MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County 7-on-7 team did not win either of the tournaments it entered last weekend, but the Packers did play well enough to earn a B-plus from their head coach.

Colquitt went 5-2 in the tournament at Auburn, Ala., last Thursday and as one of the top eight, got to play in Jordan-Hare Stadium, home of the Auburn Tigers.

The Packers then went to Atlanta to participate in the Corky Kell Classic, winning six games and reaching the quarterfinals before being beaten by Walton 19-16 in a game they led 16-0 with 10 minutes remaining.

The loss to the Raiders was disappointing, Propst said, especially when the Packers dropped two potential game-winning passes in the closing seconds.

Marietta went on to win the tournament, defeating North Gwinnett 36-35 in the championship game.

“A 7-on-7 is like an NBA game,” Propst said. “You can be up and three minutes later you can be down.”

At Auburn, the Packers were ousted by Pinson Valley, led by four-star quarterback Bo Nix, son of Pinson coach and former Auburn quarterback Patrick Nix.

Phenix City went on to win the tournament.

“It was better than I thought it would be,” Propst said of the event, which also featured a “trench talent” performance for linemen.

Colquitt County rising senior left tackle Kamaar Bell, who played exclusively at center, was singled out for his work.

Bell has received a number of Southeastern Conference offers and did nothing to disappoint those who watched him.

Much of the focus for the Packers offensive staff in the two competitions was the play of rising junior quarterback Jaycee Harden, who played sparingly behind Steven Krajewski last season.

Propst said Harden struggled the first two games at Auburn, “but after that, he just kept getting better and better. He was making the right reads and I think by the end of the Kell, he had become a much better quarterback.”

Just the sheer number of repetitions in the 14 games, which feature only passing, helped bolster the young quarterback’s confidence, Propst said.

Propst said that Harden is still in “developmental mode.”

“But he’s accepted the position and what comes with it,” Propst said. “He’s growing up right before our eyes.”

Propst said he also thought the offense might be developing some unexpected depth at receiver.

Marvion McDonald, who also is taking snaps as a backup quarterback, played well.

“His working at receiver is helping Jaycee,” Propst said of McDonald, who started at wideout last season.

Tyrique Williams, Janaz Graves and Tyler Walker also impressed at the two competitions.

“I think we might be deeper there than we thought,” Propst said.

Tight ends Josh Hadley and Carter Boatwright also performed well.

“Josh really ‘bodied up,’” Propst said of Hadley, who caught the touchdown pass that gave the Packers a lead with 49 seconds remaining in last December’s state championship game. “He really stood out.”

Defensively, the Packers played in Atlanta without highly recruited cornerback Jay Ward, who turned an ankle at Auburn.

That enabled some other youngsters to get some valuable work.

Propst said the Packers have six linebackers, four who can play the rover and dog positions and four cornerbacks.

“We are creating some depth,” he said. “I still think we are one safety short.”

His overall assessment of his team’s play in Auburn and Atlanta?

“I saw some good stuff,” Propst said. “Overall, my assessment is a B-plus. “If we had beaten Walton, it would have been an A.”

Propst said the team plans a two-day organized team activity (OTA) session next Tuesday and Wednesday.

On Friday, June 29, Colquitt County will play host to a camp led by former Packer, Florida State Seminole and current Kansas City Chief offensive lineman Cameron Erving.

Some 200 youngsters have signed up for the camp.

Former Packer and recent Miami Dolphin signee Jamiyus Pittman and some other NFL players also could take part.

Propst said a number of Colquitt County senior players will be on hand to help out as well.

After the GHSA-mandated “dead week” on July 2-6, the Packers will participate in a 7-on-7 competition in Hoover, Ala., on July 12-13.

The preseason work on shorts and shoulder pads will begin on July 25 and two-a-day practices will start on Aug. 1.

Propst said Picture Day will be on Sunday, July 29. He said he is still seeking a scrimmage opponent before the Aug. 25 season-opener against McEachern.