MOULTRIE — Valdosta is riding into the start of the Region 1-AAAAA schedule with jolt of confidence after coming from behind to defeat highly regarded Lincoln High of Tallahassee 21-17 on Friday at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.

The Wildcats will be back at home next Friday at 8 p.m. to take on 1-3 Colquitt County in their Region 1-AAAAA opener.

Valdosta had won its first two games of the season before being defeated 37-6 by Brookwood in Snellville.

And trailing 17-14 with under three minutes to play, it appeared the Wildcats would be at .500 when the region started.

But David Arnold took a screen pass from quarterback Michael Turner seven yards to the end zone with 2:37 remaining to give the Wildcats the victory.

Last year, Lincoln defeated Valdosta in the final minute, but a late drive by the Trojans fell short with 13 seconds remaining on Friday.

Lincoln came into the game 3-0 and ranked No. 4 in in Class AAAA in Florida.

But the Trojans,who led 17-7 heading into the final 12 minutes, could not overcome a big night by Arnold, the former Cook High star, who rushed for 189 yards on 26 carries and caught three passes for 31 yards and two touchdowns.

Turner completed 5-of-6 passes for 56 yards and two touchdowns.

As expected Coffee High will take 4-0 record into its Region 1-AAAAA opener at Lowndes next Friday.

The Trojans, the only unbeaten Region 1-AAAA team, had no trouble with Johnson High of Savannah, winning 49-0.

Coffee has outscored Madison (Fla.), Clinch County, Bradwell Institute and Johnson by a combined 133-39.

But the Trojans will catch a Lowndes team that is on a roll as well.

After losing its opener 9-0 to Harrison, the Vikings have knocked off Eagle’s Landing 42-0, Ware County 28-14 and, last Friday, Central Gwinnett, 42-0.

Last Friday’s game at Martin Stadium was the Lowndes homecoming and the Vikings wanted no repeat of last year’s 11-7 loss to the Black Knights, also at homecoming.