Last week’s matchup between Colquitt County and Lowndes was among the best of the 2026 season. Last Friday, the two 7A powerhouses, both ranked in the top 10, went head-to-head, and Colquitt County came out on top 23-20.
The Packers scored two touchdowns in the final five minutes. The first was a quick pass out to Antwan Lockett, who took it to the house for 50 yards, and then, with just 12 seconds remaining, senior QB Khi Mitchell connected with Tucker Saporita on a 10-yard fade route, where the senior tight end caught the pass with the defender draped over him, earning a pass interference flag and the game-winning touchdown.
The duo earned top play of the week honors in one of the best games of the 2026 regular season; the last five minutes are at the top of the page and have over 80k views on MaxPreps ‘ YouTube channel.
For the two seniors, the nationwide attention has brought a spotlight on the season, where they are both new transfers to the program and have each made an impact for the #5 Packers. They have faced off against one of the toughest schedules in the state, and each player talked about how they have adapted to the new surroundings while playing 7A football.
“It was a little different before the season started than what I was used to, but I think the competition being better speeds the game up and makes me have to keep growing and being more efficient,” Saporita said.
Mitchell added, “Moving into 7A Region 1 was a major adjustment, especially from a crowd and fan-base perspective. The atmosphere and competition are on another level, but we have an incredible fan base that continues to show up and support us. It’s been a great experience competing at this level.”
Mitchell, a player from Mt. Zion-Jonesboro, is a quick quarterback who can drive the football out to receivers. He’s thrown for 1877 yards and 22 touchdowns, plus 632 rushing yards and 4 scores. And Saporita, a transfer from Pike County, has 396 all-purpose yards, 336 receiving yards on 24 receptions and 6 touchdowns.
The two seniors talked about the season and what they have gone through so far.
“I would describe this season as challenging, but also one that has provided a lot of growth and development. One of my biggest areas of improvement has been studying film, understanding defensive schemes, and executing the game plan. Coach Calhoun and Coach Cooper have high expectations of me when it comes to knowing the offense, understanding what I see on the field, and making the right decisions. It wasn’t an easy adjustment, but it required patience, hard work, and trusting the process,” Mitchell said.
Saporita also said, “Senior season has been one of the most fun and difficult moments of my life. Having to leave my hometown and take a risk and trust God, which ended up being one of the best things that could’ve happened to me. And it’s been one of the biggest life-growing moments of my life, not only on the football field but me learning things to take off the field and into my life,” the senior exclaimed.
Heading into this season, Colquitt County was our ‘Darkhorse’ state championship selection. We really liked the roster construction, and thought pairing Mitchell and Saporita would have natural chemistry. By playoff time, the Packers’ offensive synergy would be explosive, making them a dangerous team in the 7A playoffs.
“Adjusting to the offense and building chemistry with the talent around me has been a big part of my development,” Mitchell said. “Having playmakers like Tucker and Lockett, along with the rest of our wide receiver corps, has helped me work through the adjustments and become more comfortable within the offense. I believe we’re starting to click at the right time, and we’re continuing to build momentum as a team.”
Both seniors started as freshmen and have tons of varsity starts under their belts. That level of experience, coupled with the infrastructure at Colquitt County, has elevated Saporita’s expectations, saying, “Goals for playoffs are what everyone should be, and that’s to bring home a State Championship!”
Colquitt County finished #5 in our 7A regular season rankings. Every year, they are among the best teams in the state’s highest classification, so that kind of finish has become the standard.
“Our mindset is simple: go 1-0 every week. We’re focused on taking each game as it comes, continuing to improve, and ultimately accomplishing our goal of making it to Mercedes-Benz Stadium,” Mitchell said.
Switching over to recruiting, both athletes have the upside to be impact players at the next level. For Saporita, he already holds 20 offers, most recently from Eastern Michigan and Coastal Carolina. At 6’3″ and 225 lbs., the pass-catcher has excellent hands and body control, as seen in his game-winner last week, where he completely ‘Mossed’ the Lowndes DB.
For Mitchell, the ultra-quick 5’10” passer can escape out of a gang tackle in an elevator. His creativity and vision in finding teammates give Colquitt County a dangerous dual threat that keeps the state’s best defenses off balance.
“My recruitment is completely open,” he said. “I’m continuing to work, develop as a quarterback, and pursue opportunities at the next level. I’m open to building relationships with college programs that believe in my ability and see what I can bring to their program.”
For three years in a row, our preseason ‘Darkhorse’ pick has made it to the state 7A championship. Can we make it four years in a row? This team has the potential; they are an incredibly deep squad and hungry to hoist up the 7A championship trophy.
We’ll see how far Colquitt County goes in the big 2026, so follow @RecruitGeorgia on Twitter/X to see the latest on the senior duo, how their season goes, and players across Georgia.
