MOULTRIE – After an exciting 2-2 draw, the Colquitt County boys soccer team defeated Thomas County Central in overtime penalty kicks on Friday at Packer Park.
The victory raises the Packers record 2-0 after a season-opening 5-2 win at Bainbridge.
The Lady Packers dropped Friday’s first game 7-0 to the Lady Yellow Jackets.
Packers goalkeeper Navi Rodriguez saved two penalties and penalty takers Joshua Ramirez, Turner McDaniel, Christian Nunez and Bryan Ortiz all saw their shots go into the back of the net.
Both teams traded goals in regulation with the Packers scoring first before Central tied it.
Late in the second half the Packers regained the lead, but with only a second left, the Yellow Jackets capitalized from a free kick.
Bryan Ortiz  and Joshua Ramirez both scored for the Packers during regulation, with an assist coming from Jessie Guerrero.
The Packers “displayed exceptional teamwork and tactical discipline, with both offense and defense working seamlessly as a unit,” coach Colby Simpson said.
He said the offense executed its game plan with precision, creating scoring chances through quick passes and movement.
Defensively, the team remained organized, anticipating threats and shutting down key players, he said.
“The backline and midfield worked together to regain possession and transition smoothly into counterattacks,” he said.
Rodriguez was the difference-maker, making crucial saves in regulation and stepping up in the penalty shootout, denying two spot-kicks.
The team’s combined effort led to a well-earned victory in front of the Packer fans.
The Lady Packers won their opener, defeating Bainbridge 4-3 on Tuesday, but coach Carlos Bautista cautioned that the seasons would be “a bumpy road.”
“And Thomas County Central was one of the big bumps I was referring to,” Bautista said. “(Coach) Tony Voyles and the Thomas County Central girls have been dominating soccer on the girls side for quite some time.
“In my opinion, TCC’s girls program is the standard in south Georgia.”
Bautista said he was proud of the way his team performed.
“We worked, we fought and we didn’t give up,” he said. “We took one to the chin, and I could tell the girls took this on a little hard. But that only gives ammunition to build up for the next teams.”
Colquitt’s next matches are their Region 1-6A openers against Valdosta on Tuesday, February 18, at Packer Park. Girls kick off at 5:30 p.m. and Packers at 7:30p.m.