Lee County’s Weston Bryan turns Friday 13th into Colquitt County nightmare with six touchdowns

MOULTRIE – Friday the 13th became a nightmare for Colquitt County as Lee County’s senior quarterback Weston Bryan bulldozed his way through the Packers’ defense, scoring four rushing touchdowns and adding two passing scores. After 12 straight losses to Colquitt, the Trojans finally flipped the script in their 13th meeting, walking away with a historic 47-35 victory.

Besides the final score, the true nightmare for the Packers came from three turnovers that led to Trojan touchdowns and 12 first-half penalties, costing Colquitt 89 yards.

In possibly the best game of his high school career, Bryan finished with 143 rushing yards on 24 carries and completed 11 of 15 passes for 102 yards.

The Packers focused on stopping Georgia’s top-rated running back Ousmane Kromah, holding the senior to 76 yards on 17 carries. However, Kromah was Bryan’s favorite target in the passing game, pulling in six receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown.

Colquitt’s offense was led by senior running back Day’Shawn Brown, who carried 11 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Jae Lamar added a touchdown on 12 carries for 126 yards.

How it happened:

The Trojans received the opening kickoff but couldn’t move the ball against the Packer defense, leading to a punt. Colquitt took over around its own 20-yard line. On the first play, Packers quarterback Cohen Lawson fumbled the snap, and the ball bounced toward the goal line. Lee County’s Greg Batson pounced on it, giving the Trojans possession at the 8-yard line.

A Lee County penalty pushed the ball back to the 13, but a few plays later, Canton Williams caught a short sideline pass and raced past the Colquitt defenders for the first score of the night. Kameron Kirksey’s extra point made it 7-0.

Later in the first quarter, Colquitt responded. Senior running back Day’Shawn Brown broke free down the middle for a big gain, finally being brought down at the 10-yard line. After the teams traded penalties, Lawson threw a short pass to Alexis “Juicy” Barge for the Packers’ first touchdown. Brett Fitzgerald’s extra point set a Georgia high school record with his 191st PAT. He added four more on the night.

The Packers fumbled again on their next possession, and the Trojans recovered at the 10-yard line. Bryan hit Kromah with a sideline pass, and Kromah pushed his way into the end zone for another score. Kirksey’s kick made it 14-7.

Colquitt turned to Lamar, who raced across midfield to the 37-yard line. After another penalty, Lawson connected with Ja’mari Stokes, who was brought down at the 25-yard line. A Trojan penalty helped the Packers convert a long third down, and Brown scored on an 8-yard run. Fitzgerald’s kick tied the game at 14-14.

Lee County then went on a scoring spree, racking up 27 unanswered points to take a 41-14 lead by the third quarter. As the Trojans dominated, Packer fans at Mack Tharpe Stadium began heading for the exits.

The next two touchdowns came courtesy of Bryan, who, at 6’4″ and 225 pounds, bullied his way into the end zone twice, dragging defenders with him. The Trojans led 27-14 at the half.

Colquitt took the second-half kickoff looking to get back into the game, but Lee County’s Traylon Felton intercepted Lawson’s first pass attempt and took it to the house for a pick-six. On the Trojans’ next possession, key passes to Kromah set up another Bryan rushing touchdown, this time from four yards out.

The Packers scored quickly after that, but many of their fans had already begun making their way out of the stadium.

The Trojans, 4-0, will now Wekiva (1-2) of Apopka, Fla. next Friday night in Leesburg. The Packers will celebrate homecoming at Mack Tharpe Stadium against Rickards (3-1) of Tallahassee.

By Joe Whitfield
Sports EditorJoeWhitfield[email protected]
By Joe Whitfield
Sports EditorJoeWhitfield[email protected]

By Joe Whitfield
Sports EditorJoeWhitfield[email protected]