CLARKSTON, Ga. — Rich Tyndall kicked a 23-yard field goal with 2:28 remaining and Jamal Davis protected it with his first interception of the year as Colquitt County upset No. 5 Stephenson 22-21 on Friday at Hallford Stadium to advance to the Class AAAAA state quarterfinals.
The victory raises the Packers record to 10-2 and sends Colquitt County to the third round for the first time since 1999.
The Packers will travel to the Atlanta area for a third straight week next Friday to take on Lassiter High, which defeated South Gwinnett 70-49 Friday night.
Elsewhere in the region, Camden County defeated Lowndes 10-7, and Northside of Warner Robinsand won over Union Grove 21-10.
The Packers trailed 14-10 with 11:18 left in the game, but rallied on a pair of long fourth-quarter kickoff returns by Quin Roberson and a pair of interceptions by Davis and Amel Magwood.
After Raymond Sanders scored on an 11-yard run to put the Jaguars up by four early in the fourth quarter, Roberson returned the ensuing kickoff 69 yards, setting up a 33-yard field goal by Tyndall to cut the Jaguars lead to 14-13.
Two plays later, Magwood made a diving, sliding interception of a Jordan Tarver pass on the Stephenson 26 and five play later Roberson plowed in from 2 yards out to give Colquitt County a 19-14 lead.
But the Jaguars retaliated quickly, driving 80 yards in just six plays to score on a 19 yard run by Denzel Hartley.
Stephenson elected to kick the extra point and led 21-19.
But Roberson struck again on the next kickoff, returning it 86 yards down the sideline in front of the Stephenson bench before he was pushed out of bounds at the Stephenson 9.
Three plays later, Tyndall kicked his third field goal of the game to put the Packers up by 1 with 2:28 remaining.
Davis sealed the deal when he made the third interception of a Tarver pass with 1:13 left in the game.
Stephenson had one last gasp, but an incomplete pass with no time remaining ended the Jaguars season with an 11-1 record.
When Stephenson took the opening kickoff and drove 61 yards in 12 plays to score on a 17-yard run by Sanders, it looked as if the Packers would be in for a long night.
But the Packers defense tightened up the rest of the half and did not allow another score in the half.
Sanders rushed for 61 yards in the first half, but only 11 in the second quarter.
And it was in that second quarter that the Packers got the big defensive play that got them on the board.
With Stephenson leading 7-0 andfacing a third-and-26 from its own 30, quarterback Jordan Tarver was chased out of the pocket and threw into a crowd.
Colquitt’s Willie McCrary picked it off and raced 20 yards to the end zone.
Rich Tyndall’s conversion tied the game with 5:49 left in the half.
The Packers had two more opportunities in the half but could not convert.
A 17-yard Stephenson punt set Colquitt up at the Stephenson 37 with 2:56, but after three plays gained seven yards, a Tyler Dismuke field goal came up short.
Colquitt later held on a fourth-and-1 at the Packers 42, but again could not convert.
The Packers had just three first downs and 40 total yards in the first half.
Sanders gained 132 yards on 26 carries, but the Packers were able to take advantage of the short fields afforded by the Jaguars to pull their biggest upset of the decade.
Local Sports
Packers upset unbeaten Stephenson
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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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