MOULTRIE — MOULTRIE — Colquitt County offensive assistant Buzz Payne coached the defensive ends last year at Thomas County Central, where one of his players was All-State performer Ray Drew.

When Payne told Drew last spring that he was taking a job at Colquitt County and would be on the opposite sideline in an early September game, the big Yellow Jacket said he understood.

Then he added, “Don’t take it personally, but I’m going to play the way you taught me to play.”

That has been plenty good enough to make the 6-foot-5, 248-pound Drew one of the most sought-after defensive ends in the nation this fall.

And it has been good enough to get the attention of the Colquitt County offensive staff as it has prepared for today’s 8 p.m. game against Thomas County Central at the Jackets Nest.

Payne has plenty of good memories of coaching at Thomas County Central. His son Taylor played quarterback for the Yellow Jackets and daughter Morgan was a cheerleader.

“That was an important time in our lives,” Payne said Thursday. “There’s still an emotional attachment there.

“I know a lot of those kids. I coached a lot of them. But I’ve put all that aside. We’re going down there to win.”

And Payne has been an important resource as the Packers prepare to defend the Yellow Jackets split-back veer. As a defensive coach, in practices he had to deal with an offense rarely run in high school football nowadays.

And it is not just because it is rare that is so hard to defend.

“You just can’t replicate the speed of it (in practice)” Payne said. “Some people say it is old and out-of-date, but you can use smaller offensive linemen and other teams just can’t replicate the speed of the dive backs.”

Tho-mas County Central ran the veer for 17 seasons under Ed Pilcher and won state championships in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1997.

When Pilcher left for Bainbridge after the 2007 season, former assistant Bill Shaver took over as head coach and kept the veer.

“And Coach Shaver is very patient,” Payne said. “He’ll be happy to get three or four yards a pop. He’ll just bore you, bore you and bore you until there’s a breakdown.”

The key to defending the veer is easy to see, but hard to implement.

Defensive ends must take the dive back and the linebackers must contain the quarterback.

“You worry about the pitch later,” he said.

And in senior Eric Dodson, the Jackets have an outstanding veteran under center. Dodson was the Region 1-AAAA Offensive Player of the Year last season.

“He’s a very good athlete,” said Payne, who coached Dodson when he was the scout-team quarterback several years ago. “He’s very competitive. He’s a good wrestler and he’s very tough.”

Dodson rushed for 91 yards in the Yellow Jackets 20-17 victory over Thomasville last week.

One of the backs who will be taking handoffs from Dodson will be three-year starter Curtis Brooks, who rushed for 84 yards on six carries last week.

Junior James Davis also will carry the football. He rushed 13 times for 51 yards last week.

And the Packers must do a better job defensively against the run than they did last week when South Panola rushed for 440 yards and seven touchdowns in a 65-35 victory.

Defensively, the Yellow Jackets are led by Drew and senior outside linebacker Toby Eaton. Middle linebacker Jamall Choice also is an outstanding player.

Payne said the Thomas County Central staff is a veteran one that includes former Packers head coach Mike Singletary, who works with the Yellow Jackets linebackers.

Central lost its opener a year ago to Thomasville, then ripped off 11 straight wins before being ousted from the Class AAAA playoffs by eventual state champion Sandy Creek.

“We are going into a hostile environment,” Payne said, adding that Thomas County Central uses its scoreboard to remind the fans and players of the state championships and former outstanding players such as Charlie Ward.

“They are going to play to defend their turf down there. They are going to believe they can win.”

And while the Packers have opened with a pair of disappointing losses to Cook and South Panola, Payne said he expects the Colquitt County crowd to be a big and vocal one.

“There are some fair-weather fans,” he said. “But regardless of what our record is now, the community will be out in full force.

“I’ve coached in several places, but the support here is second to none.”

The Packers offense will try to build on its five-touchdown performance against South Panola.

Senior quarterback Tyler Brown has completed 39-of-64 passes for 496 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions in the first two games.

Brown had career highs in completions with 23, attempts with 37 and passing yards with 280 against South Panola.

He has moved to third place in the Packers all-time career yards list with 3,332 yards.

Seven Packers have receptions in the first two games, led by Tommy Hudson, who has 12 catches for 156 yards.

Tevin King leads the team in rushing with 189 yards on 35 carries. D’Amonte Ridley has 130 yards on 26 carries.

Both also have caught five passes and scored two touchdowns.

Octavius Little and Blake Stamps are the likely to join Hudson in starting at wide receiver.

Bryce Giddens has been the starter at center with Garrett Brewer and Trey Rhymes at guard and Xzavier Ward and Tommy Marshall at the tackles.

On defense, the Packers have used Quan Daniels, Derhyan Arnold and Wayne Jackson at the end positions.

Brett Smith, Richard Kinsey and Octavius Jackson have received most of the work at the tackle position.

Rashawn Hunt and Da’Quan Nelson are the outside linebackers.

Hunt leads the team with eight solo tackles and 11 assists.

Stephen Moore has missed most of the first two games with an ankle injury, but he could be ready to return to his middle linebacker spot tonight.

Sophomore John Gray has filled in middle linebacker and is fourth on the team in tackles.

Stacey Blackwell and Trey Scott are the corners, Payne Newsome the rover and Ronnie Caldwell teh free safety.

Tanner White has been doing the punting with Alex Littleton doing the snapping.

Rich Tyndall is 5-for-5 in extra points and 1-for-1 in field goal attempts. Stamps has been doing much of the holding. Jeremy Bell is the short snapper.

Also in Region 1-AAAAA tonight, Locust Grove will be at Coffee, Lowndees will go to McEachern, Shiloh will travel to Tift County and Valdosta will play host to Hardaway.

Fans heading to Thomasville to watch the game are encouraged to park at the tech school parking lot and use the entrance behind the visitors stands.