MOULTRIE — Vance Cuff had a fine junior season for the Colquitt County High football team, using his speed and versatility at cornerback, wide receiver running back and on special teams.
And while he played somewhat in the shadow of teammates Orion Ponder and Dontrell Johnson, both of whom received honorable mention on the All-State team, Cuff has now become perhaps the Packers most sought-after player.
An impressive performance at the combine in Gainesville, Fla., in May and a 4.35 clocking in the 40 have opened the eyes of a number of the nation’s top programs. He has three scholarship offers already.
Florida got to see Cuff up close and personal at the combine and was impressed. And Cuff told GatorCounty.com that he has been a Florida fan since he was a youngster.
And while the Gators appear to have the inside track, Cuff also is considering Ohio State, Georgia, Mississippi State and Auburn, where he was impressive when he took part in a team camp there last month.
Colquitt County has not had a football player sign out of high school with a Division I school since Nate French went to Auburn in 1998. Brian Jordan played four years as the snapper at Georgia, but earned his scholarship as a walk-on.
Ponder, Johnson, B.J. Baker and Derek Illian also are likely to be scholarship candidates by next February’s national signing day.
And while Cuff and Johnson will give the Packers at least two outstanding backs, watch out for the play of the Coffee High secondary.
The Trojans have four players —Quam Hancock, Kareem Burch, Stacy Williams and Rashad McCrae — who are considered having Division I potential.
Of this and that:
n Aaron Eubanks and Will Southwell continue to have strong summer seasons with the Danville (Va.) Cougars of the Carolina-Virginia Collegiate League.
The two former Packers, who are now Georgia Southern teammates, have led the Cougars to a 16-6 record and a place atop the league standings.
In the 6-1 victory over the Kernersville Bulldogs that vaulted the Cougars into first place, Eubanks worked four innings in relief, giving up just one run and striking out four.
Southwell had a triple and a single and drove in four runs.
n The addition of television broadcast has required a change in the Valdosta State football schedule.
Three of the Blazers' 10 regular season contests will be televised as a part of the Gulf South Conference's GSC-TV Live package, which airs on Thursday nights throughout the season on Comcast/Charter Sport Southeast and CoxSports.
The first game affected will be at Ouachita Baptist, which was originally slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 30. The game is now scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 28 and is set for an 8 p.m. kickoff.
Also affected is the Blazers’ game at Delta State, which has been moved to Thursday, Oct. 12 at 8 p.m., and the regular-season finale at West Georgia, which now will be played at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9.
Valdosta State, which is expected to have former Packers C.A. Sanders and Sherard Reynolds in its starting lineup, opens the 2006 season at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2, at Albany State.
n Former Colquitt County golfer Jack Croyle finished 3-over par and tied for 37th place in the NGA-Hooters Tour’s Touchstone Energy Classic, held recently at Brook Valley Country Club in Greenville, N.C.
Croyle has finished in the money in six of the tour’s 10 tournaments and has earned $12,561.17. His best finish was tie for fourth in the Base Camp Realty/Chesdin Landing Open held last month at the Lake Chesdin Golf Club in Chesterfield, Va..
The tour’s next tournament will be the Olde Oaks Classic at the Olde Oaks Golf Club in Haughton, La., on July 10-16.
n The Tift County High baseball team had just two seniors, but both have signed to play at the next level.
Shortstop/pitcher Scott Shuman is heading to Auburn. And last week right-handed pitcher Austin Smith signed with Georgia Southwestern State.
Smith, who was a second-team All-Region 1-AAAAA selection, helped Tift County reach the state playoffs for the first time in 16 years by going 7-1 with a 2.77 ERAs. He struck out 46 and walked 19 in 48 innings of work.
Local Sports
Cuff catching recruiters eyes
- Local Sports
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Swimmers and divers head to state
Five swimmers and three divers are in Atlanta today to compete in the Georgia High School Association’s 2012 State Swimming and Diving Championships at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center Friday. The Class AAAAA diving championships will begin at 9 this morning. The Class AAAAA swimming prelims will start at 6:30 p.m. today. The finals will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday. Representing Colquitt County High are, front, from left, divers Anastasia Jimenez, Elizabeth Ann Kirkland and Haley Goodman; back, swimmers Peyton Childs, Austin Vines, Ethan Sobalvarro, Cole Wilkes and Austin Hawkins. The swimming and diving finals will video stream live on GHSA.tv.
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Cokely to take over Marianna football program
Former Colquitt County head football coach Tim Cokely is leaving Greater Atlanta Christian to take over the program at Marianna (Fla.) High.
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Tennis teams to open seasons today in Tifton
The Colquitt County High tennis teams will travel to Tifton today for Chick-fil-A Tift County High School Invitational to begin a season in which both teams appear to have legitimate shots at Region 1-AAAAA championships.
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Middle school soccer sweeps openers
Olivia Griffin connnected on a penalty kick in overtime to give the Colquitt County middle school girls soccer team a victory over Lee County in their season-opener in Leesburg on Thursday.
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Peach signs with Thomas University
Cook High senior Kaitie Peach signs to play softball next season at Thomas University. She is the daughter of Wesley and Sheila Peach, formerly of Moultrie. She is granddaughter of Darrell and Gayle Burgess and Thomas and Helen Peach, all of Moultrie. She was a first baseman for Cook the last four seasons, was an all-star for Adel-Cook for five years and plays travel softball for CHOAS. Shown with Kaitie as she signs are, front, from left, Wesley Peach, Sheila Peach and Thomas University coach Bill Wilson; back, Cook head softball coach Scott Ray and assistant coaches Christy Duke and Paula Simmons.
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10-and-under champions
- Middle school soccer teams to open today
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Heading to Arkansas State
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Conference champions
The Colquitt County seventh-grade girls basketball team celebrates its South Georgia Athletic Conference championship. The team includes, front, from left, coach Sheila Williams, Za'Nautica Downs, Akia Sutton, Ty'Asia McNeal, Shy Seay; and back, Sydnee Dalton, Shay Stanfill, Kiarra Lovett, Abiyah Spencer, Coach Jon Scroggins, Angel Kinchen, Chyna Calhoun, Michaela Bennefield, Istajhe Johnson, Ashuntee Stewart and Ja'nysia Brown. Not shown, Coach Tamika Seay and Emily Dozier.
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Lady Pack clinches top seed for region tournament
Makeba Ponder’s free throw with 6 seconds remaining gave the Colquitt County girls a 55-48 victory over Lowndes on Tuesday on the William Bryant Court at the Gladys Espy Gymnasium and ensured the Lady Packers would have the top seed in next week’s Region 1-AAAAA tournament at Tift County.
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