AROUND THE STATE: Colquitt County continues to dominate

No. 1 Colquitt County has reversed their record from this point last season, when coach Rush Propst’s Packers got off to an 0-3 start. Despite again playing tough non-region competition, Colquitt is winning this year, and other than the Houdini-esque escape against Madison County (Fla.), the Packers are winning big. On Friday against Thomas County Central, Colquitt romped to a 44-14 win over the Class AAAA powerhouse. Next week, Propst’s squad will take on Westlake (Atlanta) in College Park. … Baldwin’s Donta Beckham is doing it all again for coach Dexter Copeland’s Braves. A year after scoring eight touchdowns in a variety of ways, he ran for two, caught a TD pass, and blocked a punt in Friday’s 41-7 win over Central (Macon). “Great coaching, huh,” Copeland told the Macon Telegraph. “You don’t have to be very smart to know that kid needs the ball in his hands. He’s special.” … Clarke Central won The Classic City Championship over Cedar Shoals Friday for the fourth time in a row and sixth in seven tries. The Gladiators won the rivalry game 49-13 to set a series record for most points scored by one team. White it was Central coach Leroy Ryals’ sixth Championship, it was Jaguar coach Dreco Thomas’ first taste of the Athens rivalry. “This game is big,” Thomas said. “I looked at the crowd and a lot of people were here. A lot of people were into it. I liked that aspect.” … Class AAAA No. 3 Statesboro trailed Washington County through three quarters Friday in “the House of Pain”, but scored twice in the final quarter to avoid an upset. In the 31-26 win, RB Quan Daniels rushed 20 times for 149 yards and three touchdowns. Daniels’ final touchdown came in the fourth quarter to give the Blue Devils the lead and was followed by a pick-6 when Corey Harden intercepted WACO backup QB Jacob Kennedy.