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Corky Kell Classic: Top-ranked Colquitt County bowls over No. 5 McEachern

Saturday's clash of top-five powers from Georgia's biggest classification (7A) never lived up to the hype; and all credit goes to Colquitt County.

ATLANTA–Preseason football polls tend to have the useful shelf life of less than 72 hours; but in the case of Colquitt County, the pundits might have this one nailed for an entire season.

On Saturday, the top-ranked Packers (No. 1 in the Georgia High School Football Daily's aggregate poll) systematically picked apart No. 5 McEachern, posting double-digit points for three quarters and eventually cruising to a 41-7 rout at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Saturday's clash of top-five powers from Georgia's biggest classification (7A) never lived up to the hype; and all credit goes to Colquitt County, which dominated the crucial categories of yards rushing (211-28), scrimmage yards (310-192), third-down conversions (6 of 12 ... compared to 3 of 12), quarterback sacks (3-0), turnovers (3-0) and points off turnovers (17-0).

How thorough was this rout? It could be argued McEachern's lone touchdown of the game–a 2-yard scoring run from Jordon Simmons–shouldn't have counted, since Simmons might have lost possession of the ball before reaching the goal line.

But alas, there are no replay reviews at the high school level (thank goodness) and Simmons' fortunate score serves as a mere footnote to the Packers' unmatched dominance.

For the day, five different Colquitt County players notched touchdowns, a group featuring Ty Leggett (4-yard run), Daijun Edwards (56-yard run), D'Keyvien Hamilton (1-yard run after a muffed McEachern punt), Traveoun Tuff (31-yard TD catch) and Mekeba Ponder (2-yard scoring run).

The only Packer to score twice: Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald, who incredibly connected on two 50-plus-yard field goals against McEachern (53 and 51 yards).

To put that feat into perspective, the list of NFL kickers to record a pair of 50-plus field goals in the same game isn't very long. In fact, I have vivid memories of Chip Lohmiller becoming the first 50/50 gamer–in the early 1990s.

It's worth noting: Colquitt County (1-0, lost in the 7A state title game last year) didn't eclipse the 100-yard mark in passing on Saturday; but then again, it wasn't really necessary, thanks to the power-rushing acumen of Edwards (167 yards, 1 TD on 25 carries) and the Packers amassing 232 yards on the ground.

On the flip side, Colquitt County's defense held McEachern (0-1) in check, limiting quarterback Carlos Wilson to 50-percent passing (164 yards) and tailback Paris Brown to just 40 total yards (45 rushing, minus-5 receiving).

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