MOULTRIE —
Back on September 7, Colquitt County held Lovejoy to just a single, fourth-quarter touchdown in a 14-7 victory over a team that has one of the top offenses in the state.
The Packers will face a similar task on Friday when they travel to Norcross to meet an undefeated Blue Devils team that might have more weapons than Lovejoy.
Expecting the Packers defense to allow just seven points might be unrealistic.
With an accurate and veteran quarterback in Joseph Wilber, an All-State and highly coveted running back in Alvin Kamara and a big, productive junior receiver in Myles Autry, the Blue Devils are likely to put some points on the board.
They did it when they visited Tom White Field at Mack Tharpe Stadium last August in the scrimmage they won 33-31.
The Packers might find themselves involved in a track meet, but they have an experience arsenal of their own.
Quarterback Cole Segraves has proved he thrives in the the postseason and is 6-1 in playoff starts.
He has completed 163-of-273 passes for 2,098 yards and 10 touchdowns this season and has made some highlight-reel throws the last several weeks.
And Packers coach Rush Propst and offensive coordinator Jeff Hammond have been adding to the playbook as the season has gone on.
And as the season has progressed, more players have played crucial roles.
Bobby Hill continues to be the Packers primary target. He leads the team with 73 catches for 1051 yards and six touchdowns.
He caught just three passes in the victory at Parkview last Friday, but two were worth several looks.
Hill willed himself into the end zone on a 35-yard touchdown pass that gave the Packers their first lead in the third quarter.
He had another in the fourth quarter that resulted in a first down that brought the Packer fans out of their seats.
And Hill may find more maneuvering room in the secondary and Todd Boyd continues to develop.
With 40 catches for 771 yards, he has become nearly as dependable as Hill.
The Packers are beginning to show that they can run with some effectiveness, whether with Segraves toting or giving to Sihiem King, John Boatwright or Maleek Lewis.
And the opposition should not forget about versatile sophomore Javonta Woods. Or Kishaun Taylor and Deonte Johnson, who are capable to turning in plays. As is tight end Nate Madison, when he is called upon.
The Packers offensive line will again be called upon to protect Segraves and provide some space for King, Boatwright and Lewis.
Junior right tackle Gabe Mobley is coming off his best game of the season.
The other four — tackle Octavius Jackson, guards Travis Register and Jeffery Davis and center Dalton Dillon — are seniors who have logged plenty of snaps over the last 27 games.
The Blue Devils did not see the broad spectrum of the Packers offense in August, when Segraves completed 7-of-9 passes for 66 yards and a touchdown pass to Hill.
Lewis rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.
But Norcross did not win the Region 7 championship and win 13 straight games without being able to play some defense.
And the Blue Devils have some performers the the Packers will have to account for.
Senior linebacker Tommy Tate has 152 tackles to his credit, averaging 11.7 a game.
Junior defensive end Lorenzo Carter has 116, including 18 sacks.
Junior linebacker Kevin Mouhon has 124 tackles.
Norcross is giving up an average of 12.4 points and 190.7 yards a game.
PACKERS NOTES: The Colquitt County-Norcross game will kick off at 8 p.m. and will be televised by Georgia Public Broadcasting.
It also will be availble live online at www.ghsa.tv.
Local Sports
Packers likely to need plenty of offense vs. Norcross
- Local Sports
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Packers finish tied for fourth in state golf tournament
When Colquitt County won the Blue Devil Invitational at Spring Hill Country Club in Tifton on April 8, the Packers did so with a round of 294, their best score of the season.
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Tournaments open
Levi Stanfill helped lead Liberty Tax into the Farm League baseball tournament that opened on Monday at the Magnolia Sports Complex. Tournament play in both the Farm League and Midget League will continue tonight with the championship games set for 6 p.m. Thursday. In Monday’s Midget League games, Davis Insurance defeated Mobley Plant 9-3; Quality Employment downed Hutchinson Traylor 13-5 and Southwest Georgia Insurance eliminated Ameris 20-4. In Farm League games on Monday, Farm Bureau defeated Lazarus, 17-6; Ameris won over Southwest Georgia Bank 13-2; Liberty Tax defeated Rocky’s 8-2; and Davis Insurance won over Paradise Pool and Patio 17-2. Stanfill is shown slamming a double in a recent Liberty Tax victory over Lazarus.
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Lady Packers third at state golf tournament at Sunset
Colquitt County coach Matt Key said he thinks his Lady Packers might have place little too much pressure on themselves at Monday’s Class AAAAAA golf tournament at Sunset Country Club.
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Packers head to Tifton to chase state golf championship
When the Colquitt County High golf team tees off in Monday’s state tournament, the Packers will be playing a course that it sometimes plays better than its own.
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Davis Insurance, Hutson Motors win boys baseball championships
Davis Insurance edged Liberty Tax 13-12 on Thursday at the Magnolia Sports Complex and claimed the Farm League baseball championship.
Hutson Motors won the Tiny Mites championship after defeating Holman Supply 15-0 to finish its season undefeated.
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Harrell Auto Electric wins Mite girls championship
Harrell Auto Electric defeated M&M Diesel 13-4 on Thursday and, combined with Little Debbie’s 13-10 over Kirk Clinic, clinched the Mite girls championship.
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Colquitt girls seek state golf title on home course
The Colquitt County girls golf team will certainly have an advantage in Monday’s Class AAAAAA tournament at Sunset Country Club with three fine players competing on familiar territory.
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As expected, defense shines in Packers scrimmage
To no one’s surprise, the talented Colquitt County defense had its way much of the time in Saturday morning’s spring scrimmage at Tom White Field at Mack Tharpe Stadium.
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Colquitt County producing top offensive linemen
Since Rush Propst rode into town in 2008 and installed his gun-slinging, rapid-fire offense, Colquitt County has produced record-setting teams and players.
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TOURNAMENT RUNNERS-UP
The Colquitt County Legends 9U travel baseball team placed second at the Berrien County 10U Invitational Tournament held last Saturday. All the teams in the tournament were 10U teams except the Legends, who were the only 9U team. Shown are, front, from left, Chasyn Miley, Hayden Moore, Abraham Daniels, Jace Autrey, Henry Underwood, Hayes Lightsey and Landon Griffin; middle, Cole Whatley, Nathan Harden, Davis Dalton, Cannon Whatley, Drew Johnson and Mason White; back, coaches Andy Whitaker, Chris Miley, Ricky Griffin, Keith Whatley and Clay Underwood.
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Packers finish tied for fourth in state golf tournament
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