2023 Packer football team honored at annual banquet
Published 1:32 pm Wednesday, December 13, 2023
- Earning top Region 1-7A honors are, from left, quarterback Neko Fann, Player of the Year; Sean Calhoun, Coach of the Year; and Brett Fitzgerald, Special Teams Player of the Year.
MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County football team, which won its second-straight Region 1-AAAAA championship, went undefeated in the regular season and finished 12-1, was honored Monday at the annual football banquet.
The football program, which went 42-6 over the last four seasons and 25-2 over the last two, was led by an outstanding group of seniors, several of which set program records.
“This senior class has laid an incredible foundation,” Colquitt County’s two-time Region Coach of the Year Sean Calhoun said. “They have paved the way, both on and off the field, for our future success.”
Quarterback Neko Fann and receiver Ny Carr set Packer records this season, some of which could stand for a long time.
Fann now has the school record for career passing yards, with 7,823; career touchdown passes, with 97; and career total yards, with 8,991.
Carr holds the school record for career receiving yards, with 3,195; career touchdown pass receptions, with 44; and career average yards per catch, with 18.9.
In addition, Carr and tight end Landen Thomas have been selected to play in the All-American Bowl, which will be played Jan. 6, in San Antonio, Texas.
Thomas finished his career with 118 pass receptions. Fellow senior Zay Williams has 92.
And senior Turk Daniels started every game since he was a freshman.
This year’s team also had the highest team grade point average in many years, Calhoun said.
Two of the seniors earned the Board of Education’s Academic Commitment to Excellence Awards presented by Colquitt County High Principal Dan Chappuis.
Wide receiver/holder Eli Meads earned one of those awards. He has a 4.0 grade point average and ranks No. 10 in Colquitt County’s 584-student senior class.
All-Region outside linebacker and team captain Tyshon Reed Jr. also has a 4.0 grade point average and ranked No. 18 in the class.
Other awards presented at the banquet and their recipients are:
• The Knuck McCrary Fighting Spirit Award, presented to Javaris Parrish and Casey Scott.
• The Rocky Jones Strong Man Award, Johnny Clay.
• The Tom White Scrambler Award, Jerron Blakely and Landen Thomas.
• The Cam Erving Perseverance Award, Jaden Fowler.
• The Jimmy Jeter Mr. Dependable Award, JavQuavian “Turk” Daniels.
• The Dextra Polite Ultimate Competitor Award, Amari Wilson.
• The Lavasky King Packer Pride Most Improved Award, Ky-von Rivers.
• The Bud Willis Character Award, Tyshon Reed Jr. and Jay’Den Williams.
• The George A. Horkan Sportsmanship Award, Ka’Marian Williams and Markese Wilson.
• The Bobby Cobb True Grit Award, Xavier Nickerson.
• The Ralph Taylor Special Teams Award, Eli Meads and Brett Fitzgerald.
• The Virgil Seay Special Teams Award, Jah’Boris Fuller.
• The Dale Williams Community Service Award, Chason Glenn.
• The Charles Taylor Pippin Unsung Hero Award, Trenton Dunbar and Zay Williams.
• The Friendlander Boar Hog Defense Award, Nick Pace.
The Ray Goff Top Gun Offensive Award, Neko Fann and Ny Carr.
Also honored was video scoreboard operator Greg Hall and his student assistants Summer Allbrooks, Katie Hall and Parker Anderson.
Head videographer Darius Townsend and his student crew of Messiah Bender, Kamia Moore, Jocelyn Clay and Kellee Tomblin were introduced, as was Brandon Whitaker, who operates the camera for the NFHS streaming service.
Longtime athletic trainer Ryan Kebler and his assistant Kathleen Rubino were introduced along with student trainers Denise McCray, Aidan Carter, La’Mauria Lyles, HarMeNe McCloud, Ma’Jori Williams and Ja’Nayah Maxwell.
Calhoun also introduced the teams four captains, Ny Carr, Neko Fann, Tyshon Reed Jr. and Nick Pace.
The captains are voted on by the players.
The All-Region 1-7A team that was recently announced included 20 Packers, including Calhoun as the Coach of the Year, Neko Fann as the Player of the Year and Brett Fitzgerald as the Special Teams Player of the Year.
All three are repeat winners.