by Adelia Ladson | photography by Connie Southwell
“ Onward Packers, Onward Packers, Onward to the fray …” and every Friday night that there is a home game on Tom White Field in Mack Tharpe Stadium, Colquitt County shows up— but what is it that draws the crowd to the“ Friday Night Lights?”
The most obvious would seem to be to support their beloved hometown team, but I believe it goes much deeper than that. When I enter the football stadium and hear the noise of the fans, smell the booster club’ s concessions stand, and hear the 50th Regiment get into gear with the fight song, I feel a building excitement, a kind of stirring in my soul.
Maybe it goes back to ancient times and the thrill of the Colosseum or maybe it’ s a feeling transmitted by the young people in the student section. Whatever it is, it’ s tangible— and it’ s magic.
When I was at a game many years ago, one of the cheerleaders told me she thought the magic was that everyone came together, in the stands, and put aside their differences because they all wanted their team to win.
“ I think the magic of football is it brings the community together as one, big family,” she told me.
I couldn’ t agree more. It’ s just as true now as it was when she said it years ago. And you can count on that one, big family going nuts when that touchdown happens. This is the moment the fans have been waiting for, have been holding their breaths for as the receiver makes his run with the ball, and have been hoping for since the start of the game— the touchdown, followed by the kick for the extra point.
Students support the Packers from the student section during this year’ s Homecoming Game.
30 MoultrieScene OCTOBER 2025