The Colquitt County flag football team is gearing up for the playoffs following a mixed bag in their regular season finale. On Tuesday, the Lady Packers concluded their season with a doubleheader, finishing with a 10-8 overall record and securing third place in Area 1 with a 7-5 mark.
The Lady Packers are set to kick off their playoff campaign on the road, as they will travel to Dunwoody on Thursday, December 4, to face Heritage High from Conyers, who earned the runner-up position in Area 8 with a 13-3 record.
After splitting their last games against Irwin County and Lowndes, the Lady Packers have shown improvement, winning three of their final four contests. Coach Kirk Woodall expressed confidence in his team”s progress, stating, “We have been playing our best ball as of late, getting better and better performances from both the defense and offense. The ladies have really been working hard in correcting mistakes and growing daily.”
In the area championship, Thomas County Central dominated the competition, finishing undefeated with a 12-0 record in area play and an overall record of 14-2. Lowndes, with a 12-3 overall record and 10-2 in the area, took second place, while Thomasville finished fourth with a split record of 6-6 in area play and 9-7 overall.
In their first match of the doubleheader, the Lady Packers delivered a strong performance, defeating Irwin County 25-6. Freshman quarterback Dyi James showcased her skills, completing 8 of 13 passes for 88 yards and throwing touchdown passes to fellow freshman Taylor Brown and senior Jaelyn Wier. Additionally, James rushed for 126 yards on five carries, adding another touchdown to her tally. Wier contributed by catching three passes for 21 yards and also ran for a score.
On defense, Jenedi Leon led the way with six flag-pulls, while Brown, Aniajah Moore, and Marley Armstrong each recorded interceptions. Belen Romolo-Duran and Cy”Carra Hicks were credited with sacks against Irwin County.
However, the Lady Packers faced a setback in their second game, falling to Lowndes by a score of 19-13. James again demonstrated her talent, completing 14 of 24 passes for 192 yards, including a touchdown pass to Ta”Ayona Singletary. Despite her efforts, the team struggled with their ground game, managing only 23 yards on 13 carries. Wier had another solid outing with four receptions for 37 yards, while Brown and Lucy Taunton each had two catches. Armstrong stood out on defense, leading with six flag-pulls, followed closely by Leon and Cindy Jo Cooper, who each had five.
As the Lady Packers prepare for their playoff matchup, they look to build on their recent successes and advance further in the tournament.
