Packers mantra at Milton: Minimize the big plays

Published 8:19 pm Wednesday, November 22, 2023

MOULTRIE – This probably won’t help Colquitt County football fans digest their turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie, but Milton High, the Packers’ Friday night quarterfinal opponent, has produced 28 plays of 30 yards or longer this season; five of 70 or longer.

And among those are 99-yard and 92-yard plays.

“They are an explosive play just waiting to happen,” Packers coach Sean Calhoun said Thanksgiving Eve after reporting the disquieting above-mentioned statistics.

“They are a high-powered offense. The key for us is to minimize the big play.”

Milton, the Region 5 champion, will take a 10-2 record into the game that will be played in their yard on the Birmingham Highway.

The Eagles will be there courtesy of the favorable GHSA coin toss.

The Packers, too, are a region champion, have yet to lose in 12 outings and, according to one computer’s findings, are 13-point favorites.

Ready to perform for the home folks is Luke Nickel, Milton’s Miami-committed junior quarterback, who has thrown for 2,986 yards and 30 touchdowns this season.

Debron Gatling, a senior receiver, leads the team with 60 catches for 675 yards and nine touchdowns. He is headed for Texas A&M.

But perhaps even more dangerous is 6-foot-4, 195-pound junior receiver CJ Wiley. He has 51 catches good for 1,246 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Eagles don’t score as often as the Packers, but their defense might be an overlooked strength.

Milton’s opponents have averaged just 12.2 points a game.

Calhoun says his team must take care of the football and must be able to convert on third down.

“Especially being on the road, all we want is an opportunity to win the game in the fourth quarter,” Calhoun said.

And while Milton has put up some glittering offensive numbers, the Packers are not half-bad when they have the ball either.

Calhoun said quarterback Neko Fann and tight end Landen Thomas are getting healthier. Clearly, neither was at full-strength when the Packers led wire-to-wire in eliminating Westlake last Friday.

Fann rewrites the Colquitt County football history book each time he pulls on No. 15. He now has thrown for 7,501 yards and 93 touchdowns over the last three seasons.

University of Miami-bound receiver Ny Carr has a nice resume himself. He has caught a school-record 43 touchdown passes and has the school’s record for most receiving yardage in a career: 3,102.

The Fann-to-Carr connection is a historical one.

Thomas could be a sleeper offensively. He can be dangerous in an opposing secondary.

But as discerning Packer fans have noted, he is as strong a blocker as a team could want out of 6-foot-5, 230-pound sterling receiver.

And his affinity for treating would-be tacklers rudely has enabled the Packers unique junior running tandem of Ramsey Dennis Jr. (he’s No. 22) and Day’Shawn Brown (he’s No. 23) to continue to mature and become more effective.

Brown has rushed for 946 yards, averaging 7.3 yards a tote, and 13 touchdowns.

Dennis has carried just five fewer times than his backfield brother and has just 21 fewer yards. He has reached the end zone 14 times.

The RamDay combination also benefits from a skilled offensive line.

The tackles are Turk Daniels and Xavier Nickerson, the guards Khalil Collins and Ja’Nas Daniels and the center Jay’Den Williams.

Collins is the only junior. The others are seniors, having done their time, perfecting their craft in the trenches.

Turk Daniels is the elder statesman. He will be making his 47th straight start there.

And Carr and Thomas are not Fann’s only potent targets. Zay Williams will be playing at the next level, too. Fann will not hesitate to look in Jaden Fowler’s or Markese Wilson’s direction either.

And don’t forget Fann’s penchant darting free for a long gain or two.

The onus, obviously, will be on the Packer secondary.

It is a veteran unit, with Jah’Boris Fuller and Ka’Marian Williams holding down the corner positions and Trenton Dunbar and Arnold Flearau Jr. at the safety slots.

The speed and athleticism of Zay Williams could find its way into the Packers defensive backfield as well. Ry’Sheed Fuller, Will Madison and Alfonso McNeil will certainly be called upon.

Colquitt will try to exert some pressure with a front three expected to start Amari Wilson, Ky-von Rivers and Jartavius Flounoy. Javaris Parrish and Johnny Clay also should see action there.

Outside linebackers Tyshon Reed Jr. and Jerron Blakely Jr. and inside linebackers Nick Pace and Chance Sims must be on the lookout. Kenyon Solomon and Brayden Ruis will be in that mix.

A close game could be determined by special teams and the Packers have excelled there as well.

Brett Fitzgerald deservedly gets kudos for his ultra-consistent extra points and field goals, but the regularity of his touchback-resulting kickoffs has been a keen part of the Packers defensive program.

Sam Miller will be the punter. Snapper Chason Glenn and holder Eli Meads just keep doing their thing.

And then there is this.

The Packers surely know that a quarterfinal win over the Eagles and a not-out-of-the-question Buford victory over Grayson the same night would send the Packers back to where they especially like to romp: back at the Mack.

The game will be televised by GPB Sports at 7:30 p.m.