Colquitt defeats Parkview, but loses Fann to injury (updated)

Nov. 11—MOULTRIE — Colquitt County scored two touchdowns in the final 40 seconds of the first half and went on to a 51-25 first-round Class 7A state tournament victory over Parkview on Friday, but had to play the second-half without record-setting quarterback Neko Fann.

The 11-0 Packers will return to Tom White Field at Mack Tharpe Stadium to meet Westlake in a second-round playoff game at 7:30 p.m. next Friday.

Westlake, under former Colquitt County assistant coach Rico Zackery, advanced with a 34-15 victory over Marietta.

Fann threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.

But the senior quarterback appeared to hurt his leg on a 55-yard run on the next-to-last play of the first quarter.

He remained in the lineup and threw his second touchdown pass of the game to Ny Carr on the first play of the second quarter.

He went on to throw 11 more passes before halftime.

After the Packers scored a touchdown by Day'Shawn Brown with 40 seconds left in the half and another by Ramsey Dennis 30 seconds later, the Packers took a 34-10 lead to the locker room at the break.

When Fann emerged for the second half, he was on crutches.

Packers coach Sean Calhoun said Fann would be evaluated further after the game and treatment would start as soon as possible.

"We're banged up," Calhoun said. "We've got to get healthy or other guys have got to step up. We don't have a bye week."

Fann completed 8-of-18 passes and threw his 90th and 91st career touchdown passes in the first half.

Both went to Carr, whose availability for the game was in doubt most of the week.

Not only was he able to start, he caught a short pass from Fann and outraced the Panthers 72 yards for a touchdown just 49 seconds into the game.

But it was the Packers running game that did the Panthers in.

Colquitt backup quarterback A'Zhiyen Alridge threw just one pass in the second half, but didn't need to do more with Brown and Dennis shredding the Panthers defense.

The Packers two junior running backs combined for 194 yards on the ground, including 118 by Brown.

Fann added 63 before being injured and Ja'Mari Stokes added 51 in the running-clock fourth quarter as the Packers ran for 308 yards.

Brown and Dennis each rushed for two scores.

Colquitt also played without tight end Landen Thomas. His availability for the game against Westlake is uncertain.

"I'm proud of us for being able to run and proud of our offensive staff doing such a great job of preparing for being without Landen," Calhoun said. "He is such a big part of our run game."

The Panthers were not at full strength either with starting quarterback Jaiden Jenkins sidelined after being injured late in the 41-14 loss to Grayson last week.

Junior quarterback Cooper Frank completed 18-of-27 passes for 221 yards.

Antonio White, who lined up in wildcat formation a number of times, attempted two passes and completed one for nine yards.

But the Panthers, under first-year coach Joe Sturdivant, were forced to play catch-up after falling behind inside the first minute.

Parkview, which lost its top two rushers earlier in the season, falls to 7-4.

After the Packers went up quickly 7-0 on the touchdown pass to Carr, Parkview lost eight yards on its first three snaps, then got off a 24-yard punt.

Colquitt settled for a 40-yard Brett Fitzgerald field goal and the Packers were up 10-0 with 6:52 left in the quarter.

The Panthers got on the scoreboard with 1:22 left in the first quarter on a 29-yard field goal by Tre Barker.

The Packers extended the lead 17-3 on Fann's second touchdown pass to the Miami-committed Carr.

Parkview countered that score with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Frank to Bryce Coulson to pull back to within seven.

Colquitt had a first-and-goal at the Parkview 5 moments later, but had to settle for Fitzgerald's second field goal, a 22-yarder.

Trailing by 10 with 3:22 left in the half, Parkview had Barker, its punter, attempt a fourth-down pass on the Colquitt 49.

But Colquitt County's Nick Pace knocked it away and the Packers drove to the Brown score with 40 seconds left in the half.

Fitzgerald attempted a squib kick and the Packers Ty Lamar recovered giving Colquitt possession on the Parkview 45.

On the first play, Fann flipped to Dennis, who battled all the way to the Parkview 6 and then scored on the next play.

Parkview scored on its first possession of the second half on a 35-yard pass from Frank to Courson.

Frank also threw a 2-point conversion pass to Carson Wilson to cut the Packers lead to 34-18.

But Colquitt got short touchdown runs by Brown and Dennis later in the quarter to give the Packers a 48-18 lead and a running clock in the fourth quarter.

Fitzgerald added his third field goal of the game with 6:22 left to put Colquitt up 51-18.

Brian Stokes scored on a 1-yard run and Barker converted with 1:19 left to conclude the scoring.

Also on Friday, Grayson eliminated Richmond Hill 34-24.

Region 1's other two groups of Wildcats advanced.

Valdosta cruised past Archer 41-3 and will travel to play Carrollton on Friday.

Carrollton eliminated Harrison 54-14 on Friday.

And on Saturday, Camden County upset Newton 29-15 and will travel to play Region 3 champion McEachern in the second round.

The Indians blanked Campbell 42-0 on Friday.