Packers rout Cairo in spring game 42-14

Published 10:47 pm Friday, May 21, 2021

MOULTRIE – Three Packers scored two touchdowns each as Colquitt County ended spring practice with a 42-14 victory over Cairo on Friday on Tom White Field at Mack Tharpe Stadium.

Baby D Wheeler caught a touchdown pass from each of the Packers’ top two quarterbacks; Charlie Pace scored on a pass from Zane Touchton and on a 1-yard run; and rising sophomore Chad White got to the end zone on runs of 4 and 67 yards in the second half.

Rising freshman Brett Fitzgerald, brother of former Packer and current Florida State kicker Ryan Fitzgerald, converted after all six touchdowns.

“I thought we played with good tempo,” coach Justin Rogers said. “We played fast. Both quarterbacks (Touchton and Neko Fann) played well and had good springs. I think they will continue to grow and push each other.

“Defensively, tackling killed us. We had trouble getting them to the ground. But we had so many new starters, so many new faces. But they’ll get it.”

Colquitt scored on its first possession when Touchton connected with Wheeler for a 30-yard touchdown throw over the middle.

Cairo missed a 27-yard field goal on its next possession, but scored on a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Braylon Robinson to Jaylon Spence and converted the extra point to tie the game 7-7 with 7:02 left in the first half.

The Packers then scored five straight touchdowns, including three in the final 6:05 of the first half.

Wheeler scored his second touchdown on a 37-yard strike from Fann and the Packers went up 14-7 just over a minute after the Syrupmakers’ touchdown.

A Milton Barfield interception of a tipped pass set up a Touchton-to-Pace scoring pass from 26 yards out with 3:00 left in the half.

Cairo fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Colquitt’s Hunter Strickland picked it up and took to the Syrupmakers 1.

Pace scored his second touchdown on the next play and Packers led 28-7 at the half.

Pace ran the ball well, gaining 72 yards on 10 carries.

But the Packers also got tough runs from White, who had 86 yards on six attempts, and fellow rising sophomore Jeremy Murray, who 31 yards on six totes.

Murray also played linebacker on defense.

Touchton completed 6-of-8 passes for 109 yards and Fann was 8-for-10 for 104 yards.

Fann also had an apparent 72-yard touchdown scamper called back by a holding penalty.

Quarterbacks on both team were not tackled during the scrimmage, which also did not include contact in many special teams situations

“Overall, it was a good spring,” Rogers said. “If we looked real good in the spring, then, what would we need summer for?

“But we’ve got a bunch of good guys. And an unbelievably good staff.”

Rogers said Cairo played without its starting quarterback and he expects the Syrupmakers to have another good team next fall.

Cairo, which went 5-5 last season, is coached by Steve Devoursney, who led Griffin to a 15-0 record and a state championship in 2013.

The Bears’ offensive coordinator that year was Justin Rogers.

Colquitt County will begin summer work on June 7 and will play host to a 7-on-7 competition on June 8.

On Thursday, June 10, the Packers’ 7-on-7 team will head to Troy, Ala., for a competition.

Colquitt also will be in the field for a 7-on-7 event at Florida State on June 16.

The Packers will be back in front of their home fans next on Aug. 6 when they play host to Lee County in the fall scrimmage.

Colquitt will open the 2021 season on Friday, Aug. 20, at Marietta.