Prediction: Lowndes (Ga.) makes deep playoff run

The 2025 high school football season will be getting underway in less than six weeks, which means it’s officially preview season. Rivals is breaking down the nation’s top teams from coast-to-coast, and today we make our way to the Peach State to check out Lowndes. Last season, Adam Carter’s bunch reached the second round of the GHSA Class AAAAAA playoffs before getting knocked out by the Buford Wolves. Led by four-star quarterback Jayce Johnson, the Vikings have expectations of making a deeper playoff run this time around.

Player Spotlight: QB Jayce Johnson

Jayce Johnson has quickly developed into not only one of the top quarterbacks in the Southeast, but in the nation. As a sophomore last season, Johnson completed 123 of 183 passes for 1,799 yards, 16 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He may have to carry more of the burden on the ground, with two of the team’s top rushers from last season having graduated. Behind a strong offensive line, Johnson should be in line for a big season.

Others to watch: OL Benjamin Corhei, CB Knyon Simmons, OL Abram Eisenhower

Season Prediction: 9-1

The Buford Wolves are the team to beat in Georgia’s AAAAAA classification and that’s the road block Lowndes will face again this season. When it comes to South Georgia high school football, the Vikings are as good as they come and there’s plenty of competition to go around in the 229. We see Lowndes winning all but one game during the regular season and reach the third round of the state postseason.

Game-By-Game Predictions

Aug. 15 – Jenkins (Ga.) Warriors – W
Nice and easy in the regular season home opener as the Vikings cruise to a 42-6 rout of the Warriors.

Aug. 22 – at Mount Zion (Ga.) Bulldogs – W
The Vikings hop on the charter buses for their first road test and come away victorious with flying colors in a 47-7 win.

Aug. 29 – Central Gwinnett (Ga.) Black Knights – W
Lowndes returns back home to the ‘Concrete Palace’ and picks up a big 45-7 victory over the Black Knights.

Sept. 5 – Manatee (Fla.) Hurricanes – W
It’s the second year in a row that the Vikings and Hurricanes meet, with Lowndes picking up another win in the series.

Sept. 12 – Kell (Ga.) Longhorns – W
Lowndes improves to 5-0 at the midway point with another rout, this time of Kell at home.

Sept. 26 – Colquitt County (Ga.) Packers – L
The Vikings drop their first game of the season in a one-score loss to the visiting Packers.

Oct. 3 – Tift County (Ga.) Blue Devils – W
Though Tift County is much improved compared to a couple years ago, they are no match for Lowndes.

Oct. 10 – Camden County (Ga.) Wildcats – W
The Wildcats are another one of the South Georgia powers the Vikings run up against, but are able to come with a 34-24 victory.

Oct. 24 – at Richmond Hill (Ga.) Wildcats – W
It’s been a minute since Lowndes has gone on the road, but they make it look easy in a 36-20 win.

Oct. 31 – at Valdosta (Ga.) Wildcats – W
Electric atmosphere. Packed house. Talent all over the field. What more could you ask for in a rivalry game? With that said, the Vikings come away with a win in the latest edition of the Winnersville Classic.