Shawn Shamburger sees the blocking develop and knows a touchdown is coming Friday at Valdosta High's Cleveland Field.

MOULTRIE – An 0-4 start to the football season probably wasn’t in the plans. For a cornerback, not intercepting the football through five games probably wasn’t in the plans. Making the playoffs and winning a region championship are still in the plans and very much achievable goals in the one year Shawn Shamburger, senior transfer from Alabama, has as part of the Colquitt County High football team.

If there ever was a time for somebody in the Packer secondary to finally pick off a pass, it’s when you are trying to protect a one-touchdown lead against an unbeaten rival on their home turf. Valdosta High, trying to do all it could to remain undefeated, just saw an 11-point second-half lead evaporate against a determined bunch from Moultrie. It’s just over three minutes into the fourth quarter, and Colquitt County has scored on three straight possessions to lead 31-24.

Now the 5-0 Wildcats and No. 2 quarterback Josh Belton are trying to regain their momentum and succeed in getting inside the ‘red zone.’ Belton takes a shot at the corner of the end zone on 2nd-and-4 from the 15, but there’s Shamburger to spoil those plans and then some.

“We were going man coverage,” said Shamburger, who already had one offensive touchdown for Colquitt in the previous week’s big win over Brookwood. “I had him locked man-to-man. I made a play on the ball … I didn’t know the ball was actually in the air at the time until I turned around, and I just threw my hand up.”

That’s what’s called being ‘on an island,’ going one on one with the wide receiver.

“I lost the ball in the lights,” said Shamburger. “Once I caught it, immediately I was like ‘O.K. I’ve got to score.’ Then I started running, then I saw my teammates start blocking for me. So yeah, I got a chance.

“You got to score. It was a close game. Valdosta and Colquitt is a huge game. We needed that momentum swing.”

So even though Shamburger is on the other team’s goal line, he wasn’t thinking simply get good field position. Get six points. When he got to the 50, that’s when Shamburger realized a touchdown was more than just an ambition. He saw a 5-on-3 blocking advantage for Colquitt, and despite being close to his own sidelines, he said there was no chance he would get forced out of bounds.

“I had three (pick-6s) last year,” said Shamburger. “That was my first 100-yard one. That’s when your conditioning kicks in. Once you get past a certain point, you’re like, ‘O.K. I just covered this man, so now I have to score the ball and not get tired. You have to mentally force yourself to perform.”

Net result is that Colquitt increased its lead to 38-24 with five minutes remaining. The Packer defense forced Valdosta into a three-and-out, got the football back, and went 85 yards in two running plays, Ty Leggett scoring for the 45-24 final score.

Shamburger had one other key tackle for lost yards on the perimeter during the third quarter. It was a three-and-out right before Colquitt’s go-ahead drive. He’s made 29 total tackles in six games, and his offensive and special teams contributions add up to 259 all-purpose yards.

“I feel like a fit in great,” said Shamburger. “This is my family. This is my brotherhood. I wouldn’t trade these guys for anything in the world.

“It’s a football town. That’s it. It’s always about Packers. I love that atmosphere. The people are great here.”

Shamburger felt the open-arms welcome to Colquitt football, and he was greeted also with that non-region schedule of high caliber opponents including Valdosta. The Packers went into that game 1-4, but Shamburger knew the four-game skid didn’t mean it was a lost season.

“We still think we have a legitimate chance at a state championship,” he said. “Coming out 0-4, we really didn’t think that was how we were going to start off. We’re never going to lose our focus. We have one goal.

“You have to keep your head. You can’t lose your competitive edge about anything. When your name is called, you have to answer. There’s always room for improvement. We have some things we have to fix on defense and offense. We have the time to do it, we have the talent to win the region.”