MOULTRIE — The similarities shared by Colquitt County and Houston County go beyond their identical records.

The two teams — each 3-5 overall and 0-5 in Region 1-AAAAA games — will try to escape the league cellar when they meet at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at McConnell-Talbert Stadium in Warner Robins.

The loser will settle in last place and is likely to remain there when the regular season finishes the following Friday night.

Both teams brought in new coaches this season after disappointing 2007 campaigns.

Houston County, which went 1-9 overall and 0-6 in the region last year, turned to Greg Robinson to replace interim coach George Collins.

Robinson, a former Colquitt County Packer, had coached under Bob Griffth and John Peacock before getting his first head coaching job at Dodge County in 2002.

He led the Indians to back-to-back 9-3 records in 2006 and 2007 before being hired to take over the Houston County program.

Colquitt County was just 2-8 last year and its only region victory came at Houston County’s expense.

Rush Propst, who won five Class 6A state championships over the past nine seasons at Hoover (Ala.) High replaced Tim Cokely in January.

So far, neither coach has been able to translate their former success to their new programs.

Both coaches did get their new teams out of the gates quickly.

Houston beat Groves, Fayette County and Bradwell Institute by a combined 92-16.

Colquitt cruised past Randolph-Clay, Thomasville and Wayne County by a combined 102-14.

The closest Houston County has been to a victory since was a 31-24 loss to Tift County at home.

The Packers had Valdosta on the ropes before falling 42-39.

The other games have not been close.

Houston lost to Lowndes 52-14. The Packers fell to the Vikings 51-0.

Neither has been able to beat Coffee, Warner Robins or Tift County.

The Bears have been outscored in the region 168-52.

If anything, the Packers have been more giving. They have been outscored 215-93.

The nonsense will stop for one of them in the first Saturday game of the season for both teams.

The Packers appear to have the more potent offense, but also the more porous defense.

Colquitt has the region’s most prolific passer this season, with senior John Michael Harrison completing 125-of-238 passes for 1,558 yards and 15 touchdowns. Sophomore Tyler Brown has been impressive in late duty and has completed 24-of-38 for 275 yards and two touchdown.

The Packers also boast two of the top receivers in the region in Eric Key, who has 29 catches for 406 yards and eight scores, and Quin Roberson, who also has grabbed 29 passes for 403 yards and five touchdowns.

Tevin King has 15 catches for 109 yards.