Lee County plays host to No. 1 Colquitt County in highly-anticpated game

LEESBURG — When asked what he has seen on film from this week’s opponent, Lee County coach Dean Fabrizio paused for a moment before giving his answer.

“Well, how much time do you have?” Fabrizio said before running through a list of Colquitt County’s strengths.

The Trojans welcome the top-ranked Packers to Trojan Field on Friday night in what is one of the most highly-anticipated games of the year — at least for the Trojans, who moved up a spot to No. 7 in this week’s Georgia Sports Writers Association High School Football poll.

Both teams enter the game with 6-0 records and are coming off victories in their first region games last week.

“We have had a really good week of practice,” Fabrizio said. “We should have a good week of practice that is to be expected of us…If you can’t get up for this game, you just can’t get up for a game.”

Lee struggled with Tift County in the first half of last week’s game. Despite forcing five first half turnovers, they entered halftime up just 14-7. The Trojans rallied in the second half and ended up winning 42-14.

Quarterback Garet Morrell was big for the Trojans, finishing the game with four total touchdowns. Wide receiver Tray Eafford had three receiving touchdowns, including one from 93 yards out.

Colquitt also struggled with its opponent in last week’s outing. The Packers were up by just one score at halftime before going on to beat Lowndes 42-20.

The Packers offense is led by quarterback Chase Parrish and wide receiver Kiel Pollard. Parrish enters the game with 866 passing yards and 15 total touchdowns. Pollard, who recently committed to Arkansas, has 299 receiving yards and 11 total touchdowns.

“Their quarterback is back and he is excellent,” Fabrizio said. “Their top player, Pollard, is making plays all over the field. The thing is they have guys that can make plays all over the place.”

Rush Propst has been the head coach of Colquitt since 2008 and led them to the Region 1-AAAAAA title last season. Before becoming the head coach of the Packers, Propst helped build Hoover High School in Hoover, Ala. into a powerhouse, winning five state championships in nine years.

“The first thing that jumps out at you is how well-coached they are,” Fabrizio said. “They make very few mistakes. They execute so well and they play at such a fast pace. They just keep coming at you.”

In last year’s meeting between the two schools, Colquitt won 58-14. According to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association, this is the 10th meeting between the schools. The Packers have won the previous nine matchups.