MOULTRIE – “Not a runaway.” It’s a phrase often heard by fans of ‘Jeopardy,’ but it also describes many a soccer match involving the Colquitt County High Packers.

But wins are wins, and right now that’s all Jimbo Jarvis’ club is doing. The Packer boys are 2-0 in Region 1-7A following Friday’s 2-1 victory against rival Tift County High at Packer Park. Aldo Miranda’s free kick blast near the sideline at the left of the Tift goal broke a 1-1 tie in the second half of an otherwise equally played match.

The Miranda goal followed the only yellow card issued on Tift County, and it just so happens that earlier in the second half the visiting Blue Devils achieved a tie scoring from a yellow-card free kick. And that was the only time Colquitt was hit with a card on Friday.

Neither bench could be upset over goalkeeper play, the Packers’ net minded by Yohan Garcia while Paco Ventura notched a good bit of saves for Tift. Both are first-year starters at this key position.

Ventura’s first save was at 32:45 when top Packer goal scorer Enrique Salgado got away from defenders 20 yards away from the net and ripped the ball his way.

It was no easy match for the Packer defense, but senior stopper Bobby Ussrey and senior Humberto Aguilar were solid in front of Garcia.

Timmy Phelphs’ 50-50 win allowed Gilbert Velasquez to charge from the right edge and give Colquitt the corner kick at 27:30. Ventura was there for the catch.

Garcia matched him with a big save on Tift’s Alexis Espinoza up close at 26:10. Jason Gallardo, another Packer striker, got into a one-on-one drive at 25:25, but Ventura saved his shot.

Over the next 15 minutes each team was getting their corner kicks and free kicks to no avail. Elian Calderon of Tift almost notched the first point with about 10 minutes remaining in the half, but that honor instead went to Gallardo.

Salgado fed Gallardo the ball going down the middle about 30 yards away. From there it was a sprint, and Gallardo got the better of the deal at 9:21.

The Blue Devils quickly pushed for a leveling goal that the Packers defended well. Ventura, at 7:10, saved Salgado’s effort after a free kick, and that was the last best scoring chance before halftime.

The Packer defense shined for the first 10 minutes of the second half led by Ussrey and Josh Aviles. Garcia caught a corner kick at 28:39 and saved Jonathan Salazar’s chip at 27:52. About 40 seconds later Salgado was in the opposite box giving Ventura his next successful save.

But action near the sidelines opposite the benches brought out the yellow on the Packers at 25:53. From about 40 yards away, the Blue Devils sent the ball into the box, and the head shot hit the back of the net leveling things 1-1.

Each side had a close call over the next two minutes, but Ussrey and Ventura came through to keep things tied up.

It was at 18:01 that Tift was hit with the yellow, also in action near the sideline with the stands. Miranda didn’t need any assistance as his ball sailed in for the tiebreaker.

The Packers controlled the flow from then on, forcing two more saves out of Ventura, and Aviles hit a post at the eight-minute mark.

The next Blue Devil penetration into the Colquitt box was at 5:30, but they were called for fouling Garcia.

The Colquitt County girls team fell to the Lady Devils 5-0 in Friday’s first game.

The injury-riddled Lady Packers are now 2-5-1 overall and 0-2 in Region 1-7A.

The Colquitt County soccer teams will travel to Kingsland next Friday for a pair of region games against Camden County.