MOULTRIE — There could hardly have been a better start to a Colquitt County season faced with some uncertainty than to have the season-opening kickoff returned for a touchdown.

And the Packers built on Jah’Boris Fuller’s 85-yard scamper and 7-0 lead just 11 seconds into the opener to take a 45-28 victory over West High of Salt Lake City, Utah, on Friday at The Hawg Pen.

While the Panthers were having difficulty dealing with heat and humidity and resulting cramps, the Packers, who lost 17 starters from last year’s team, dominated offensively, defensively and, thanks to Fuller and Brett Fitzgerald, on special teams as well.

Freshman quarterback Cohen Lawson completed 8-of-10 passes for 133 yards and his first touchdown. He also ran for a touchdown.

And his first career touchdown pass went to junior Jae Lamar, playing his first season of varsity football.

All Lamar did was catch that touchdown pass and run for two other scores. He finished with 58 rushing yards and 47 receiving yards.

Day’Shawn Brown rushed for a quiet 111 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries as the offense rolled ups 321 yards.

Fuller added to his game-opening heroics by blocking a West extra-point attempt in the second quarter.

And Fitzgerald was perfect, converting after all six touchdowns, kicking a 48-yard field goal in his only attempt and knocking all eight of his kickoffs into the West end zone.

The Packers defense allowed two touchdowns in the first three quarters and two more in a fourth quarter that was played under a running clock.

“We did a lot of things well,” coach Sean Calhoun said after a game in which his Packers built a 45-14 lead with a largely untested team.

Three unanswered touchdowns in the first quarter set the tone.

“To take the opening kickoff to the house … When you can jump on on people and put them in a hole early and build on it, it’s amazing,” Calhoun said, adding, “I’ve said it before, I think (Fuller) is the best return man in the state. I don’t think he gets enough pub.”

West, which came into the season ranked No. 8 in Utah’s highest classification, had an outstanding quarterback in sophomore Kamden Lopati and an offensive line that featured three starters that weighed over 300 pounds and another that was 280.

But the Panthers were never able to overcome the hole they dug early. Several dropped passes did not help.

After Fuller’s touchdown jaunt, West managed just one yard on three plays on its first possession and lined up to punt.

But Selwyn Fonua instead ran from punt formation and reach the West 47.

A penalty negated the long gain and first down.

But on the next play, West ran from punt formation again. This time, Lamar made the tackle for a 2-yard loss and four plays later scored the first touchdown of his career on a 4-yard run to help put the Packers up 14-0 less than four minutes into the game.

West did punt away its next possession, but on a first down on the Panthers 47, Lawson delivered a short pass to Lamar who reached the sideline and took it to the end zone giving Colquitt a 21-0 lead.

Ry’Sheed Fuller made an acrobatic interception of an Lopati pass later in the quarter.

That led to Fitzgerald’s 48-yard field goal attempt on the first play of the second quarter. It was straight, plenty long and gave the Packers a 24-0 lead.

With 7:50 left in the half, Izaiah Holley scored on a 8-yard pass from Lopati, but Jah’Boris Fuller broke through to block the extra point attempt.

Lamar broke off a 23-yard touchdown run with 5:57 left in the half and the Packers went into the break up 31-6.

West had had another chance to cut into the Colquitt lead but Ry’Sheed Fuller and Bryce Toomer brought down Lopati inside the Packers 10 on the final play of the half.

“That stop before the half was humongous,” Calhoun said.

Colquitt extended its lead to 38-6 on Lawson’s 12-yard scoring run with 10:10 left in the third quarter.

After Lopati threw his second touchdown pass to Holley, Day’Shawn Brown scored the Packers final touchdown with 3:02 left in the third quarter.

Lawson’s eight completions went to five different receivers, with junior Malik Walker grabbing three.

“I’m proud of Cohen,” Calhoun said. “He made good reads and some good decisions.”

The Packers turned the ball over just once when Lamar was stripped of the ball in third quarter and Sam Miller was called upon to punt just one time.

One downside to the Packers effort was the 10 penalties, including five that went for 15 yards each.

The Packers now will get ready to meet Monroe High of Albany at 7:30 p.m. next Friday on Tom White Field at Mack Tharpe Stadium.

The Tornadoes fell to defending Class 5A state champion Thomas County Central on Friday 54-7.

Four other Region 1-6A teams also won on Friday with Camden County outscoring Brunswick 51-41; Lowndes pounding Jenkins 49-7; Tift County rolling over Griffin 43-0; and Valdosta running it up on Tucker 65-19.

Richmond Hill will open its season on Friday at Glynn Academy.