MOULTRIE — After scoring four goals, and having Richmond Hill accidentally score on themselves, the varsity Packers won Friday’s region match 5-3.

Remaining undefeated in region play at 3-0, this victory against Richmond Hill is the eighth consecutive win for the Packers. They are 8-1-1 overall.

“It’s a good region win to have at home,” said assistant coach Marcus Lopez. “Possession is always key, and we have been doing good at that.”

With the score already 3-0, advantage Packers, and 25 minutes remaining until halftime, Hudson Glenn sent a cross shot to Jesse Guerrero for the shot; however, the goalie blocked it.

Attempting to clear the ball, a Richmond Hill player got a bad touch and accidentally sent the ball backwards, toward his own goal.

Caught unprepared, the Richmond Hill goalie was unable to grab the ball before it sailed past him.

Everyone was unsure of how to react, bystanders and players included, as the score changed to 4-0 and everyone reset at midfield.

Before Richmond Hill’s faux pas, two Packer athletes had the final touches on the three goals scored.

Bryan Ortiz was the Packer to tap the ball past the goalie on both the first and third goal of the game.

Two minutes into play, Ortiz received a cross pass from Guerrero, and only eight minutes later Edgar Contreras provided the pass the midfield for Ortiz’s to bring the score up to three.

In those brief minutes between Ortiz’s goals, Oswaldo Leon scored on a rebound after Dierick Espinoza’s shot was blocked by the goalie.

Before halftime, Richmond Hill would score their first two goals, and the Packers would also get their final goal of the game.

Glenn had the final touch during that last goal during a hectic scramble in the penalty box after Guerrero put the ball in play with a corner kick.

The game paused for halftime 5-2.

During the second half, Richmond Hill managed to get one more goal and hold off the Packers from scoring anymore, but it wasn’t enough and the Packers won by two.

Not counting the five on the scoreboard, the Packers took 20 additional shots on goal, whereas Packers goalie Navi Rodriguez only had to defend an additional three shots.

Throughout the entire 80 minutes of play, the Packers remained fierce in their determination to keep the ball in Richmond Hill territory and utilized several tactics to maintain possession.

As has become their habit, the headbutt was the most used defensive strategy, even more than simply clearing the ball upfield with a powerful kick.

25 headbutts were done versus 17 clears.

Glenn had the most headbutts with eight, followed by Espinoza who had three.

Other Packers who used their foreheads, literally, were: Banks Flowers, Uziel Garcia-Diaz, Mario Portillo, Cason Haskins, Oswaldo Leon, Thomas Preza, Netalm Garcia, Joshua Ramirez, Will Blanton and Contreras.

Clears were completed by: Garcia-Diaz, Leon, Contreras, Glenn, Espinoza, Turner McDaniel, Portillo and Ramirez.

Another favorite defensive maneuver of the Packers is the slide tackle, of which 10 were successfully completed from the following athletes: Garcia-Diaz, McDaniel, Luis Mejia, Preza, Glenn, Flowers, Ortiz and Leon.

“Play smart, play hard and dominate with class,” said head coach Colby Simpson. “That’s our motto.”

The Packers will next travel to Camden County in another region game on March 15.

With another away game on March 20 at Lowndes, the next opportunity to watch the Packers play at Packer Park will be senior night on March 22, which begins at 5:30 p.m. with the Lady Packers facing Valdosta.

The Packers will play after the conclusion of the Lady Packers game and the senior night announcements.