Kendrick Neloms (20), Packer senior linebacker, sacked Dylan Fromm of Warner Robins High three times Friday at McConnell-Talbert Stadium.

WARNER ROBINS – Colquitt County High football mastered the one-play touchdown drive last weekend playing Valdosta High at home.

With two one-play touchdowns set up by special teams breaks and breakdowns – depending on for whom you were rooting – the Packers of head coach Rush Propst built a 21-0 lead in less than five minutes. They went on to hold off the previously unbeaten Warner Robins High Demons Friday at McConnell-Talbert Stadium 41-14 to improve to 5-0 and assuredly take a No. 1 Class 7A ranking into next weekend’s big road contest at Grayson High.

While Warner Robins and senior quarterback Dylan Fromm put up the greater offensive yardage numbers, it is always points that matter. In fact, if it was yards you were looking for to reach the stratosphere, you were quite disappointed. As a result of both the punting game and defense, Colquitt scored the three quick touchdowns that basically put the battle of teams that played for state championships in their respective classifications one year ago away early.

Junior running back Daijun Edwards scored four rushing touchdowns, junior quarterback Jaycee Harden completed just five passes – one being a touchdown toss to his senior running back Ty Leggett – and senior All-American kicker Ryan Fitzgerald made two field goals on the night when he missed a try for the first time in 2018.

But in total offense, Colquitt County accumulated just 285 yards with Edwards rushing for 98 on 23 totes. That could be because four of the five touchdown drives covered anywhere from 11 to 26 yards. That’s because Warner Robins had a shaky punting unit both kicking the football and returning it, plus ‘rover’ Samari Louis, the senior, recorded his first varsity interception.

With the pick, it was not a good night for Demon senior quarterback Dylan Fromm. The Packers held him well below his season average of passing yards, which is 357. He completed 18 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown, but Colquitt linebackers and ends got to him for eight sacks. Despite all of that, Warner Robins came out of the game with more total yards, 353.

Though the Demon defense held down the Packer offense on the opening series, Fitzgerald boomed a long punt inside Warner Robins’ 20-yard-line. The home team signaled for the fair catch, but muffed it. Kam Woods recovered on the WR 13.

In three plays, Edwards scored a two-yard touchdown. Things only got worse for the Demons.

The first sack against the younger brother of Georgia Bulldog starting quarterback Jake Fromm was by linebacker Rashad Revels in a three-and-out. Woods also got to the outs-route receiver behind the line of scrimmage setting up 4th-and-20. Colquitt’s punt rush unit aggressively went after the Demon punter, and he shanked the ball five yards.

Fifteen yards away from the end zone, Harden found Leggett open out of the backfield. With lead blocking by center Will Rykard, it was the second Packer touchdown at 7:59 of the first period.

Two plays into Warner Robins’ next series, Louis intercepted Fromm on the 25 with a return to the 11. Edwards, with the best starting position of the game, went up the gut in one play to score for the second time. Fitzgerald made all the PATs for 21-0 at 7:22.

For the next three Warner Robins’ series, the home team ran a combined 32 plays. But being behind by three scores meant some gambling for the home sideline, and two times the drives ended on downs. Credit the defensive play from Zy Brockington, the sophomore sacking Fromm twice. One of those turned the football over to the Packers at their own 34 in the second quarter.

Offensively, Colquitt made just one first down during that same stretch. Warner Robins was able to get within two touchdowns on a 10-play drive of 81 yards set up by Fitzgerald’s 53-yard punt. Fromm was kept under duress, and cornerback Nyquan Washington nearly intercepted the football inside the Packer 20. With 6:11 until halftime, the Demons got a 23-yard touchdown run from Jahlen Rutherford.

Warner Robins had its first real break of the night recovering a fumble on the Packer 45. Big plays by lineman Brian Merritt and Kendrick Neloms – a senior linebacker who sacked Fromm – ended a drive on downs for the third time. Neloms, after Fitzgerald missed a field-goal of 38 yards, recorded his second sack on the final play of the half. That was Warner Robins’ 43rd play overall in two quarters against 30 run by the Packers.

Still trailing 21-7, the Demons had the football first in the third quarter, but Revels had his second sack to end the series quickly. And, in the punting game, the Demons still could not handle the onrush, which led to a deflection. It was looking like the start of the first half all over again, Colquitt beginning a drive on the WR 26.

Edwards carried four times, gaining 21 yards on the first touch thanks to Rykard, guard Kameren Barnes and tight end Josh Hadley. He scored his third touchdown – two yards – at 9:08 (28-7 CC).

Warner Robins answered with Fromm’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Marcayll Jones, the eighth play of an 80-yard series. Again, he got throws away before Brockington and Merritt could get a hold of him and gained 34 yards.

The third period was almost halfway done (6:37), but Colquitt County, still up big 28-14, sustained a drive for the first time to add seven more points. The Packers would go 70 yards with Leggett carrying three times for 34 yards. He went around right end, and receiver Marvion McDonald blocked upfield in a 29-yard pickup to the WR 30.

Colquitt seemed to be in trouble, though, after holding put it back to the 33. The Demons went on to commit two personal fouls. From the 12, it was the rushing of Edwards, and tackle Kamaar Bell put up the wall for his fourth touchdown. It was a two-yard plunge at 1:58 for 35-14.

A fact pointed out by Warner Robins supporters was how the Packer defense tightened close to the ‘red zone.’ Though WRHS closed out the quarter with three first downs up to the CC 29, Revels’ third sack of Fromm ended the fourth WR series on downs three plays into the final period. Neloms also sacked the QB a third time before the night ended.

Fitzgerald shook off the early miss – which did not affect his PAT accuracy – and scored two fourth-quarter field goals, one 21 yards and the other yet another school record with a snap and hold, 57 yards.

Leggett had 92 yards on 13 rushes and caught two passes for 29 yards.