MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County High rifle team won the Area 2 championship on Thursday at Turner County and sent a message to the rest of the state as well.

Colquitt County shot a 1,163, the highest in the history of the program, to beat Fitzgerald by 22 points and earn the right to play host to a sectional match next week.

Colquitt will face Rutland High of Macon, the No. 4 team from Area 1.

Lt. Col. Paul Nagy of the Colquitt County Junior ROTC program said the time and date of the match have not yet been set, but must be done before next Thursday when the Colquitt County team travels to Fort Benning to compete in the Junior ROTC National Championships.

The 1,163 was seven points higher than the previous school record set March 9 in Sylvester.

Colquitt County coach Gunnery Sgt. Emmett Bryant said Thursday that he thinks the Colquitt County score might be the highest in the state this year.

Fitzgerald shot a 1,141 to finish second in the area and will play host to Hardaway.

Worth County shot a 1,129 to finish third. Worth will travel to Upson-Lee.

Wilcox County, which finished fourth with a 1,124, will travel to Northside-Columbus.

Colquitt County got the area championship on the strength of a 387 in the standing position. The team’s previous best score in the position this season was a 377.

Tori Dampier and Jessica Corona each shot a 293 to lead Colquitt County. Yohann Brinson had a 289 and Shontae Robinson chipped in a 288. Corona’s score was her highest of the season.

Dampier’s 293, coupled with the 284 shot by Fitzgerald’s Andrew Lavender, allowed the Colquitt County senior shooter to take the area individual championship.

Dampier finished with a 288.78. Lavender finished wit a 288.69.

Brinson and Dampier each shot a 98 in the standing position. Their previous high in the position had been a 96.

Corona matched her season-high in the standing position with a 96.

“We had a big night,” Nagy said. “They just handle the pressure very, very well.

“They just relax and concentrate on what they are doing.”