Calhoun: Packers must be focused, disciplined, locked in vs. Camden

Published 2:43 pm Monday, October 9, 2023

MOULTRIE  – Colquitt County coach Sean Calhoun dropped this little tidbit into the conversation while discussing his team’s Friday’s evening game against Camden County in Kingsland.

He said he believes that while the 6-1 Wildcats have run the wing-T extraordinarily well for decades, the team’s coaching staff also banks on coming up with at least one touchdown a game through the air.

And to back up the claim, Calhoun notes that the Wildcats have thrown a touchdown pass in each of its six wins this season.

In their lone loss, they did not.

“They want your eyes wrong,” he said. “They want your eyes in the backfield.”

The Camden backs get plenty of attention, and deservedly so.

In their seven games, the Wildcats have rushed the ball 207 times for 1,791 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Sophomore quarterback Parks Riendeau has attempted just 62 passes in those games, completing 42, including eight for touchdowns.

So while the Packers must concentrate on Jaden Dailey, who has rushed 65 times for 605 yards and 10 touchdowns, and Jordan Hardy, who has carried 36 times for 467 yards and five scores, they can’t ignore Riendeau’s ability to throw the football.

Camden snapped the ball just 37 times in last Friday’s 35-33 victory over Richmond Hill.

Dailey rushed eight times for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Hardy also carried eight times, gaining 116 yards and also scoring twice.

Riendeau attempted just nine passes. One of his six completions was a 47-yarder to Denigel Cooper for a touchdown.

“We are going to have to be disciplined, focused and and locked in on our responsibilities,” Calhoun said.

Especially when the stakes are so high for both teams.

A win by the Wildcats, who are already 1-0 in the region, would put them in the driver’s seat for the top seed.

Colquitt is 6-0 and ranked No. 4 in Class 7A. The 150-mile trip to Kingsland will be for the Packers first region game.

The senior-heavy team clearly is aiming at a second-straight region championship and a berth in the state championship game that just eluded the Packers last year.

Colquitt is coming off wins over Cedar Grove and Lincoln in which it scored 50 and 56 points.

The offense will be triggered by quarterback Neko Fann, who has completed 94-of-152 passes for 1,431 yards and 18 touchdowns this season.

His 77 career touchdown passes are the school record.

Wide receiver Ny Carr has caught 37 passes for 720 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.

He holds the Packers record with 35 touchdown catches and is just 295 yards away from the receiving yardage record as well.

Tight end Landen Thomas has 19 catches for 252 yards and two scores this year. He has 102 career receptions with 18 touchdowns.

The Packers top two rushers are juniors Ramsey Dennis and Day’Shawn Brown, who have combined for 731 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Zay Williams, Markese Wilson and Jaden Fowler also will be among Fann’s targets.

Turk Daniels, Casey Scott, Jay’Den Williams, Tayshaun Hooks and Xavier Nickerson will work in the trenches.

“Our offense is certainly capable of taking Camden out of its game,” Calhoun said. “We need to constantly stay on top. They don’t like to play from behind.”

The Wildcats will certainly test the Packers defense, especially the front, which will include some combination of Jartavius Flounoy, Ky-von Rivers, Johnny Clay, Javaris Parrish and Amari Wilson.

Leading tackler Nick Pace will man one of the inside linebacker spots. Sophomore Brayden Ruis and senior Kenyon Solomon also will work inside.

Tyshon Reed Jr. and Jerron Blakely Jr. will be the outside backers.

Safeties Trenton Dunbar and Will Madison will also be instrumental in helping foil the Camden County wing-T.

Jah’Boris Fuller will get the start at one of the cornerback positions.

“We need to get them in third-down and medium or long,” Calhoun said. “Then we can do some things to put the percentages in our favor.

“Turnovers and penalties are the things we can’t do. If we do, it will be a long, miserable drive home.”
Brett Fitzgerald will do the place-kicking out of the snaps of Chason Glenn and the holds of Eli Meads. Fitzgerald also will kick off.

Sam Miller will be the punter.

Jeff Herron, who is 330-66 with five state championships in his 32-year coaching career, is in the third year of his second tour of duty with Camden County.

The Packers have a 14-5 overall record against the Wildcats and have won the last nine in a row.

Colquitt lost five of the first six games it played at Chris Gilman Stadium, but has won the last four in a row there.

In 2021, the Packers got an 11-yard touchdown pass from Fann to Dextra Polite Jr. in overtime to claim a 34-31 victory.

Calhoun said the coaches and some 48 players will travel to Kingston on Thursday evening to rest and get ready for the 7:30 p.m. Friday kickoff.

“We have got to travel well,” he said. “It is a bonding trip, but it also is a business trip and we have got to take care of business.

“Like we talked about, it doesn’t matter if it takes four quarters or four overtimes, we have got to play well. If we don’t play well, they will whip us.”

In the other games featuring Region 1-7A teams on Friday, Lowndes (3-3 overall and 0-1 in the region) will play host to Dunbar of Fort Myers, Fla., (5-1) and Valdosta (5-1, 1-0) will travel to play at Richmond Hill (4-3, 0-1).