University of Georgia head football coach Mark Richt poses with three Bulldogs who are former Colquitt County Packers, from left, Ty Flournoy-Smith, Xzavier Ward and Preston Mobley.

 Colquitt County and North Gwinnett will be going for their second Corky Kell Classic victories when they meet at the Georgia Dome on Saturday in a game scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

But Colquitt’s last win came way back in 1996 in their first appearance in the event.

North Gwinnett has played in the Corky Kell twice, winning 34-17 over Lassiter in 2010 and falling to McEachern 26-17 last year.

To be fair, the Packers have not played in the Corky Kell since 1999, when they lost to Parkview 7-3.

That was the last four straight appearances by Jim Hughes-coached Colquitt County teams in the Corky Kell.

 The Packers won  their first appearance in the Georgia Dome, defeating McEachern 28-7 in 1996. Then Colquitt lost their next three, by a total of 16 points.

In 1997, the Corky Kell games were played at Brookwood and McEachern rather than a the Georgia Dome and the Packers faced Brookwood on its home field and the Broncos took a 14-7 victory.

Colquitt drew Brookwood again the next season and the game was even closer, but the Packers fell 21-16 in the Dome.

But after losing to Parkview in 1999, which was the last season Hughes coached the Packers, Colquitt County has not returned to what has been a signature event in Georgia high school football.

The Corky Kell Classic got its start in 1992 when Brookwood and McEachern played the very first game in the Georgia Dome, even before the Atlanta Falcons took to the field.

Brookwood and McEachern have played each year in the Classic since then.

Newnan beat Southwest DeKalb 24-6 in the other game in 1992.

The Classic had just two games the next year and the field was increased to three game in 1994 and 1995.

In 1996, the Classic was expanded to five games and Colquitt County, Valdosta and Thomas County Central joined the field.

And all three won, with the Yellow Jackets edging Marist 32-31 and Valdosta taking down Brookwood 31-28.

From 2001-2004, the Classic was an all-Atlanta area affair.

Camden County played from 2005-2009, winning four of its five games.

The Classic included four games from 1997-2011, but the field was expanded to five teams again this year.

The schedule includes Chattahoochee vs. Kell at 9 a.m.; McEachern vs. defending Class AAAAA state champion Grayson at 11:45 p.m.; North Gwinnett vs. Colquitt County at 2:30 p.m.; Peachtree Ridge vs. Camden County at 5:30 p.m.; and Class AAAAA runner-up Walton vs. 2010 Class AAAAA state champion Brookwood at 8:30 p.m.

Brookwood, Grayson, North Gwinnett and Peachtree Ridge are from Gwinnett County.

Walton, Kell and McEachern are from Cobb County.

Chattahoochee is in Fulton County.

All five Corky Kell Classic games will be televised live on GPB.

The 10 teams will feature a number of outstanding players, including 10 who were selected for the Georgia High School Football Daily’s preseason Class AAAAAA All-State team.

They are: Walton running back Tyren Jones; North Gwinnett offensive lineman Alex Stoehr; Walton offensive lineman Brandon Kublanow; Colquitt County offensive lineman Octavius Jackson; Grayson athlete Wayne Gallman; Grayson defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche; Camden County linebacker Jarrad Davis; Camden County defensive back J.J. Green; Grayson defensive back Kasey Gaines; and Peachtree Ridge punter Connor Rouleau.

PACKERS NOTES: Colquitt County has lost its last five appearances in the Georgia Dome: 1997, lost to Parkview 14-7 in state semifinals; 1998, lost to Brookwood 21-16 in Corky Kell Classic; lost to McEachern 35-14 in the state semifinals; 1999, lost to Parkview 7-3 in Corky Kell Classic; 2010, lost to Brookwood 52-38 in the state championship game.