MOULTRIE — A group of Colquitt County football players, many of whom were on the periphery of the program’s 25-2 run over the last two seasons, now have an opportunity to create their own legacy.

The Packers, who graduated 17 starters from last year’s 12-1 team, will open the 2024 season at 7:30 p.m. Friday on Tom White Field at Mack Tharpe Stadium against the Panthers of West High, which has traveled more than 2,000 miles from Salt Lake City, Utah, to get a taste of south Georgia football.

Colquitt is ranked No. 5 in Class 6A by the Georgia High School Football Daily despite the loss of players such Ny Carr, Landen Thomas, Neko Fann, Tyshon Reed Jr., Turk Daniels and others who have contributed to the program’s recent success.

And Packers coach Sean Calhoun does not sound like the cupboard is completely bare either.

“Hardly anybody knows these guys,” Calhoun said. “We don’t have any giant stars like Ny, Landon and Neko.

“But we have the pieces to make this a special season. It might take some time to get the pieces in the right places.

These ‘no-name’ guys will have a chance to make their names known.”

The Packers are coming off a promising performance in the 43-7 scrimmage win over Bainbridge in which a number of new starters performed well.

The place where the Packers appear deepest and most-experienced is on the lines, both on offense and defense.

The offensive line is expected to use Khalil Collins and Jakari Byrd at the tackles, Casey Scott, Tayshaun Hooks and Jamaal Jackson at the guards and Matt Dillon at center.

The defensive front has returning starters Amari Wilson and Jartavius Flounoy along with Stacey Lambright.

“We’ve got to be able to win the line of scrimmage,” Calhoun said. “That’s our strength. If we can win the line of scrimmage, we give ourselves a chance to win.”

The Packers might not approach the 44 points a game it averaged last year, but the offense is not bereft of weapons.

Freshman Cohen Lawson, a 5-foot-11, 187-pounder who Calhoun said plays with a linebacker’s mentality, is expected to get his first varsity start at quarterback against West.

His starting receivers — Malik Walker, Ni’Shawn Osby, Na’Ryan Sumlin and Sam Miller — are not much more experienced. They have combined for four varsity pass receptions.

Junior A’Zhiyen Alridge will be the backup quarterback and also be in the mix with the other receivers.

Tight end Alexis Barge will wear jersey No. 0, as did Landen Thomas, who has gone on to play at Florida State.

The offensive staff likes his potential.

Day’Shawn Brown is back after rushing for 976 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. He scored on a 33-yard run on the first offensive snap in the scrimmage win over Bainbridge.

Calhoun also is optimistic about the future of 5-foot-11, 190-pound junior running back Jae Lamar, who did not play football the last two seasons.

He rushed for 99 yards and scored on a 49-yard run against Bainbridge. He also turned some heads in last spring’s scrimmage against Coffee.

“He has a chance to be a star,” Calhoun said.

Record-setting kicker Brett Fitzgerald, a preseason All-State selection, is back, as is snapper Chason Glenn, also a college prospect. Logan Morris will be the holder.

Miller, also a preseason All-State selection, will be the punter.

Jah’Boris Fuller, who returned a punt 53 yards for a score against Bainbridge, gives the Packers another legitimate special teams threat.

The defense will start Chance Sims, Bryce Toomer and Ra’Quavian Kinsey at the three linebacker positions.

Ramsey Dennis, who was the Packers leading rusher last season, will start at the nickel position, but also could be a factor again offensively.

Jah’Boris Fuller and Ry’Sheed Fuller will be the corners and Roderick Carter and Alfonso McNeil will be the safeties.

When Colquitt County athletic director Cleve Edwards received an email from West High School last year expressing to come to south Georgia for a football game, he thought it was spam.

It was legitimate, but Colquitt County could not fit the Panthers on the 2023 schedule.

Things worked out this year.

West, which opened in 1890, has 2,840 students in grades 9-12 and plays in Utah’s highest classification.

The program has an all-time record of 603-462-34 over the 130 years it played football.

The Panthers have won seven state championships, the most recent coming in 1992.

Since 1909, West has won 28 region championships, including the last four in a row.

Olosaa Solovi, a West High graduate, is entering his sixth season as the program’s head coach and has posted a 36-18 record.

Last year’s team went 6-0 in its region and finished 6-4, including a 36-34 quadruple-overtime loss in the second round of the playoffs.

The 2024 Panthers are picked to win their region and are ranked No. 8 in the state.

West returns seven starters on offense and six on defense.

Last year, the Panthers averaged 31.7 points a game, ranking No. 6 in Class 5A. They surrendered an average of 23.9.

Calhoun has seen a limited amount of film on West, but said the Panthers use a spread offense, have some skilled athletes and good size on the offensive and defensive lines.

They are unlikely used to the humidity and gnats that characterize August in south Georgia, however.

“They are going to sling it around,” Calhoun said. “And you can tell they are well-coached. They know how to compete in the highest level in their state.

“This game has a chance to be a signature win for our 2024 team.”

Five of the six teams in the revamped Region 1-6A will be in action on Friday.

• Camden County, 10-4 last year, will open at Brunswick.

The Wildcats will be under the direction of head coach Travis Rowland, who replaced longtime successful coach Jeff Herron this year.

Brunswick was 7-4 last season.

• Lowndes, trying to bounce back from a 4-6 record in 2023 in which it lost all four region games, will be home to face Jenkins, which was 5-8 last year.

• Tift County, back in Region 1 in the highest classification after two years of playing in the second-highest classification, will travel to meet Griffin, which was 1-9 in 2023.

Tift will be playing under new head coach Jeff Littleton, formerly of Bainbridge.

Tift, after going 2-8 last year under head coach Noel Dean, lost to Brooks 6-0 in its scrimmage at Brodie Field.

• Valdosta, 8-4 last season, will open at home against Tucker, which finished 6-5 last year.

• Richmond Hill, 5-6 last year, is off this week and will open on August 23 at Glynn Academy.