Vikings cleared of all allegations

  VALDOSTA — The Lowndes Vikings have been cleared of all allegations by the Georgia High School Association and are no longer under investigation.

“We investigated and found no violations to act upon,” the GHSA’s Director of Media Relations Steve Figueroa confirmed to the Times on Tuesday afternoon. “As far as we are concerned, the investigation is closed and no action will be taken towards any school involved.”

The Vikings were placed under investigation Thursday after accusations were made by Colquitt County head coach Rush Propst that Lowndes used Thomas County Central middle school coach Buzz Payne, a former Packer assistant coach, to steal offensive signals in the Vikings’ 17-14 win last month.

Lowndes denied all accusations. Coach Propst was unavailable for comment on Tuesday afternoon and the Lowndes School System was preparing an official statement to be released later on Tuesday.

More on this story will be available in Wednesday’s edition of the Times.