The 56th edition of the Winnersville Classic arrives with championship implications as the undefeated Lowndes Vikings (9-0, 4-0) travel to Bazemore-Hyder Field to face the Valdosta Wildcats (8-1, 3-1) in Friday’s Class 6A Region 1 regular-season finale.

Lowndes, seeking its first perfect regular season since 2019, brings a high-powered offense led by quarterback Jayce Johnson and the explosive backfield duo of Mason Woods and Ar’Tavian Brown.

The Wildcats, whose only blemish came against Colquitt County, counter with their own offensive firepower behind quarterback Tyrieke Wade and playmaker Deron Foster.

With both teams averaging over 40 points per game, defensive standouts like Lowndes linebacker Garrick Harris and Valdosta’s formidable front seven featuring Jevaris Kier and Tremaine Johnson could determine who claims bragging rights in Georgia’s most celebrated high school football rivalry.

Opening kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, October 31 with a live TV broadcast on NFHS Network.

• WATCH: Lowndes vs. Valdosta football is livestreaming on NFHS Network

How to watch Lowndes vs. Valdosta football livestream

What: Winnersville Classic Showdown: Unbeaten Lowndes faces rival Valdosta in regular-season finale

When: Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, October 31

Where: Bazemore-Hyder Field | Valdosta, Georgia

Watch live: Watch Lowndes vs. Valdosta live on the NFHS Network

The ruling party in Georgia, Georgian Dream (GD), announced on Tuesday that it will file a constitutional lawsuit to ban three opposition parties for their alleged unconstitutionality.

Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili stated that the lawsuit will be directed against the United National Movement, the Coalition for Change, and the Lelo Party. According to GD, a conservative populist party under the leadership of Bidzina Ivanishvili, these parties have repeatedly rejected the legitimacy and constitutional authority of the ruling government.

The lawsuit cites several alleged violations, including attempts to overthrow Georgia’s constitutional order. GD claims that the parties declared the 2024 parliamentary elections “illegitimate,” forcibly entered the Parliament building, and launched protest actions aimed at overthrowing the constitutional order. The lawsuit also accuses them of human rights violations during their previous terms in office and of undermining the country’s territorial integrity in connection with the August 2008 War.

The lawsuit is based on Article 23 of the Georgian Constitution, which authorizes the constitutional court to ban a political party if there is evidence that it seeks to overthrow or forcibly change the constitutional order, undermine the country’s independence or territorial integrity, or propagate war or violence, among others.

Opposition leaders condemned the planned lawsuit as “(…) illegal as the entire illegitimate, Russian-backed regime itself.” Irakli Kupradze, leader of Lelo party, said, “The anti-national and anti-Georgian Georgian Dream decided to deliver a decisive blow to democracy and ban the pro-Western opposition parties.” Tina Bokuchava, chair of the United National Movement, added that “(…) this could become a new opportunity for the country’s democratic political forces, those who truly fight against Ivanishvili’s treacherous criminal gang and for a better future for Georgia, to unite in a common resistance movement”.

Georgia is currently facing a democratic backsliding, with rights organizations expressing concerns over the persecution of opposition figures and civil society groups. Ahead of October’s local elections, Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, and Commissioner Kos, called on the Georgian authorities to uphold the rights to freedom of assembly and expression, and to release those arbitrarily detained. The European Union (EU) has repeatedly voiced concern over the democratic decline in Georgia. The European Parliament has described the current authorities as illegitimate and urged the holding of new parliamentary elections. Observers warn that the move to ban opposition parties could further undermine Georgia’s stalled bid for EU accession.