These kinds of stories are hard to write. As I’m putting this together, it’s still August. It’s not even Labor Day yet. We’re one game into the football season (albeit one that Colquitt won 45-14, in dominating fashion, over North Gwinnett). Thus far, nobody has a clear picture of how the teams in the region will fare. But by the time you read this, the season will probably be 70 percent over, and everything will be much clearer. And we’re supposed to talk about two of the best players in the region when they have very little in the way of actual game time or statistics.
In spite of the fact that, at the time of this writing, 90 percent of the regular season had yet to be played, every football fan in South Georgia knows who Chase Parrish and Kiel Pollard are. Both seniors, they are at the heart of Colquitt County’s passing game. Parrish is the battle-tested quarterback, the leader of the defending Class AAAAAA State Champion Packers who threw for over 2,800 yards and 26 touchdowns last year (he also rushed for over 400 yards and scored another seven touchdowns on the ground). In the state title game, he completed 18-of-22 passes for right at 200 yards and three touchdowns. Pollard caught 68 passes for about 900 yards and nine touchdowns during the season. Also a return specialist who, this year, runs the ball out of the Wildcat package, Pollard is one of the premier offensive weapons in the region, if not the state.
They are best friends who share common goals – they both want to go undefeated again and repeat as state champions. They want to be leaders, they want to inspire their teammates to play harder, and they want to improve each and every week. They are also extremely coachable – both spoke of the important role their coaches have played in their development and the level at which they currently play. And both Parrish and Pollard are ferocious competitors; when they flip their switches, they are almost unbeatable. Thankfully for the Packers, and to the dismay of their opponents, their switches stay in the “on” position most of the time.
Parrish moved to Colquitt County from Thomasville when he was in the eighth grade. He came up in the Thomas County Central system and always played quarterback. Pollard has been in Moultrie his whole life and, at one time, was a quarterback in the Packers’ middle school system. He moved to linebacker in the seventh grade then, in the eighth grade, he made the switch to receiver – with a little help from Parrish.
When Parrish came to town, everyone knew he would eventually be the Packers’ quarterback. He and Pollard hit it off immediately, and Pollard would often goof around with Parrish, running routes while he threw the ball around. As it turned out, Pollard could run the routes efficiently. He also had good hands and was an elusive ball carrier once he made a catch. Parrish noticed this and put in a good word with the coaching staff. They liked what they saw, and Pollard moved back to the offensive side of the ball. Ever since, Pollard has been one of Parrish’s favorite targets.
The quarterback in Rush Propst’s system shoulders a tremendous load, more so than most high school quarterbacks are asked to carry. Parrish didn’t play much during his freshman and sophomore years; last year, however, Propst named him the starter, and Parrish made the most of the opportunity.
“Coach Propst expects a lot from his quarterbacks. Being the quarterback of the Packers means a lot to me. I know I have to take leadership of the team,” he says.
Parrish is a consistent, focused, and determined player. He has developed the ability to focus on the drive, the series, and the play at hand; he has trained himself to block out the rest. He neither looks ahead nor behind, instead locking in on the immediate task. His teammates have learned to trust him, and he knows he must reward their trust with steady and stellar play. “When the game is on the line, he’s going to make the right decision. He’s going to make every play and lead our team. He’s a great leader,” says Pollard of his quarterback.
Pollard comes from a proud Colquitt County Packer tradition. His father, Kelvin, was a defensive end on the 1994 state championship team. An older brother played on the 2010 team that finished as runner-up in the state. As proud as Pollard is of his championship, he wants one more. “Being on this team means everything to me. I’m the son of a state championship, the brother of a runner-up, and I have a ring of my own. I want to go undefeated and win another championship this year. Outside of that, I want to be a better player, a better person, and a leader for my teammates,” he says.
The key to repeating, according to both Pollard and Parrish, is to stay focused and work hard each and every day at practice. Coach Propst and the staff have been pounding that into them since February – they have the target on their backs, they are the team everyone else wants to beat, and they are the ones to watch. Pollard also understands his role as a leader on the team. “Last year, we didn’t have to be leaders. We had seniors who led us. Now, it’s on our backs. People are looking up to us. The guys last year taught us that hard work pays off. You always work as hard as you can, every single day,” says Pollard.
Both players agree that the season is off to a good start – at least it was after the opening game. In the win over North Gwinnett, Parrish threw for 190 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Pollard had 137 receiving yards, 40 rushing yards, one receiving touchdown, and two rushing scores out of the Wildcat formation. “I love the wildcat,” laughs Pollard. “It’s a lot of fun.”
What does Parrish say about his favorite target? “When he gets competitive, he’s really dangerous. It’s special being on the field with him. I love getting the ball to him and watching him drag people down the field.”
Maybe, just maybe, the entire 2015 season will be another special one for every player on the field. All eyes are on Colquitt, and there are some hungry teams in the metro area whose players feel like they have what it takes to dethrone the champions. Parrish and Pollard, however, are committed to making that task as difficult as possible. They have the talent, the competitive fire, and the attitude to lead the Packers to a second consecutive state title.
Will they do it? By the time you read this, the picture will be much, much clearer.
Player Spotlight/South Georgia/October 2015
Chase Parrish and Kiel Pollard
Colquitt County High School
Moultrie, Georgia
Robert Preston Jr.
Photography by Micki K Photography
Colquitt’s quarterback and his favorite target have lofty goals for 2015
