MOULTRIE – The narrative about Colquitt County High senior football placekicker Ryan Fitzgerald usually revolves around being one of the top two or three in the nation.

Now, it’s about being the best ever at his craft in the state of Georgia.

Never, though, had Fitzgerald faced such a situation in 2018. Waiting through three timeouts, he either makes the 37-yard attempt or there is no story to tell. No problem, though, for it was Fitzgerald’s state record-tying fifth field goal of the Packers’ semifinal game against Archer High, and it was his state-record tying 20th make of the season. Somewhere along the way making 55-yard and 34-yard three-point kicks, Fitzgerald sailed past the previous state record for a career (46), which is now his at 49.

Most important to him, though, is that Colquitt County went on to win the game 22-21 in overtime and qualify for the 2018 Class 7A state championship game in one week at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“I’m just glad we won,” said Fitzgerald, who also hasn’t missed a PAT kick in 66 tries. “Winning the game, as a team it felt great. I have the best snapper in the state and the best holder in the state, so it makes my job real easy.”

But never had Fitzgerald been under that much pressure … actually, he said Tuesday he gets more nervous recalling the play and wondering what would have happened had he missed.

“At the time, I just treated it as any other kick,” said Fitzgerald. “It was my fifth field goal of the night, so I said it was just like any other kick. Before the kick, (Archer) called timeout, and nobody talked to me, just let me be. I think that helped a lot to relax. It was a huge kick, good snap, good hold. I didn’t think anything of it until after.”

Two years ago, the narrative was that Colquitt County didn’t have a kicker. This sophomore in his first season on varsity missed two field goal tries when Colquitt County hosted American Heritage of Florida in a nationally televised game and lost 17-14.

“That was my first home game,” said Fitzgerald. “My last home game, it comes down to a kick. This time I make it.”

There is also somebody in Fitzgerald’s heart as he continues to kick for the Packers. At Tift County and against Lowndes, he wore No. 43 in honor of his former long snapper Noah Hightower, a 2018 Colquitt graduate, and Noah’s mother Pam, who passed away during the season.

“Any kicker is good friends with their snapper,” said Fitzgerald. “It’s a special bond. (Noah) went through a tough time with his mom. She was close to all of us. She would help cook … hug every one of us. It was tough on him because they were close. I wore (his number) to let him know we were supporting him. We have ‘Pam’ stickers on the back of our helmets to remember whom we are playing for.”

Georgia, Auburn and Florida State are the schools Fitzgerald said are the main ones talking to him about being a part of their team. He said Tuesday he even got a call from Boise State, and he still has the offers from Georgia State, Army and the Air Force Academy.

With 90 touchbacks out of 103 kickoffs, a 41.1-yard average on 39 punts and 126 total kicking points, anyone can make a Player of the Year case for Fitzgerald.

That holder is the sophomore back-up quarterback Tucker Pitts. The new snapper is one who feels blessed to have a major role in Packer football after two different offseason injuries two years in a row.

Senior Kaleb Spradley, in contention for a starting offensive tackle spot as a junior, missed the 2017 season to a knee injury. This year, he developed a labrum problem that again hindered his blocking abilities. But he found a new job as the main replacement for Hightower in getting the football to the new holder, Pitts.

“Thinking back on it, it probably was one of the biggest snaps I’ve had,” said Spradley, who hasn’t had a bad one, his team thankful he didn’t pick the end of regulation Friday to finally misjudge things. “Going into it, it was just another snap. We practice it every day under as much pressure as we can apply. Our coach does a good job of preparing us for every situation. I was cracking jokes with coach (Rush) Propst before we went out for it. It was really calm.”

Joking around before a game-tying attempt with two seconds to play? Spradley explained that Fitzgerald did a dry swing during a timeout, so he said to Propst Fitzgerald was 2-for-2, so no worries.

“With my situation, I don’t think anything could have worked out any better for me to continue playing,” said Spradley. “I tore my labrum in my right shoulder. Playing right tackle, I wasn’t able to take any edge rush because it would knock it out of place. It caused a lot of problems. Long snapping, I can protect it better and still be a contributing factor.

“(In 2017) I tore my ACL, MCL and meniscus in my left knee. Got rolled up during OTAs.”

There was a lot of rehab with the trainers and at home for Spradley after that. All of this considered, Spradley can indeed wear a headband with the big word “Blessed” on it.

“I’m blessed to be in the position I am. I want everybody to know that,” he said. “My faith’s the greatest thing to me. (The headband) is covered in Bible verses too, ones that stood out to me like Romans 1:16 about being unashamed of the Gospel. I try to do the little things I can to share my faith when I can.”