MOULTRIE – Amareyia Knighton and Caylnn Singletary headlined the players who were honored at the recent Colquitt County flag football banquet.
The two all-state performers have helped turn the Lady Packers program to one of the best in the state.
And it is only in its second season.
Colquitt has won 29 games and earned two area championships in its first two years of operation under head coach Kirk Woodall and assistants Tiffanie Young and Ricky Abbott.
In 2024, the Lady Packers came within one play of qualifying for the Final Four when they rallied from a 13-6 deficit only to lose 19-13 in double-overtime to Grayson in the quarterfinals.
“We are the first (Colquitt County) team to make it the second round and we went to the Elite Eight,” told those gathered for the annual banquet. “We were one of the eight best teams in the state.s”
The Lady Packers were led by a senior class that helped establish the program’s excellence the last two years.
The seniors are Knighton, Singletary, Ta’Meria Williams, Mashayla Davis, Carolina Brown, Montana Tatum, Melissa Breedlove, Monai Alexander, Cy’Mariya Bonner and Raley Merritt.
Knighton and Singletary were the cornerstones of the senior class.
“You’ve left quite a legacy here,” Woodall said to Knighton and Singletary as they were introduced at the banquet. “You were here from Day 1 and have shown up every day.”
The pair’s talents have been on display during games for the fans to appreciate, but, Woodall added, “I wish all the parents could see how you practice.”
Knighton, who also is an outstanding four-year starter of the Lady Packers basketball team, has won numerous awards the last two years.
This season, she was named as the recipient of the team’s Player of the Year Award, named for her sister Nyleigha.
Nyleigha Knighton was the top player on the 2023 inaugural Lady Packers team and is now playing collegiately at Point University.
Amareyia is a two-time All-State selection, the 2024 state All-Classification Defensive Player of the Year and the Area Player of the Year.
She also was selected to participate in the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association’s All-State game.
She had some incredible statistics as a senior last fall.
She was credited with 147 flag pulls, 14 tackles for loss, eight sacks, seven interceptions, 1,000 yards of offense and 13 touchdowns.
“She is an amazing, unique player,” Woodall said of Knighton.
Singletary was named first team All-State after leading the state with 21 interceptions.
“I think that is a state record,” Woodall said.
She also was named All-Area, was the Lady Packers Defensive Player of the Year and won the Best Hands Award.
A number of other awards were presented at the banquet.
The Captains Awards went to Knighton, Singletary, Davis and Williams.
The Top Scholar Awards, presented to players who had grade averages of 90 or better, went to Monai Alexander, Marley Armstrong, Melissa Breedlove, Carolina Brown, Sara Cooper, Montana Tatum and Jaelyn Wier.
The junior varsity Defensive Player of the Year Award went to Lydia Allegood and the JV Offensive Player of the Year was presented to Dyi James.
Carolina Brown won the “Biggest Heart Award.”
Breedlove earned the Most Well-Rounded Award and Cindy Jo Cooper was presented the Packer Pride Award.
Ta’Meria Williams won the Hustle Award and the Offensive Player of the Year Award.
Jaelyn Wier was name the team’s top running back and Cy’Mariya Bonner received the Coaches Award.
The team’s Most Improved Award went to Ta’Ayona Singletary.
Named to the All-Area first team were quarterback Mashayla Davis, running back Ta’Meria Williams, defender Dayln Monk and linebacker Montana Tatum.
Named to the second team All-Area defense was freshman Lucy Taunton.
Carolina Brown, Jaelyn Wier and Ali’sia Johnson received honorable mention on the All-Area team.
Woodall was named the Area 1-Division 4 Coach of the Year.