Flash, Ignite, Tibbers is the fourth-ranked eSports team in the state of Georgia. From left are Cameron Crosby, Gabriel Rhodes, Juan Guerrero, Case Gregory and Jonathan Jeffrey.

MOULTRIE, Ga. — The Colquitt County eSports program has continued to thrive during its new season with one of its teams ranked fourth in the state with playoffs well under way.

Both the students and coaches had to get adjusted to new rules, new formats and the introduction of a brand new game for this season, Rocket League.

In Season 0, the first part of the current school year, the Packer eSports coaches had to introduce a game most of the people on the team hadn’t played before, League of Legends. They defied expectations and sent half of the team to playoffs.

This season, which began in February, all of the CCHS teams went to playoffs. That is something coach Bobby Stinson is proud of.

“The most exciting thing is the increase of players in the playoffs,” Stinson said. “Last year we put half through and this year we were able to get everybody in. That to me shows growth.

“They are going against schools that have players that have played this game for years,” he said, “and for somebody that is brand new to the game and pick it up in such a short amount of time and then go toe to toe with veteran players, it’s gratifying.”

The five-person team that calls itself Flash, Ignite, Tibbers did exactly that in the League of Legends competition.

Gabriel Rhodes, Juan Guerrero, Cameron Crosby, Jonathan Jeffery and Case Gregory say the name is weird but it matches the quirkiness and comrade they share.

All said they feel pressure to do well, and at the same time they want to encourage the community to support them in the journey they hope will lead to a state championship.

Playoff match-ups are well underway and so far Flash, Ignite, Tibbers is still in and so is the Rocket League team that is ranked 16th in the state, Noob Killers.

Coach Ashley Hodge has confidence in her remaining teams.

“I’m confident both teams will push through because both teams are great, and they communicate well and I think they can go far and do some damage,” Hodge said.