name, given by Valdosta Daily Times sports editor Mike Chason, carries meaning that stretches far beyond the football field. Each year, nearly 12,000 fans fill the stands to watch neighbors, friends, and even family members take opposite sides for a few hours.

These two storied schools sit just eight miles apart, and the connections between them run deep. Many students have cousins or family members on the opposite sideline. For me, it was no different. I had a cousin who played for Valdosta the same time I was attending Lowndes. It is also not uncommon for a Lowndes girl to date a Valdosta boy, or vice versa. Still, on this night, none of that matters. Whether you are family, in a relationship, or even share the same church pew on Sunday, you represent one side or the other.

My own Winnersville experience began in 1998 when I was a freshman cheerleader. The pep rally that week was wild, and I was dating a football player, so of course, I thought I was cool. My friends were on the varsity cheer squad, which meant they got to cheer under the Friday night lights. Freshmen didn’t cheer at varsity games, but we were there in the stands, soaking it all in. By then, my dad had been a season ticket holder for a few years, so this was a family tradition. That night, even though we lost, I felt something I had never experienced before. At just 14 years old, I knew there was something special about this rivalry, something that ran deeper than a single game. Over the next three years, we went on to win the next three Winnersville Classics, and the tradition only grew stronger.

Throughout the years, this matchup has produced incredible talent and unforgettable moments. But for many, the biggest star to come from it is Lowndes High legend and Georgia High School Hall of Famer, Greg Reid. I have known Reid since he was a kid playing little league football with his brother Raynard. We grew up in Clyattville and attended the same church. Every Sunday at Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, his auntie Tammy would read the announcements and give us highlights from the “Reid boys” little league games. We all knew one or both of these boys would be a star. That star was Greg.

When I spoke with him about the Winnersville Classic, his pride for the city and the rivalry came through immediately. “It means a lot to me seeing the city come together. Even though we looked at it as another game, it gave us bragging rights in church on Sundays, at the barber shops, and youth football games on Saturdays.”

He reflected on the energy leading up to the game each year. “The atmosphere was electric. The games were loud with familiar faces. The city prepared the whole week, and it showed Friday night riding across town. The old Zaxbys on Baytree was full of fans hours before the game.”

Reid always approached the matchup with a competitive edge. “I have always been competitive. This game just showed who was a little bit tougher, and the matchups were not really something to be shaped up on,” he said.

Looking back, he remains grateful for those years. “It is truly a blessing. My teammates and coaches were great. I could not have asked to be in a better position throughout my high school career.

Despite the fierce rivalry, he says the bond between the two schools has always been strong. “We are cross town rivals once a year, but any other time we come together as one community. We all grew up together playing ball and know each other. Our families know each other, but we all want bragging rights for our team in the fall.

That sense of unity and determination continues to inspire him. “I like to see that drive in all players, especially ones wearing crimson. The brotherhood of a team truly shows on a football field, especially during Winnersville.”

And his message for this year’s players is simple. “Give it all you got and then some but leave that rivalry on the field at the end of the night.”

In 2007, when Valdosta was making a comeback, Reid had a breakout run in the fourth quarter that sealed the game for the Vikings. “The Run,” as fans call it, remains one of the most iconic moments in Winnersville Classic history — a lasting reminder of what this rivalry means to the players, the fans, and the city that lives for this night every fall.