MOULTRIE- That Colquitt County felt comfortable moving Ramsey Dennis Jr., the Packers leading rusher a year ago, to take over the nickel position in the new 3-3 stack defense speaks volumes about how coach Sean Calhoun feels about the others who will be carrying the football this season.
Dennis is still a dangerous back and might yet be called up for some crucial carries this season while his athleticism and speed benefit the defense.
But with Day’Shawn Brown returning and Jae Lamar finally getting an opportunity to show his wealth of talent, the Colquitt running game appears in more-than-capable hands as the Packers prepare to play host to Monroe at 7:30 p.m. Friday in The Hawg Pen.
Brown and Lamar combined to carry 21 times for 169 yards and three touchdowns in the 45-28 win over West High of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Calhoun will likely take those kinds of numbers most any Friday night.
Freshman quarterback Cohen Lawson had a solid debut against the Panthers, completing 8-of-10 passes for 133 yards and one touchdown, but a menacing ground game can do nothing but aid his progress.
“We’ve got to run the football to be as successful as we want to be,” Calhoun said. “That’s what we want to hang our hat on.”
Brown carried the football 15 times for 111 yards and scored on a 3-yard run late in the third quarter against West that put the Packers up 45-14.
He is no stranger to the end zone, having visited there 14 times last season.
Lamar is probably a secret the Packers are not likely to be able to keep much longer.
He did not play as a freshman or as a sophomore, but Calhoun believes the 5-foot-11, 190-pounder could have Power 5 programs lining up to secure his services next year.
“If he continues to do what he’s been doing, he has a chance to be something special,” Calhoun said.
Against West, he got his first career touchdown just moments after making a key special teams tackle on an ill-advised West fake punt.
On the Packers next possession, he swung out of the backfield, took a short pass from Lawson and got to show off his speed and power en route to the end zone on what would be Lawson’s first career scoring pass.
Lamar got his second rushing touchdown on a 23-yard run late in the second quarter that gave the Packers a 31-6 halftime lead.
He did cough the ball up in the late in the third quarter while bulling for extra yardage, but his evening’s bona fides – six carries for 58 yards and two scores – were secure by then.
Brown, Lamar, Lawson and company worked behind an offensive line that bullied the boys from the Beehive State.
The coaching staff honored junior right guard Jamaal Jackson, who wears the jersey No. 68 that his coach Bryce Giddens wore as a Packer, as the Offensive Lineman of the Week after grading 84 percent with 12 knockdowns.
Also starting on the line were tackles Khalil Collins and Jakari Byrd, left guard Casey Scott and center Matt Dillon.
Fans were probably not aware of the names of any of the other Packers who caught passes from Lawson: Offensive Player of the Week Malik Walker, who had three catches, Na’Ryan “Bobo” Sumlin, who had two; and Ja’Mari Stokes and Ni’Shawn Osby, each of who had one.
Big junior Alexis Barge, all 6-foot-4, 225 pounds of him, was toiling at tight end.
Sam Miller and backup quarterback A’Zhiyen Alridge also ran some pass routes.
The final score against the Panthers was somewhat misleading. West scored twice in the mercy-ruled fourth quarter.
The defense had its hands full with the junior college-sized West offensive line and strong sophomore quarterback in Kamden Lopati.
But 270-pound sophomore defensive end Nyneson Jeudy Jr. performed well enough to earn the Defensive Lineman of the Week Award after being credited with six tackles, including a sack.
Senior nose Jartavius Flounoy was named the defensive lineman of the Week for his five tackles, a sack and two quarterback hurries.
Amari Wilson will alway be a steadying presence on the line.
Dennis will be back at the nickel position alongside linebackers Ra’Quavian Kinsey, Bryce Toomer and Brayden Ruis.
Jah’Boris Fuller and Ry’Sheed Fuller – who are not brothers, by the way – will be the corners.
Ry’Sheed had an interception and Fuller, with his kickoff return for a touchdown, 25-yard punt return and his extra-point attempt block, shared Special Teams Player of the Week Award with the perfect Brett Fitzgerald.
Roddriek Carter and Lavarious Johnson are expected to start at safety against Monroe.
Fitzgerald converted after all six Colquitt County touchdowns, hit a 48-yard field goal, and put all eight of his kickoffs in to the end zone.
His snapper is Chason Glenn and Logan Morris does the holding.
Of this and that:
The last time Colquitt County played Monroe was on October 17, 1987, at Hugh Mills Stadium in Albany.
The Packers defeated the Tornadoes that night 21-6.
Running back Tony Wilson, taking pitchouts from quarterback Ben Wiggins, scored all three touchdowns.
And kicking all three extra points was Chad Fitzgerald, father of current Packers kicker Brett Fitzgerald and current Florida Stat kicker Ryan Fitzgerald.
And Chad, too, wore jersey No. 88.
By the way, Ryan Fitzgerald and his Seminole teammates will play Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland, at noon on Saturday. The game will be televised on ESPN.
Playing for Georgia Tech is former Packer defensive back Omar Daniels.
Valdosta’s Deron Foster leads Region 1-6A in rushing after the first week by carrying 19 times for 129 yards and three touchdowns in the 65-19 win over Tucker.
Marvis Parrish had a big game for Lowndes in Week 1, carrying eight times for 121 yards and scoring twice.
And in Tift County’s season-opening shutout of Griffin, Kamari Holloman carried the football 21 times for 112 yards and scored four touchdowns.
University of Georgia commit Todd Robinson completed 19-of-28 passes for 319 yards and four scores for Valdosta to top the list of the region’s passers after Week 1.
Camden’s Parks Riendeau hit 11-of-19 passes for 185 yards and three scores in Camden County’s win over Brunswick.
Not surprisingly, Valdosta have the top two receivers. Eli Lewis had six catches for 126 yards and three touchdowns. Prince Jean caught three for 88 yards.