MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County junior varsity boys soccer team jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and then held off Valdosta for a 2-1 season-opening victory on Thursday at Tom White Field at Mack Tharpe Stadium.

Giovanny Rico scored first and Daniel Moreno followed with the other Colquitt County goal just minutes later to put the Packers up 2-0 midway through the first half.

Valdosta scored its only goal several minutes before halftime, but was unable to get an equalizer the rest of the way.

Colquitt County junior varsity boys coach Ashley Hill said the Packers were close to winning by a bigger margin.

“We put up a lot of shots, we just couldn’t hit the net,” Hill said. “But I was real delighted with the win. I am real proud of them.”

And the Packers had their hands full holding off the Wildcats.

“The have some good athletes,” Hill said of the Wildcats. They are well-coached.”

Hill said he was especially pleased with the play of his defense, which included Kyle Scott, David Contreras, Josue Marquez and Tanner White.

“The midfield looked great at times,” he said. “We not in the shape we should be in, but we will be.”

Hill is in his first year as the JV boys coach after leading the middle school girls to a three-year record of 23-4-5. The middle school Lady Packers did not lose a match the last two seasons.

The junior varsity boys and girls teams will travel to Warner Robins on Saturday to meet Houston County and Warner Robins.

The JV teams will return to the stadium on Saturday, Feb. 23, to meet Coffee. The girls game will start at 11 a.m. The boys game will start at 1 p.m.