Wayne Grandy
MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County High football seniors must take a little more than the expected pride in this year’s 7-1 record.
One — Jacob Propst — came with his father to Moultrie and has been a starter for the Packers two seasons.
Willie and William McCrary played in Daphne, Ala., before moving to Moultrie just before the current season started and may not be familiar with the losses most of their 12th-grade teammates have endured.
But those who were here for the 2-8 record in 2007 and the 4-6 season a year ago, will have dearly earned the applause when they are introduced before tonight’s game against Houston County at Tom White Field at Mack Tharpe Stadium.
The seniors to be honored are Quin Roberson, the McCrary twins, Derrell Ward, Davis Durham, Jeremy Downs, Amel Magwood, Tyler Dismuke, Hakeem Peterson, Nyneson Jeudy, Jamal Davis, Ryan Ward, Tyrell Wright, Ashley Mead, Dillon Underwood, Audrick Ponder, Emory Wheeler, Beau Weathers, Whit Benton, Chris Walsh, Travis Harris, Jacob Propst, Robert Fuller and Cameron Erving.
The Colquitt County football program’s problems began in 2006, when these players would have been sophomores.
The Packers started 5-0 and were ranked No. 1 in Class AAAAA.
But Colquitt dropped four of its last five — including triple-overtime losses to region opponents Coffee and Tift County — and finished 6-4.
The Packers opened the 2007 season with a 14-0 loss at home to Class AA Cook High and went on to finish 2-8.
Rush Propst added two victories last year in his first season as the Packers went 4-6.
The current four-game winning streak against region opponents has the Packers sitting at 7-1 for the first time since 1999.
The current defensive unit, ranked No. 3 in the region in total defense, has been particulary senior-oriented.
Wright, Jeudy and Erving start on the line and Fuller gets plenty of playing time after starting as a junior and a senior.
Wheeler, Davis and Willie McCrary have started at linebacker with Underwood also getting in on a good share of tackles.
Corners Magwood and Ward have four and three interceptions respectively and Durham is the third leading tackler.
Dismuke, the punter, and Mead, the snapper, and Downs have anchored the special teams.
Peterson, Roberson, Propst and Walsh have been starters on offense and Harris has caught 10 passes this season.
