The return of legendary high school football coach Rush Propst to
Colquitt County (Moultrie, Ga.)
was not a triumphant one thanks to a stellar defensive effort from
the host and 35th-ranked Packers, who pulled off a hard-fought 24-10
victory over No. 33
Valdosta (Ga.) on Friday night.
Propst, the winner of more than 300 games and seven state titles
including two during his decade at Colquitt County, was hired last spring at Valdosta.
A 20-yard pick six from
Gamal Wallace put the Packers (2-0) in complete command early in the fourth quarter just moments after quarterback
Xavier Williams completed a 62-yard touchdown bomb to
Le'Meke Brockington to give Colquitt County a 14-10 lead.
From there, the defense clamped down and finished the game with a sack by
Daeviunte Williams in this highly-anticipated Georgia battle between rival schools. The sack was on junior quarterback
Amari Jones, making his second start over transfer and USC-bound Jake Garcia, who didn't play for undisclosed reasons.
After the game Colquitt County coach Justin Rogers was flailing his fists at the home crowd, over-joyed with the win.
"We're not really any closer to the playoffs or a state championship," he told the NFHS Network. "But It always feels good to beat your rival. ... Our defense did it all tonight and (the pick six by Wallace) broke the game."
A blocked punt, the second of the game by Colquitt County, was returned 21 yards for a touchdown by
Antwan Daniels breaking a scoreless tie with 3:07 left in the first half.
Jones found
Javonte Sherman for a 9-yard score just before halftime to tie the game at 7-7. After a short field goal gave Valdosta (2-1) its first lead late in the third quarter, Williams found Brockington for the 62-yard bomb to put the Packers up for good.
The win for Colquitt County avenged a bitter 50-49 loss to Valdosta last season.
Rush Propst patrols the Colquitt County sideline during the 2018 Class 7A state championship game.
File photo by Cecil Copeland
