Soccer Pack draws Camden
MOULTRIE — In the most recent ranking of the top Class AAAAA boys soccer teams in Georgia, Colquitt County was unable to crack the top 10, but was one of the three other teams receiving votes.
The Packers will get a chance at 7 p.m. Wednesday to prove they belong among those top 10 teams when they meet the No. 10 Camden County in a second-round playoff match in Kingsland.
Colquitt advanced to the second round by winning its first state playoff match since 2002, knocking off Paulding County 5-3 in overtime on Wednesday at home after trailing 3-0 at the half.
The Packers had to wait until late Friday to learn for certain who they would play in the second round, although they knew it likely would be the Wildcats.
Camden, the Region 3-AAAAA champion, defeated Lithonia 4-1 Friday night to raise its record to 16-1. It was the Wildcats 10th victory in a row.
The Wildcats only loss this season came back on March 10 when they fell on penalty kicks to Windsor Forest after their match was tied 3-3 through regulation and overtime.
But Camden has not lost since and has outscored its 17 opponents by a combined 71-13.
The Wildcats advanced to the second round of the state playoffs last year before being eliminated by Region 1-AAAAA’s Houston County on penalty kicks. Camden finished 13-5-1 last year.
Although Colquitt County would appear to be the underdog on Wednesday, co-head coach Mell Wier would not sell his upstart Packers short.
“They’re pretty tough,” Wier said of Camden County. “But if we play the way we’re capable, we’ll be fine with anybody we play.”
The Colquitt County-Camden County winner will face the survivor of the match between No. 7 North Cobb and Centennial. Centennial advance by knocking off Region 7 champion and No. 5 ranked North Gwinnett.
The 15-3 Packers could make a case for being included in the top 10 as they prepare for the trip to Kingland.
Two of Colquitt County’s losses have come at the hands of Region 1-AAAAA champion Houston County, currently ranked No. 8 in the state with a 16-2-1 record.
Colquitt has a better record than two teams in the top 10 – No. 7 North Cobb, which is 14-5, and No. 9 Brookwood, which is 13-6 – and has the same record as No. 6 Wheeler.
The Packers will try to build on their stirring Wednesday victory over Paulding County.
Down by three at the half, the Packers got a penalty kick by Matt DeMott, a goal by Salvador Duque to pull to within in one and, with 2:04 left in regulation, a goal by Beau Holden on a shot on which he appeared to have an impossible angle.
In the first overtime, DeMott added another penalty kick and Daniel Garcia got an insurance goal.
Three of Region 1-AAAAA’s four boys soccer teams won first-round matches. No. 3 Warner Robins defeated East Coweta on penalty kicks 5-4 after the match was tied 0-0 after regulation and overtime. The Demons will meet Johnson of Savannah in the second round.
Houston County advanced with a 1-0 win over Tri-Cities and will meet Bradwell Institute.
The Colquitt County-Camden County boys game on Wednesday will follow the 5 p.m. second-round match between the Camden County and Houston County girls.