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| Press Clippings: Canes season ends in second round...
RANDY RODGERS - 12/01/03
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A stingy defense and 4 turnovers ended the up and down season of the Purple Hurricane
Friday night in Sandersville. The Canes put the ball on the ground three times and threw
a pass to the wrong color shirt two times. The final score was 42-0, Washington County.
The season is ended with a record of 7-5 in the tumultuous first year of Robby Robinson's
first year at Fitzgerald. Robinson's spread offense with which he had had success in Metter
over the last two years proved unproductive in the Fitzgerald program whose talent had been
weaned on the running game of past leadership. Robinson and company adjusted after their
first region loss, to Thomasville, and won out the balance of the regular season and the
first round with Northeast Macon.
The Canes will graduate nearly 20 seniors, a class that has the unique honor of being the
winning-est class in FHS football history, despite the 5 losses of the current season.
Congratulations, seniors, as you complete you high school senior year and move on to
successful futures in college and career.
The 2004 season will be here before we know it with the first three games, non-region,
against Berrien County, Tift County, and Perry. After a week off the Canes will go on
to their region schedule that will include Charlton County, Brantley County, Pierce
County, Jeff Davis, Appling County, Bacon County and archrival Irwin County. Irwin will
be the last game of the year in Fitzgerald.
Good luck, Canes, as you compete in winter and spring sports and prepare for the 2004
Hurricane season.
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| Press Clippings: Washington County, site of Fitzgerald's second round play-off game...
RANDY RODGERS - 11/25/03
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The Fitzgerald Purple Canes will head to Sandersville and Washington County
High School's House of Pain to take on the Golden Hawks in the second round
of the 2003 play-offs. The Hurricane is coming off of a 31-6 win over Northeast
Macon and the Hawks were victorious over South Effingham, 43-10.
The Hawks are 10-1 on the season with only the loss to Swainsboro, 21-15, as
a blemish to their schedule. Lineman Seth Watts (76) is already committed to
Georgia. At 6'5" and 290 pounds, Watts has anchored both the offensive and
defensive lines for the golden Hawks.
In addition to Watts the Golden Hawks are loaded with seniors. Senior quarterback
Justin Burden (17) along with free safety Stacey Watts (10), defensive lineman
Trent Ingram (34), and linebacker Eddie Morrell (44) are just of a few of the
standouts on this WACO team.
WACO runs out of the I including power, triple and single set looks. On defense,
the base set is 4-4 with the secondary providing different looks.
"We're excited about having the Purple Hurricane fans in for the game," said
Head coach Rick Tomberlin. "We have great crowds and I know that the Fitzgerald
folks follow their team so I'm looking for a full house and some competitive play."
Fans can travel US 319 from Fitzgerald to Wrightsville and turn left on GA 15
to Tennille and Sandersville. At GA282, also Riddleville Road, turn right. The
stadium will be on the left.
Congratulations Canes and Cane fans as you move on to the second round of the
GHSA state play-offs in Sandersville. |
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| Press Clippings: Canes beat Northeast, 31-6, to advance to showdown with Washington County...
RANDY RODGERS - 11/24/03
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Senior Carlos Bell (21) and Fabian Daniels (34), the junior, put together a
performance on Friday night that resulted in 31 points on offense and Robby
Robinson's defense led by Rodney Milsap (91) and Jerry Taylor (47) held the
Northeast Raider offense to 6 points to take their first round play-off game
at Fitzgerald's Jaycee Stadium. The Purple Hurricane will advance to the next
round as a result of the 31-6 win.
The Canes put up 338 yards of offense and controlled the field of play the
entire evening with the exception of a busted coverage that resulted in a 62
yard touchdown for the Raiders with 8:24 left in the first quarter. The
Raiders took the early lead on the Jaquan White (3) to David West (10) pitch
and catch that resulted in the score. The extra point was no good and
Northeast led 6-0.
After that, though, it was all Fitzgerald as Bell put up 186 yards on 29
carries scoring 4 TDs. Daniels had 149 yards on 23 carries. Kicker Leo
Sanchez (10) had a 36 yard field goal and 4 extra points.
The Purple Hurricane will be on the road on Friday night to Sandersville
to take on the Washington County Golden Hawks in the House of Pain. The
Hawks are in the second round by virtue of beating South Effingham,
coached by Bob Herndon, former FHS head coach.
On hand at the Fitzgerald-Northeast game were several former FHS stars
of recent years including Troy and Roy Williams, Detrik Hall, Tucker
Pruitt, and Kevious Johnson who stars for the Wofford Terriers at running
back. The Terriers are nationally ranked out of the Division II Southern
Conference.
Congratulations, Canes, on your first round win and good luck as you take
your prolific running game on the road to Washington County on Friday night.
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| Press Clippings: Fitzgerald to host Northeast in first round of state play-offs...
RANDY RODGERS - 11/19/03
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By virtue of a second place finish by the Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane in Region 1-
AAA, the Canes will host the Northeast Raiders of Macon at Fitzgerald's Jaycee
Stadium. The Canes, with a record of 6-4 on the season will host the Raiders, with a
record of 7-3, who are the third place seed out of Region 4-AAA.
The Raiders depend heavily on linebacker and D1 prospect Boston McConnell
(34) on defense. McConnell is considered as one of the top five linebacker prospects in
this year's class of recruits. The Raiders utilize a 4-3 defensive scheme.
On offense, the quarterback is Jaquan White (3). He is the signal caller out of the
multiple I formation on offense and depends on his running back, Rodriquez Worthy (2)
who is a 1000 yard rusher on the year.
"We're glad to still be plying and in the play-offs for the fourth year in a row,"
said head coach Carror Wright.
Wright added, "We graduated 23 last year and had 4 return on offense and 4
return on defense. Our kids have done a great job."
Northeast lost to Southwest High School in double overtime and to another cross
town rival, Central High School, by a touchdown. "We were just two plays away from
being 9-0 going into the Peach County game."
Game time is 7:30 at Jaycee Stadium, the Canes and the Raiders in play-off
action. |
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| Press Clippings: Canes beat Monroe, advance to play-offs...
RANDY RODGERS - 11/19/03
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502 yards of offense, all on the ground, assured the Hurricane a second place
finish in Region 1-AAA and a home field advantage in round 1 of the state play-offs. The
Canes defeated Monroe (Albany) at Hugh Mills Stadium, 44-14.
Senior running back Carlos Bell had his best game of the season so far as he
tallied 230 yards in rushing to get his season total to 959 on the ground. Bell leads Region
1-AAA in all-purpose yards with a total of 1429 yards. Fitzgerald's adjustment to the
running game utilizes Bell's talents along with a stable of running backs that have poured
it on for the Hurricane. Bell also scored two touchdowns.
The junior, Fabian Daniels, put up 117 yards of his own while sophomore running
back Johnathan Roberts had 115 yards. Sophomore Nate Inman, who spends most of his
time on the defensive side of the ball, tallied 35 yards. All three backs had touchdowns.
Johnny Bly and Trent Taylor both had interceptions off of Terrance Ransom, the
region's leading passer. Bly returned his interception for a 32 yard touchdown, while
Taylor's TD stopped a scoring threat within the 5 yard line for Monroe.
With the win, the Hurricane advances to the first round of the state play-offs.
They will host the Northeast Raiders at Fitzgerald's Jaycee Stadium on Friday night.
Congratulations, Canes, as you find yourselves in the play-offs for the fourth
straight year. May you take it all the way and accept the appreciation of a supportive
community. |
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| Press Clippings: Fitzgerald defeats Worth County in Region 1-AAA match up, 24-6...
RANDY RODGERS - 11/4/03
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The Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane offense has, again, reinvented itself. The offense
that featured almost entirely the potent Hurricane running game, showed multiple
sets including a tight wishbone set and the familiar shotgun formation. The Canes
were up by 14 at the half and held the Rams to 6 points in the second half to go
on to the 24-6 win.
Fitzgerald put up 369 yards on the ground and completed only 1 pass of the four
thrown. Fabian Daniels, the junior, carried the ball 23 times for 181 yards, a
total that included long runs of 37 yards, 52 yards, and 25 yards. Senior running
back Carlos Bell added to his region-leading all-purpose yardage with 25 carries
that totaled 144 yards, a kick return of 23 yards, and a pass reception for 7 yards.
Bell has 1125 official all-purpose yards and 644 rushing yards through 8 games.
(This does not include the lightening shortened opener with Turner County.)
The Hurricane offense controlled the game by possessing the ball 30 minutes and
10 seconds of the total 48 minutes of play time. The opening Hurricane drive lasted
12 plays and 4 minutes and 49 seconds, while the opening Fitzgerald drive of the
second half was 10 plays and 4 minutes and 59 seconds.
Fitzgerald holds the second place position in Region 1-AAA behind Thomasville who
defeated the Canes 14-7 a week ago. The Monroe Tornadoes also have just 1 loss, but
have only 1 win in the conference. The Hurricane has two: over Westover and Worth
County.
Fitzgerald will travel to Albany after a week off to play the Tornadoes at Hugh
Mills Stadium on November 14th in the final game of the regular season.
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| Press Clippings: Worth County for Senior Night...
RANDY RODGERS - 10/28/03
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The Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane will be at home Friday night against the Worth County
Rams. The Rams, in pursuit of post-season play, are struggling in 2003 campaign. The
Canes, due to their defeat of the Westover Patriots, are somewhat certain of at least
a fourth place seed. Both teams realize the importance of this and the final game of
the year in two weeks.
The Rams are coached by second year head coach Harold Brantley and feature an attempted
balance between run and pass. The Hurricane has been relegated mainly to the ground,
where they have had the majority of their success, but challenges with the pass in a
scheme that could really go if the passing game could come together.
Friday night is senior night with in excess of 20 seniors on the football team to be
honored along with their parents and the students and parents of the senior cheerleaders
and other senior students involved with the football program.
Kickoff is Friday night at 7:30 at Fitzgerald's Jaycee Stadium.
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| Press Clippings: Thomasville defeats Fitzgerald 14-7...
RANDY RODGERS - 10/25/03
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The Thomasville Bulldogs defeated Fitzgerald in a defensive battle on Friday
night. Both teams were undefeated in the region going into the game.
The Bulldogs were up 14-0 at the half on scores from 3 yards out and on a 36 yard
TD strike to Tonk Felton (17) with seconds left in the first half.
Fitzgerald narrowed the gap with 4:49 left in the third quarter on a run on fourth
and long from the Bulldog 40 by Fabian Daniels (34). Sanchez (10) kicked the extra
point.
The Canes held the Bulldogs out of the end zone the second half and forced 8
punts during the game.
Thomasville goes to 2-0 in Region 1-AAA while the Hurricane is 1-1, both with 2
games left.
Fitzgerald will host Worth County next Friday night at 7:30 on Senior Night. |
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| Press Clippings: Thomasville in for Band Night...
RANDY RODGERS - 10/23/03
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The Purple will host the Thomasville Bulldogs on Friday night in both of the teams'
second Region 1-AAA contest of the year. The winner of this game will lead the conference
while the other team will be 1-1 in region play.
Thomasville features Tonk Felton, a name Hurricane fans recognize over the last couple
of years. Felton lines up at wide receiver and runs out of the backfield as a receiver
and takes the handoff from time to time. Felton is also dangerous on punt and kick returns.
Fitzgerald's defense has shown stinginess throughout a season that has netted little
offensive production for the boys in purple. The Hurricane did, however, turn in a breakout
game on this past Friday night when the Cane offense put up 43 points and the defense, in
the form of a Darries Snelling interception return, added six.
The Purple Hurricane will need big games out of senior running back Carlos Bell and the
junior, Fabian Daniels, in order to defeat the Bulldogs. Look for sophomore quarterback
Josh Battle to turn in an outstanding game and receivers Fabian Daniels, Carlos Bell, Paul
Smith, Trent Taylor, and Paul Smith to make some exiting plays on the way to what would be
a Hurricane victory.
Cane fans will want to be on hand early for pre-game festivities that will honor senior
band members and members of the auxiliary units for the Marchin' Canes. The FHS band has
worked real hard and provided entertainment and contributed spirit to the home and away
games and can always be counted on to represent Fitzgerald High School well.
Kickoff is at 7:30 Friday night at Fitzgerald's Jaycee Stadium. |
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| Press Clippings: Canes beat Westover...
RANDY RODGERS - 10/23/03
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Fitzgerald's Carlos Bell scored three touchdowns and Fabian Daniels got on the board
twice to lead the Canes to 49-14 whipping of the Westover Patriots. Johnathan Roberts
and Darries Snelling also scored TDs and Mr. Dependable Leo Sanchez kicked 5 extra
points in the contest in Albany.
The Purple Hurricane had 239 yards rushing and 155 yards through the air as they relied
more on the run than in past contests. Play selection was different in games past with
many running plays originating out of the shotgun.
A little razzle-dazzle got the Fitzgerald fans buzzing when with 1:14 left in the third
quarter, after a Daniels touchdown, the Canes executed the "swinging gate" extra point
formation with senior Carlos Bell taking the "snap" (really a pitch) from center Sam Rodgers,
also a senior. The 2 point conversion was good and Fitzgerald continued to dominate an otherwise
successful Westover team under the direction of Head coach Jeff Caldwell in his first year
at the Albany school.
This marked the first win in the first Region 1-AAA game of the year for Fitzgerald. The
canes will be at home on Friday with the Thomasville Bulldogs.
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| Press Clippings: Westover is first region contest...
RANDY RODGERS - 10/16/03
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The Fitzgerald High School Purple Hurricane will be in Albany Friday night at Hugh Mills
Stadium. This is the first Region 1-AAA contest for both the Hurricane and the Patriots.
The Hurricane has made steady progress in developing and adapting to both a new offensive
scheme and a defensive scheme. The Fitzgerald defense leads the region in defensive categories
in stopping both the run and the pass. The Hurricane offense appears to be getting on track
with changes made in signal calling duties and a steady ground attack, though the Canes
attained more yards through the air against Cairo than on the ground. (Josh Battle passed
for 138 yards against the Syrupmakers.)
As far as post season play is concerned, it's a new season and all members of Region 1-AAA
are on equal footing. The Canes will face Westover this week in Albany and then will be at
home for two weeks in a row against Thomasville and Worth County. After an open date on
November 7th, the Canes will go back to Albany to play Monroe in the regular season finale.
Hurricane fans will want to be on hand to support the guys in purple as they enter into their
region schedule and fight on toward a spot in the state play-offs in this the 2003 football
campaign.
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| Press Clippings: Canes come up short in Cairo heartbreaker...
RANDY RODGERS - 10/11/03
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The Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane lost a heartbreaker to Cairo in Cairo Friday
night. The Canes and Syrupmakers fought it out with the score 0-0 at the half.
The Syrupmakers got on the board with 1:36 left in the third quarter on a bootleg
by the quarterback, Brandon Robinson. The extra point was no good.
Cairo scored again with 9:26 left in the game when Robinson connected with
Clifford Hammonds for a 23 yard strike. The extra point was no good.
Fitzgerald got on the board 5:51 left in the game when the Cairo defensive back
intercepted the ball and ran in the end zone where he was tackled. This made the score
12-2, Cairo.
Fitzgerald again put up points when Josh Battle scrambled 10 yards for the score
from his QB position. There was 56.6 seconds left on the clock. The 2-point conversion
was no good and the score was Cairo 12, Fitzgerald 8.
The Canes attempted an on side kick and it at the Cairo 44. The Hurricane quickly
moved to the 28, but the comeback win was not to be as the Syrupmakers picked off a
Battle pass that was intended for Michael Mann. Final score: Cairo 12, Fitzgerald 8.
The Hurricane will begin region play next Friday when the guys from Fitzgerald
travel to Albany for a 7:30 game with the Westover Patriots.
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| Press Clippings: Hawkinsville avenges 2002 loss...
RANDY RODGERS - 9/29/03
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A talented Hawkinsville red Devils team avenged the loss to Fitzgerald in Fitzgerald last year and
took one of their own at Hawkinsville's Bobby Gentry Stadium on Friday night, 20-10.
The Red Devils scored on three pass plays on their way to the win. The Devils missed the first
extra point attempt when the kick went wide right. After the second TD, the Red devils Todd Coley
(6) ran the ball in himself. The third extra point try was incomplete as the two-point conversion failed.
Blake Henderson (5) scored the only Hurricane TD from 8 yards out in the second quarter. Leo Sanchez (10)
added the extra point. Sanchez also accounted for the 40 yard field goal in the third.
The Canes suffered their first loss in the Robby Robinson era to Hawkinsville. The Canes have two
additional games before region play gets underway as the Hurricane preps for a run at the state play-offs.
Fitzgerald will take on the 1-AAAA Crisp County Cougars on Friday night at home. It will be homecoming and
a talented opponent on the field.
Come support the Canes as the guys in purple will go for the win in the 2003 Homecoming game in
Fitzgerald's Jaycee Stadium at 7:30 PM. |
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| Press Clippings: Mutual Respect, Fitzgerald and Hawkinsville...
RANDY RODGERS - 9/25/03
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Fitzgerald’s Robby Robinson and Hawkinsville’s Lee Campbell are looking at each other’s team and both are concerned
about what they see. They’ll match up Friday night to see which concern was enough to outdo the other one.
Fitzgerald is ranked #7 in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Top Ten rankings and #8 in the Associated Press (AP)
poll for Class AAA. Hawkinsville has moved into second place in both rankings in Class A.
According to Fitzgerald’s Head Hurricane, Robinson, Hawkinsville is due the respect. “They’re better than that.
I think they’re the best Class A team in the state.” He added, “They’ll be in the Dome and expect them to play for
it all.”
Lee Campbell, the head coach at Hawkinsville, thinks that Robinson has a good team of his own. He told a radio
audience a couple of weeks ago that Fitzgerald was the best team on their regular schedule. “They’re having some
growing pains putting in a new offense and defense, but they’ll be ready. Robinson is a defensive ‘guru’. You can
bet that a team coached by him will be a good defensive team.”
Both teams had open dates last week and very familiar with each others tendencies.
Fitzgerald’s Carlos Bell and Leo Sanchez combined to score 32 points, just three more than the Indians, to defeat
the archrival Irwin County High School two Fridays ago. The Indians got out to a big lead, but the Hurricane
players reached down deep and turned around a game that was important to the community, but particularly the
seniors.
This is the best team that Campbell has had at Hawkinsville. This is his fifth season. In addition to a winning
tradition, the Red Devils have two big time prospects in senior Charles Johnson and junior Brandon Perry.
Johnson, at 6’3” and 240 pounds has verbally committed to Georgia while Perry will be wooed by a bunch of programs
over the next year before having to make up his mind. Junior Todd Coley is the returning quarterback that calls signal for the second straight year. Last year he threw for over a thousand yards.
On paper it looks like a real slobber-knocker. Both teams have had two weeks to prepare for each other.
Hawkinsville would like to avenge their only regular season loss of 2002 and the Canes would like to keep
their record perfect.
Game time is 8:00 at Hawkinsville’s Bobby Gentry Stadium. |
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| College Canes: Fitzgerald’s Kevious Johnson featured in win over Georgia Southern...
RANDY RODGERS - 9/22/03
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Fitzgerald's Kevious Johnson scored all three touchdowns in the Wofford Terrier win
over the Georgia Southern Eagles and it was all done on the cable channel Fox Sports
South network. Last year Kevious was the all purpose leader for the Purple Hurricane
and all of Region 1-AAA. Now, as a true freshman, he has taken that talent to the next level.
Kevious scored from 2 yards out in the first quarter with 7:49 left on the clock to put the Terriers
up by 7. The extra point was added by Nick Robinson and Wofford led 7-0.
The Eagles tied the game up with 5 seconds left in the first when Kevin Davis ripped off a 34 yard run.
Sean Holland booted the extra point for Georgia Southern.
It appeared that the powerhouse GSU program was going to take control of the game when with 8:19 left
in the first half T.J. Anderson ran 19 yards for the touchdown. Holland added the extra point and the Eagles led 14-7.
The score remained the same at halftime, throughout the third quarter, and to the 8:19 mark of the fourth quarter when
Johnson added his second TD of the evening with a run from 5 yards out. Robinson added his second kick of the
night to tie the score up at 14 all.
Fitzgerald's Johnson was not finished. With 1:47 left in the game, Kevious caught a swing pass from
quarterback Trey Rodgers and raced 24 yards to put the Terriers on top to stay. The two point conversion
by Brandon Smith failed and the Terriers led 20-14.
Georgia Southern was unable to answer and the Terriers won their second game in two years against Georgia Southern
and ran their record to 2-1 on the season and 1-0 in the Southern Conference.
Johnson had 81 yards on 3 carries and the three touchdowns to become the first freshman since 1989 to score
three TDs in a game.
"We knew it would be a hard fought game," Wofford head coach Mike Ayers said. "We felt like we had a good
game plan on both sides of the ball.
"I can't say enough about the way our kids competed. It was unbelievable. It was a knock-down, drag-out,
old-fashioned, jaw-to-jaw, in the trenches, get after each other's tail type game. It was super.
"Our defense takes a great deal of pride. We didn't execute at times, but we hung in there. It was a
tremendous game and a tremendous victory for our team."
The Terriers will next be in action on Saturday when they host Catawba in Spartanburg. The Eagles will
host Chattanooga at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, also on Saturday.
Note: Information for this article was taken from the websites of Wofford University and Georgia Southern University. |
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| Press Clippings: Field goal with 2 seconds makes it 4 in a row over Indians...
RANDY RODGERS - 9/12/03
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Carlos Bell scored 4 touchdowns, but it was Leo Sanchez
that claimed the winning margin in the 32-29 win over the Irwin County
Indians. With the score 29-29 and 2 seconds left on the clock, Sanchez kicked
the field goal from the Irwin County 18.
Irwin led 29-15 at the half, but Fitzgerald came back big
for the win. Bell had 171 yards on the ground that included a 40 yard TD run,
a 45 yard TD run, and an 81 yard scoring jaunt. Carlos also had 87 yards on a
kickoff return. Blake Henderson had 83 yards through the air that included 39
yards to senior Michael Mann.
Congratulations seniors as you are undefeated by the
Indians in your high school careers.
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| College Canes: Fitzgerald's Kevious Johnson scores for
Wofford...
RANDY RODGERS - 9/11/03
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| One of the main highlights of the Wofford - SC State game on Saturday,
particularly to Fitzgerald fans, was the play of freshman Kevious Johnson, the
two-time All State running back of the Purple Hurricane. Kevious scored two
TDs for Wofford.
It appears that Kevious is picking right up where he left of on the
Hurricane gridiron at Wofford. We're proud of Kevious and wish the Terriers
great success as they continue the 2003 season.
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| Press Clippings: Fitzgerald beats Tift County in rain and mud...
RANDY RODGERS - 9/6/03
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| In a traditional match up, the Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane eked out a
win over the Tift County Blue Devils. Rain and muddy field conditions were the
major factors in the game that saw standout Carlos Bell get near the century
mark for the second game in two weeks, but it was Fabian Daniels that got the TD
for the Hurricane late in the first quarter that turned out to be the winning
margin. The try for two was no good, as again the wet conditions came into play
when there were problems between the center and back in the snap exchange.
Fitzgerald will host the tribe from down south, the Irwin County
Indians, in the
annual rivalry affair on Friday at Jaycee Stadium. Irwin was victorious against
Atkinson County, 43-29, in Friday night's action.
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| Press Clippings: Hurricane builds with new coaching staff...
RANDY RODGERS - 8/11/03
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| All things are new again in Fitzgerald.
At least, that is, when you are looking at coaches, offensive and
defensive schemes, and football facilities.
Gone is Head Coach Robby Pruitt who presided over the revival of a program
that is numbered among the oldest in the state. In is Head Coach Robby
Robinson who comes from Metter and has coached in the Georgia Dome for the
last three years.
Robinson brings with him from Metter Brad Owens as offensive coordinator and
brother Rhett Robinson to coordinate the defense. Both schemes are new to
the guys in purple and gold.
Senior Tucker Pruitt departed the friendly confines of Jaycee Stadium to call
signals for his dad at Warner Robins in the prolific Wing T offense that
he has quarterbacked since a mere child. His departure left a hole at QB
for the Canes. Senior Trent Taylor, Junior Blake Henderson, and Sophomores
Josh Battle and Justin Newell are all getting a look to play behind center
in the wide-open spread offense.
The offense will be based out of the I formation. There will be a variety of
offensive sets. We'll try to be as balanced as we possibly can
between the run and pass. The defenses that gave me the most trouble (as a
defensive coach) were those that ran out of a variety of sets," said
Head Coach Robinson.
Defense looks to be the same scheme that Robinson used at both Metter and in
Swainsboro where he was Defensive Coordinator in 2000 when his defense
held Fitzgerald to zero points, enough for the Tigers to win the State
championship over the Canes 6-0.
Describing his defense, Robinson said that the defense that Fitzgerald fans will see
next year is based on an attacking philosophy. It will feature a five-man
front. Our defense is predicated on attacking. (Rhett) has been the
offensive coach (at Metter) and he'll take those things into his job as
defensive coach.
Region 1-AAA all-purpose yards leader Kevious Johnson graduated from the backfield
of the Purple Hurricane to go on to Wofford College, but the number two leader, Carlos
Bell, is back and looks to get the ball again as a senior when Fitzgerald is on offense.
He never needs to come off the field, said Offensive Coordinator Brad Owens. He's too
dangerous. Wherever he's lined up the defense will be looking for him to get the ball.
That gives us a lot of options. Also running out of the backfield are expected to be
Senior Dexter Boone, Junior Fabian Daniels, and Sophomore Johnathan Roberts among others.
Seniors Jerry Taylor, Gabe Justice, and Tedric Wilcox along with Junior Donte
McCray will be among others that will perform receiving services for
whomever is calling signals in the multi-faceted offense.
Senior Center Sam Rodgers and Senior Tight End Michael Mann will be back and will
be joined by seniors Luke Hatcher, Sam Scott, and C.J. Studstill as well
as juniors Matt Fletcher and Stephen Everett with sophomores Chad Thompson
and Russ Ridgeway on the line. The O line looks to be much improved from a
year ago.
Defensive lineman Rodney Milsap is a junior this year and as he gets older he gets
better and commands the attention of opposing offenses as well as college
recruiters who are hoping that he looks their way a year from now as he
readies for his senior year. When Milsap is on the field the Hurricane
defense has been most effective.
Milsap is looking to have help on the line from a cast of linemen that include
seniors Reuben Lewis and Quan Phillips Chris Slacks, and Kyle Bozeman
along with junior JoeDee Pitts and sophomore Derrick Lately. Keeping the
sweep and the option honest look to be corners Senior Tedric Wilcox,
Junior Johnny Bly, and Sophomore Josh Battle. Backers in the defense that
was evolved by Head Coach Robinson are expected to be juniors Jason Floyd
and Josh Mims along with sophomores Nate Inman and Jerad Smith. Keeping it from
going too far are predicted to be safeties Jerry Taylor, Trent Taylor, and Paul Smith,
all seniors, along with Junior Preston Scott.
The Purple Hurricane will have 1-AAAAA Tift County and AAAA opponents Crisp
County and Cairo as well as Class A powerhouse Hawkinsville and AA Irwin
County before beginning their 1-AAA region schedule at Westover on October
17th.
Expected to be the class of Region 1-AAA is last year's champion, the Thomasville
Bulldogs. The Hurricane will host the K-9s in their place on October 24th
before the Rams of Worth County also play in Fitzgerald's Jaycee Stadium
on Halloween. The Canes go to Albany to play the Golden Tornadoes of
Monroe on November 14th.
Under construction are two state of the art field houses, one at the high school
and one at the middle school, along with track and soccer fields. On the
drawing board is an addition at Fitzgerald High School that will include a
new weight room and other athletic facilities. Jaycee Stadium is in Phase
One of an expansion to seating on the home side with Phase Two slated
after the construction of the weight room addition.
Excitement is building in and around Fitzgerald as the Purple Hurricane continues to
develop towards storm strength for the August 29th season opener at
Fitzgerald against the Turner County Rebels.
Note: Randy Rodgers covers Fitzgerald High School football for the Fitzgerald Herald-Leader. He is
not affiliated with Fitzgerald High School or the Ben Hill County School System.
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