MOULTRIE - The largest cheer from home side stands at Tom White Field at Mack Tharpe Stadium on Friday was not for any of the Colquitt County High’s five touchdowns in their 35-10 victory over Houston County.

It came when public address announcer Jerry Croft gave the final score from McConnell-Talbert Stadium in Warner Robins where Warner Robins rallied from a 20-0 deficit to deal Northside its first loss of the season, 21-20.

Knowledgable Colquitt County fans knew that the Northside loss gives the Packers a chance to win the Region 1-AAAAA championship next Friday when they meet Northside in Warner Robins.

With Lowndes’ 63-7 victory over Coffee on Friday, Colquitt County, Northside and Lowndes all stand at 5-1 in the region.

A Colquitt County victory over the Eagles and a Lowndes loss to Warner Robins at Martin Stadium next Friday would give the Packers the region title.

The Packers could beat the Eagles and still not win the title if Lowndes defeats Warner Robins. In that scenario, Lowndes and Colquitt County would finish at 6-1, but the Vikings would claim the first-round berth to the playoffs with the head-to-head 31-6 victory over the Packers last month.

A loss to the Northside would drop the Packers to No. 3 in the final standings.

The Northside loss to Warner Robins, which Colquitt County shut out 17-0 last Friday night, did not surprise Colquitt County coach Rush Propst.

“Not in this region,” he said. “It just shows why it’s one of the best in the nation.

“We’ve just got to go up there and be ready to play and be ready to withstand the first eight, nine, 10 minutes of the game.

“They will come out ready.”

The Packers had finally put Houston County away, and won an eighth game for the first time since 2001, by the time the Warner Robins-Northside score was announced.

But it took a strong second half effort after a sluggish first two quarters before the Packers could finally deal the Bears their sixth straight defeat.

Colquitt scored two touchdowns in the third quarter and two more in the fourth to break open a game it led just 7-3 at the half.

The Packers were bedeviled by three dropped passes and 60 yards in penalties in the first two quarters. Their only first-half score came in the second quarter on a 78-yard drive that took seven plays.