No. 2 Lee County faces Colquitt County in South Georgia football showdown

LEESBURG — Cohen Lawson knows exactly what Friday night at Mack Tharpe Stadium feels like.

He knows the roar from the stands.

He knows the expectations.

He knows the coaches on the Colquitt County sideline and many of the players wearing black and gold.

For two years, Lawson was the guy those people were cheering.

Friday night, they’ll be trying to beat him.

Lawson returns to Moultrie as Lee County’s quarterback when the undefeated and No. 2-ranked Trojans collide with Class 7A powerhouse Colquitt County in one of South Georgia’s marquee games of the week.

Welcome home, Cohen.

Just don’t expect much of a welcome.

“He’s excited to take on the challenge this week,” Lee County coach Dean Fabrizio said.

So is everybody else.

This is Lee County-Colquitt County.

Two of South Georgia’s heavyweight programs. Two teams loaded with college prospects. Two coaching staffs that know each other well. And two teams separated by only seven points the last time they met.

Colquitt County escaped Leesburg with a wild 43-36 victory last season.

Now the Trojans are headed to Moultrie looking to return the favor.

And Lawson isn’t the only one going back.

Lee County defensive coordinator Bull Barge starred on Colquitt County’s 2017 state championship team and later coached for the Packers.

But if Lawson needed any extra confidence before returning to his old stadium, he probably found it last week.

He threw for 377 yards against Sequoyah in his biggest game yet as a Trojan.

“Cohen is coming off a big game for us,” Fabrizio said. “He’s getting better each week.”

So is Lee County.

The Trojans are 3-0, but that record doesn’t begin to tell their story.

They’ve been punched.

Twice.

And twice they’ve punched back.

Lee County trailed nationally ranked Carol City 20-8 at halftime before storming back for a 23-20 victory. The Trojans found themselves in trouble again last week at Sequoyah and responded with another comeback.

Three games into the season, Lee County has already learned something about itself.

It doesn’t panic.

“We’ve got a veteran team, and we’ve got a team that has a lot of grit,” Fabrizio said. “They do a great job of keeping their composure and correcting mistakes as a game goes on.”

Colquitt County coach Sean Calhoun sees it on film.

“They are finding ways to win and finding ways to win in the fourth quarter,” Calhoun said. “So we know we will have to fight our hardest for four quarters.”

That might be exactly what Friday night requires.

Colquitt County enters 2-1 with another roster packed with talent. Quarterback Khi Mitchell directs an offense featuring receiver Antwann Lockett and running back Denim Lewis.

The Packers’ defense includes Josh Alford, Kaden King, De’Shaun Office, Markeverin Graham and Ty’mhyr Moore.

Then look across the field.

Lee County has weapons everywhere.

Lawson has Jaden Upshaw, Carter Blackwell, Jordyn Bush and Dominique Ball around him on offense.

On defense, Gregory Batson, Jace Murray, Montavious Clay, Champ Brown and Trey Bush headline a unit that has already shown it can take over a football game.

Calhoun was asked whether knowing Lawson so well gives Colquitt County an advantage — or whether Lawson’s knowledge of the Packers gives Lee County one.

He didn’t bite.

Instead, he talked about what will be standing around Lawson.

“Our defense is excited for the opportunity to go against an offense that has numerous college football players on a nationally ranked team,” Calhoun said.

Colquitt County knows exactly how dangerous Lee County can be.

Last year’s 43-36 shootout could have gone either way.

Calhoun expects Friday night’s rematch to come down to the little things again.

“We must execute better than them,” he said. “Games like this come down to a handful of plays, and unfortunately we do not know which plays those are, so we must play every play to the best of our ability.”

That’s the football part.

Then there’s the place.

Mack Tharpe Stadium on a Friday night is part football game, part South Georgia spectacle.

The crowd. The noise. The black and gold. The history.

Fabrizio knows what’s waiting.

“Colquitt is one of the best atmospheres to play,” he said. “Mack Tharpe Stadium is just an electrifying place, and I’m sure our fans will travel like they always do in large numbers. It’ll be a great atmosphere.”

Lee County won’t be sneaking into town, either.

Not at 3-0.

Not ranked No. 2.

Not after beating Carol City.

And certainly not with Colquitt County’s former starting quarterback behind center.

Fabrizio has played the Packers enough through the years to understand the assignment.

“They play extremely hard,” he said. “They’ve got great athletes. They’re well coached. It’s going to take a great effort on our part to beat them.”

A year ago, Lee County gave Colquitt County almost everything it had.

Almost wasn’t enough.

The Packers walked out of Leesburg with a seven-point victory.

Now comes the rematch.

Under the lights in Moultrie.

No. 2 Lee County against Colquitt County.

Lawson back at Mack Tharpe.

Except this time, he’ll walk onto that familiar field, look across at his former teammates and try to do something he never imagined when he was wearing black and gold.

Beat the Packers.