Wayne Grandy
MOULTRIE — After watching his team give up touchdowns to Northside last Friday on the Eagles first two possessions, Colquitt County head coach Rush Propst has stressed how important it will be to play well early tonight when the Packers travel to Westlake for a first-round state playoff game.
The Packers were down 14-0 to the Northside just seven minutes into the game. And even though they outscored Northside 17-6 the rest of the way, the hole was to deep to claw out of.
“We have got to play better early,” Propst said. “We have got to get off the bus playing.”
The Packers will be playing in their first postseason game since 2005 when they kickoff at Westlake’s new, artificial turf field at 7:30 tonight.
Colquitt is just 1-5 in state playoff games since 1999 and has not scored more that 14 points in a postseason game since losing to Chattahoochee 25-22 in 1999.
Even the Packers only playoff win this decade was by a 7-3 score over Tri-Cities in 2005 before being was eliminated by Starr’s Mill 16-14 the next week.
Propst would like to see some more offensive and defensive continuity this week.
“It’s time for us to play a full ball game,” he said. “We still lack 48 minutes of consistent play. There is no reason for us not to have that happen.
“We really need to do a better job of being consistent. There is no margin for error in the playoffs. You have to know that playoff football is played at a higher level. There is more at stake.”
Colquitt was close to playing a solid half in the final two quarters against Northside, scoring a pair of touchdowns and holding the Eagles to just a field goal.
But a penalty, a sack and an interception in final two minutes kept the Packers from having a chance to pull the upset.
Colquitt should be relatively healthy when it takes the field against the Lions, the Region 4-AAAAA runners-up.
Tevin King, Region 1-AAAAA’s seventh-leading rusher with 674 yards on 101 carries and nine touchdowns, practiced on Wednesday after re-injuring his foot in the second quarter against Northside last Friday.
King also is the Packers second-leading receiver with 18 carches for 213 yards.
Propst said a game-time decision would be made on whether King will be able to go, but said that playing on artificial turf would be better for the junior running back’s injury.
If King is unable to go, D’Amonte Ridley is expected to start in his place.
Tyler Brown, who has thrown for 1,736 yards this season, will be at quarterback.
The receivers will be Quin Roberson, who leads the region in receptions and scoring, Jacob Propst, Ty Smith, Travis Harris and Tommy Hudson.
The offensive line will include center Bryce Giddens, guards Chris Walsh and Trey Rhymes and tackles Garrett Brewer and Xavier Ward. Tommy Marshall also will play.
Defensively, the ends will be Tyrell Wright, Quan Daniels and Rashawn Hunt. The tackles will be Cameron Erving, Nyneson Jeudy and Robert Fuller.
Willie McCrary, who leads the team with 76 tackles, will be at linebacker along with Stephen Moore, Emory Wheeler and Dillon Underwood.
Davis Durham, who had 11 tackles, an interception and the deflection of a pass that led to another interception, will be at free safety.
Also at safety and rover will be William McCrary, Jamal Davis and Payne Newsome.
Tyler Dismuke will punt, kickoff and kick the long field goals.
Rich Tyndall will kick the extra points and short field goals.
Durham will be the holder and Ashley Mead will do the snapping.
If the Packers can get by the 7-3 Lions, they will meet the winner of the game between Region 2-AAAAA champion and 10-0 Stephenson and 6-4 Bradwell Institute, the No. 4 team from Region 3.
The rest of the Class AAAAA playoffs includes:
• Chapel Hill (7-3) at Northside, W. Robins (9-1)
• Union Grove (8-2) at Windsor Forest (6-4)
• Brookwood (5-5) at McEachern (10-0)
• Kell (6-4) at Peachtree Ridge (8-2)
• Valdosta (7-3) at Newnan (10-0)
• Jenkins (4-6) at M.L. King (9-1)
• Marietta (5-5) at Grayson (10-0)
• Collins Hill (8-2) at Roswell (9-1)
• Centennial (5-5) at North Gwinnett (10-0)
• Dacula (7-3) at Woodstock (9-1)
• Newton (6-4) at Camden County (8-2)
• East Coweta (7-3) at Lowndes (9-1)
• North Forsyth (7-3) at Lassiter (10-0)
• Etowah (8-2) at South Gwinnett (9-1)
