MOULTRIE – One of them is the leading receiver in terms of catches and yards for the No. 1-ranked and unbeaten Colquitt County High football Packers. The other is at the bottom of the list in both categories, but he has a significant leg up on the leader.

Colquitt’s line of tight ends contains two seniors, Josh Hadley and Mac English. Hadley is the only Packer so far with more than 200 receiving yards in an offense where six wide receivers are over the 100-yard mark. In all, he has 15 catches for 241 yards … but there’s a blank in the column where touchdowns are listed.

English, on the other hand, probably knows his snaps on the field when it’s time for a varsity game are limited. He’s only played in five of the seven games so far. And more than likely the coaches will call on him to block, using that size and strength he’s gained since entering the Packer program.

For the last two weeks, however, English can say the last touchdown scored in a Packer game belongs to him. His second-half 13-yard scoring grab from Marvion McDonald against Alcovy High on Sept. 28 on Tom White Field at Mack Tharpe Stadium was his first and lone reception not only of the season, but of his varsity career.

Getting back to Hadley, he’s still waiting to return to the end zone after scoring the final touchdown of the 2017 season. It was a bittersweet memory, for it was him leaping sideways, vertical to the ground, to haul in Steven Krajewski’s 13-yard throw for the go-ahead touchdown at North Gwinnett High in the GHSA 7A final. It was a lead that lasted until North Gwinnett used the last 49 seconds of regulation to get into position for the game-winning field goal.

“I thought I put the game up,” said Hadley after Wednesday’s practice for this weekend’s Region 1-7A opener against Camden County at home. “I was the intended receiver. I told coach to put the ball in my hands. I had to get it.”

Counting then sophomore Carter Boatwright, there were 17 catches for tight ends in 15 games last year. As the 2018 season unfolded, Hadley – who scored two touchdowns as a junior – found himself not only lining up in the typical tight end slot, but also roaming behind the linemen in the fullback/sniffer role. With seven games in the books for 2018, a trio of Packers at that position already owns 18 receptions.

While Hadley said the offense is going more through the tight ends, he is also able to run routes out of the backfield. His listed size of 231 pounds makes him as big, if not bigger, than some of his teammates who had to play the tackle positions in the absence of senior Kamaar Bell.

“I’ve gotten way better at blocking than last year,” said Hadley, who certainly smiled at the notion of being asked to perhaps play quick-side tackle. It’s not unusual for high school tight ends to move more towards the interior line at the next level. Hadley didn’t want to do any bragging, but he feels he has Division I potential.

“I may be committing to Old Dominion soon,” he said.

English’s story is one who went from tight end to quarterback and back to tight end in a span of three seasons with the Packers. His work and dedication may be seen more in the days leading up to a varsity game, and he’s shown up day after day to do his part to make Colquitt County football a top 10 team nationally. It’s also in those ‘leading-up’ days when players like English receive most of their appreciation from coaches and teammates.

So when English does score a touchdown, the ultimate playoff for any player in any position, it’s the most celebrated moment in the game it occurs.

“You know it will come one day,” he said. “There was just a lot going on at one time. Everybody was congratulating me. It was just a fun thing all in all.”

Wearing No. 1 in his sophomore season of 2016, English took reps at quarterback alongside senior Jay Saunders and Krajewski, then a junior. He has one pass attempt in a varsity game, and it was completed, but for no yards gained.

“I was smaller,” he said. “Got bigger. Gained a little weight. Got in the weight room. Got a bigger body.”

Speaking on Wednesday, English could not remember if he threw any passes for the varsity. He knew he did play in one game and handed the football off a few times.

“It was a fun time,” he said. “Those are two great dudes (Saunders and Krajewski). You learn from them. It’s all you can do.”

For the 2017 season, English changed numbers to his current No. 85 and worked out with the likes of Hadley and Boatwright. Tight end was his position in freshman football, he said, and that it was offensive coordinator Jeff Hammond who suggested he try playing quarterback. So it was going from tight end to quarterback that required adjustments to his style of play.

“I played baseball when I was young for a long time,” said English. “I just had an arm.”

The last two years brought English back to banging bodies with defensive ends and linebackers in the trenches.

“You have to like it, though,” he said. “It’s the only reason (to play). (Being a Packer) means a lot.”

Playing football beyond high school may or may not happen, English said (fellow senior Kam Woods certainly thinks English is Division I). He’s taking his future plans day by day with the hopes an opportunity presents itself, but he will still attend college.