VALDOSTA (CNHI) —The Valdosta Wildcats’ (4-0) impressive 2014 campaign continued Friday night at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium, as they again used a stout defensive performance to shut out the Thomasville Bulldogs 10-0,in a game that featured a near hour-long lightning delay.

Friday’s contest, the teams’ first meeting since 1985, was sloppy, but that didn’t stop Valdosta from moving to 4-0. The Wildcats have surrendered just 10 points in four games, a stretch that has seen Rance Gillespie’s squad outscore opponents by a whopping 80 points.

The heavily favored ‘Cats didn’t look as such through three quarters against the Bulldogs, however, as a stout Thomasville defensive front kept the ‘Dogs’ hopes for an upset bid alive. Valdosta continued its ground and pound attack, however, a strategy largely formulated due to the wet conditions, and tired the Thomasville defense just enough to punch the deciding score across late in the game.

Valdosta compiled 130 rushing yards, most of which were gained by feature backs Tim Griffin and Tim McClain. The large majority of the duo’s carries came between the tackles for fewer than five yards, but the ‘Cats didn’t waiver from running the ball on almost every down. Griffin gained 44 yards while McClain added 42.

The finishing blow came in the fourth quarter through the air, however, as Seth Shuman found a wide-open Khalil McClain for an 18-yard touchdown that was perfectly set up several consecutive running plays. It was McClain’s first game of the season.

The unsung hero was senior punter Brennan Goodson. He dumped two kicks on the Senior Quarterback Junior Hayes was the bright spot offensively for Thomasville. The field general rushed for 82 yards on 12 carries and passed for 23 yards.

Both teams had more penalty yardage than they did passing yards.