This is the fifth in a series highlighting Colquitt County’s 15-0 state championship season in 1994.

MOULTRIE – The 1994 Colquitt County football team puts its perfect record and its No. 1 ranking in Class AAAA on the line when it played host to its oldest rival on Oct. 14.

Valdosta was ranked No. 2 in the state at the time and had lost to the Packers the year before.

But when Johnny Jones returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown on the fourth play of the game and the Wildcats jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead, the chances of Colquitt County going 7-0 appeared remote.

But the Jones touchdown would be the only one Valdosta could manage as the Packers used a first-quarter touchdown run by Lavasky King and a second-quarter, 38-yard field goal by Neal Clements to defeat the Wildcats 10-7.

Colquitt County quarterback Clif Henry completed 17-of-29 passes for 225 yards to keep the Valdosta defense back on its heels throughout the game.

The Packers wasted little time countering the Valdosta touchdown.

The seven-play, 68-yard game-tying drive started with a completion from Henry to Todd Taylor for 21 yards.

On the drive, Henry completed 4-of-5 passes for 67 yards and his 24-yarder to Bo Chambliss set up King’s 2-yard touchdown run with 8:12 left in the first quarter. The Clements conversion tied the game.

In the second quarter, Henry connected with Ronald Bonner on a 39-yard completion that set up the Clements field goal with 2:29 left in the half that proved to be the game-winner.

In the second half, an 11-play Valdosta drive resulted in no points as the Packers held the Wildcats running game in check and the front four of ends Jerry Jones and Tyree King and tackles Danny Walker and Terry Turner harassed quarterback Kareem Wilson.

Wilson was sacked three times in the game and Dusty Bonner, who replaced him, was sacked once.

King, Turner, Jones and linebacker Jackie McNeal had the sacks. Jesse Sutton two tackles for loss.

Valdosta rushed for 48 yards on 34 carries, threw for only 58 yards and managed just seven first downs.

Carlos Johnson caught six passes for 64 yards and Ronald Bonner had five for 77 for the Packers, who rolled up 309 yards of offense.

The win marked just the third time the Packers had defeaed Valdosta twice in a row.

The Packers raised their record to 8-0 the following Friday night at Martin Stadium in Valdosta with another 10-7 win, this one over Lowndes.

The victory, which raised the Packers Region 1-AAAA record to 4-0 and clinched a playoff berth, was not a pretty one, however.

Colquitt turned the ball over a season-high five times and needed to recover an onside kick with 1:25 remaining to seal the victory over a struggling Vikings team that finished 4-6.

The only Lowndes touchdown came after it recovered a fumble at the Packers 16 in the closing moments.

The score came on a 10-yard pass from Levon Morell from quarterback Tim Drew, who went to pitch in the Major Leagues for three teams, including the Atlanta Braves in 2004.

The Packers got their first points on an 18-yard field goal by Neal Clements on the final play of the first half.

Their only touchdown came on a 12-yard run by Lavasky King with 58 seconds left in the third quarter.

Another reception in the drive was for 23 yards by Dextra Polite, the starting cornerback getting some time at wide receiver.

Polite was more pleased with the two pass interceptions he had in the game.

Colquitt held the Vikings to just 81 yards on the ground on 28 carries and just 78 yards through the air.

Henry completed 15-of-27 passes for 168 yards and went over 1,000 yards for the season.

King rushed for 88 yards on 20 carries. Johnson had six catches for 50 yards and Bonner had five for 71.

 

Next Wednesday: The Packers finish the regular season with wins over Tift County and Coffee.