MOULTRIE – Colquitt County’s Sean Calhoun has been named the Coach of the Year and kicker Brett Fitzgerald has been selected as the Special Teams Player of the Year on the 2024 All-Region 1-6A football team announced last week.
In all, 15 members of the region-champion Packers were selected for the team, including 10 named to the first team.
Valdosta quarterback Todd Robinson and the versatile offensive threat Marvis Parrish of Lowndes were named co-Players of the Year.
Camden County tight end Elyiss Williams was selected as the Offensive Player of the Year; Richmond Hill linebacker Lee Johnson, the Defensive Player of the Year; and Camden County return special David Coleman, Athlete of the Year.
Colquitt finished the regular season as the No. 2-ranked rushing team in the region and its 7.5 yard per attempt led the league.
And, accordingly, three offensive linemen, seniors Khalil Collins, Matthew Dillon and Casey Scott were named to the first team, as were running backs Day’Shawn Brown and Jae Lamar.
Also named to the first team were punter Sam Miller, cornerback Jah’Boris Fuller, safety Alfonso McNeil and defensive linemen Amari Wilson and Jartavius Flounoy.
Wide receiver Malik Walker, cornerback Ry’Sheed Fuller and inside linebacker Ra’Quavian Kinsey were named to the second team.
This season marks the fifth time in his nine-year coaching career that Calhoun has earned the Coach of the Year honors.
He received the award in 2019 and 2020 when he led the Carrollton High program and now has won it three years in a row since he returned to Colquitt County, where he was an assistant in 2014 and 2015.
He might have been most-deserving this season.
The Packers had to replace 17 departed starters, including several who were among the most-decorated Packers ever.
But Colquitt went 7-3 overall and won four of its final five games to claim the region championship.
The offense never was able to mount a consistent passing attack and the defense was hit by a number of injuries to key performers.
But the Packers ran the ball effectively, played strong defense when it had to and got another outstanding performance from Fitzgerald, one of the nation’s top high school kickers.
Now in his fourth year as the Packers kicker, Fitzgerald has converted all 43 of his extra-point attempts and is 12-for-13 in field goal attempts, including a 52-yarder against Valdosta.
His 43-yarder as time expired defeated Lowndes 38-35 and provided the win the Packers needed to claim their third-straight region title and fourth in the last five years.
During the season, he broke the Georgia record for career extra points and career kicking points.
Heading into the playoffs, he has 220 career extra points and 361 kicking points.
His 47 career field goals are just four behind the Georgia record of 51 set by his brother Ryan Fitzgerald, currently kicking at Florida State.
Heading into the playoffs, Brown is second in the region in rushing with 1,123 yards and he has run for 12 touchdowns.
He also saved his most productive games for the last two as the Packers chased the region title.
The 5-foot-9, 170-pounder ran for 189 yards and one touchdown and threw a touchdown pass in the 51-41 win at Camden County and followed with a 188-yard, three- touchdown effort in the 31-13 win over Richmond Hill in the regular-season finale.
Brown also rushed for 111 against West High of Salt Lake City, 146 against Lee County and 131 in the big win over Lowndes.
For his career, Brown has already rushed for 2,397 yards and has scored 32 career touchdowns.
After not playing the last two years, Lamar burst on the Georgia football scene by rushing for 825 yards and 10 touchdowns and scoring two more on pass receptions.
Rugged and fast, the 5-foot-11, 190-pounder became a fan favorite with his dynamic performances as offers from some of the top collegiate programs in the country poured in.
The Packers offensive line was technically sound and rugged all season.
Left guard Scott led the all-region trio with 46 knockdown blocks. Dillon, the center, had 45 and did Collins, the left tackle.
Jah’Boris Fuller had a solid year in the secondary and also scored a pair of special teams touchdowns for the Packers.
Flounoy leads the Packers in tackles for loss with 18 and Wilson was right behind with 17.
Flounoy also had nine sacks and Wilson had 7.5.
McNeil, the 5-foot-8, 155-pound junior strong safety, leads the team in tackles in the first 10 games.
He was credited for 14 against Lee County, 13 against Richmond Hill and 12 against Camden County.
He caused three fumbles and also had the biggest touchdown run of the season for the Packers when he snatched the ball from a Tift County receiver and raced 95 yards for a touchdown.
Miller quietly has put together an outstanding season as the Colquitt County punter.
His 43.6 yards per punt is one of the best in school history. The school record is believed to be the 44.4 yards Colquitt County Sports Hall of Fame member Dennard Robison averaged on 23 punts in 1964.
In recent years, only Ryan Fitzgerald averaged more than 40 yards over a season, with 40.9 in 2018 and 40.6 in 2017.
And Miller came through when the Packer needed him most, averaging 41.6 yards on the 14 punts against region opponents.
Walker leads the Packers with 18 catches for 318 yards and one touchdown.
Ry’Sheed Fuller had 39 tackles in the regular season from his cornerback position and has one of the Packers seven interceptions.
Kinsey, a senior linebacker, was credited with 64 tackles this season.