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Click on a headline below
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| Postseason Superlatives: Four Canes named to AJC AA All-State team...
MIKE KITCHENS - 12/18/04
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The 2004 AJC All-State teams have been announced and four Canes were
recognized. Earning first-team honors were Matt Fletcher, Leo Sanchez, and Rodney Milsap.
Donte McCray was listed as an "honorable mention". Congratulations to these
four seniors!
All-State Football: Class AA (AJC - Registration Required)
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| Miscellaneous: 2004 pictures added courtesy of Lawson Owens
and Randy Rodgers...
MIKE KITCHENS - 12/16/04
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A heaping helping of 2004 pictures were added on 12/15. The pictures were taken by Lawson
Owens from Owens Studios/Herff-Jones photography and forwarded to me by Randy
Rodgers. Thanks to Mr. Owens and Mr. Rodgers for making these available to the
public.
Pictures Page
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| Postseason Superlatives: Rodney Milsap to play in
North-South All-Star Game...
MIKE KITCHENS - 12/15/04
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| Postseason Superlatives: Fitzgerald heavily
represented on All-Region team...
MIKE KITCHENS - 12/12/04
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| Press Clippings: Fitzgerald is #7 in final AA
AP and AJC polls...
MIKE KITCHENS - 12/12/04
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| College Canes: Kevious Johnson named All-SoCon...
MIKE KITCHENS - 11/24/04
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| College Canes: Wofford's Kevious Johnson surpasses 1000 yards
rushing on the season...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 11/21/04
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| Press Clippings: Dublin-Fitzgerald
post-game...
MIKE KITCHENS - 11/15/04
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| Press Clippings: Breaks go way of the Irish, Dublin 23, Fitz 15...
RANDY RODGERS -
11/13/04
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The breaks went the way of the Irish tonight at Fitzgerald’s Jaycee Stadium as the
10th ranked Irish knocked of the #1 ranked Purple Hurricane in what the sportswriters
will call a major upset. The Hurricane was in the game the entire way, but the Hurricane
could not get their running game on track and, well, there were those breaks.
“Our kids never gave up,” said Head Coach Robby Pruitt. “They were in there the entire
game and they fought all the way.”
He added, “Hand to Coach Holmes and his team. They came in here and beat us. We wish them
luck as they move on.”
The Hurricane finishes the season with a record of 11-1 for the 2004 season. The Canes
will graduate 17 seniors off of a squad that was paid little attention by the rest of
the state, but finished the regular season ranked at the top of the Associated Press (AP)
football poll.
Good luck, Canes, in the off-season and we look forward to the 2005 season that begins
in just 8 ½ months.
Fitz vs. Dublin
1st quarter:
7:27 Fitz 23 yard FG; Leo Sanchez(10). Fitz 3, Dublin 0.
2nd quarter:
8:09 Dublin 37 yard FG; Justin Miller(11). Fitz 3, Dublin 3.
7:56 Fitz 96 yard KO return; Donte McCray(4); EP Sanchez(10). Fitz 10, Dublin 3.
2:50 Dublin 10 yard run; Chris Pooler(3); EP Miller(11). Fitz 10, Dublin 10.
:25 Fitz 43 yard FG; Sanchez(10). Fitz 13, Dublin 10.
Third quarter:
7:35 Dublin 56 yard punt return; Brandon Edmonds(6); EP, no good. Fitz 13, Dublin 16.
2:44 Dublin 2 yard run; Brian Wilcher(5); EP Miller(11). Fitz 13, Dublin 23.
Fourth quarter:
Fitz Safety; Quentin Milsap(92) blocked point in end zone.
Fitz 15, Dublin 23.
Final score:
Fitzgerald 15, Dublin 23
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| Press Clippings: Dublin-Fitzgerald
pre-game...
MIKE KITCHENS - 11/12/04
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| Press Clippings: Hurricane and Fighting Irish to tie up in second round play-off action...
RANDY RODGERS -
11/10/04
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Fitzgerald will open the community on Friday to its neighbors from the north, as
they welcome the Fighting Irish of Dublin and their followers to the second round
play-offs to be hosted by Fitzgerald High School. The #10 ranked Irish will come in
to take on the home stand Canes who are 11-0 on the season, their best mark since
1969.
The Irish managed a 14-7 win over Cook County in Adel last week. That win earned the
boys from Dublin a shot at the number 1 ranked Purple Hurricane here on Friday night.
The Hurricane defeated the Manchester Blue Devils at home.
Dublin was 7-3 on the season, but don’t let that record fool you as the Irish were
forced to forfeit their first two games, even though the Irish beat two lesser teams.
The forfeits came about as a result of an eligibility issue. The other loss came to
Vidalia, 23-3 affair. The Indians were then ranked #1 in the AP poll.
Coached by Roger Holmes, the Irish also run the Wing T. Like Fitzgerald, Dublin hired
an out-of-state coach in 2001. Holmes took the Irish to the state title game in 2002,
losing to the Screven County Gamecocks.
The all-time series dates back to 1919 when Fitzgerald defeated Dublin 25-0. The all-time
record is 9-8-1. The Canes have won the last two meetings, 42-17 in 2000 in the Shamrock
Bowl, and 22-21 at Jaycee Stadium in 2001, a nail-biter that the Canes won by 1 point
on the penetration rule.
“They’ve got a great team,” said Head Coach Robby Pruitt. “They’re big, physical, tough
and all those things. We’ll have to prepare and play a lot better than we did (Friday
night) to be in the ballpark with them.”
The winner will advance to the quarter finals, round three, to take on the winner of the
Calhoun, Grady game. Location will be determined based on the outcome of the games. If
Calhoun wins, the game will be played in Calhoun. If Grady wins, the game will be in
Fitzgerald, should the Hurricane win, and at Grady should the win go to Dublin.
Ground Zero will be Fitzgerald’s Jaycee Stadium for the second round of the 2004 State
Play-Offs. Game time is 7:30 for the Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane versus the Fighting
Irish of Dublin.
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| Press Clippings: Manchester-Fitzgerald
post-game...
MIKE KITCHENS - 11/09/04
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| Phun with Photoshop: Unlucky Charms!...
MIKE KITCHENS - 11/09/04
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| College Canes: Wright Bazemore and Paul Ward...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 11/07/04
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| Press Clippings: Hurricane beats Manchester 28-0, sets sights on
Dublin...
RANDY RODGERS - 11/06/04
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In a decisive win over the Manchester Blue Devils, the Purple Hurricane ran their
record to 11-0 by a score of 28-0. The Canes held the Devils scoreless, but it was
a bend but don't break performance by the Cane defense and a performance by the offense
that had head coach Robby Pruitt scratching his head.
The Hurricane scored on two TD passes from Battle to Austile and on runs by the senior
running back, Fabian Daniels, and the junior fullback, Nate Inman.
The defense claimed 1 fumble recovery and 3 interceptions on the way to the win while
the boys with the ball put it on the ground twice for turnovers.
"I'm not at all pleased with the way the team played," said head coach Robby Pruitt.
"Not at all." he added, "There are times when you win a game and you're disgusted
because you know you are a lot better than you played. You know, we all want to win,
but what I'm most concerned about is us playing the way we're capable of playing and
doing what's right and playing hard."
Pruitt and his staff will be looking to improve their week of practice as they prepare
for a strong Dublin team that beat Cook County, 14-7, to advance to the second round.
The Canes and the Fighting Irish will meet up at Fitzgerald's Jaycee Stadium on Friday
night at 7:30.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter:
3:25 Fitz 30 yard pass, Battle(2) to Austile(84); EP, Sanchez(10); Fitz 7, Manchester 0.
2nd Quarter:
2:02 Fitz 12 yard run, Daniels(24); EP, Sanchez(10); Fitz 14, Manchester 0.
3rd Quarter:
5:11 Fitz 32 yard pass, Battle(2) to Austile(84); EP, Sanchez(10); Fitz 21, Manchester 0.
3:17 Fitz 1 yard run, Inman(42); EP, Sanchez(10); Fitz 28, Manchester 0.
4th Quarter:
None
Final Score:
Fitzgerald 28, Manchester 0. |
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| Press Clippings: Manchester-Fitzgerald
pre-game...
MIKE KITCHENS - 11/04/04
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| Press Clippings: Canes #1 in AP, #4 in AJC after ten games...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 11/03/04
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| Press Clippings: Irwin-Fitzgerald post-game...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 11/02/04
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| Phun with Photoshop: Old School! (has sound if
you use Internet Explorer)...
MIKE KITCHENS - 10/31/04
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| Press Clippings: Canes extend winning streak to 5 over
Irwin: completes perfect regular season...
RANDY
RODGERS - 10/30/04
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The smack talk is over. The "we're gonnas" and the "we'll see about that's" are behind
us. Fitzgerald has won the 64th annual Fitzgerald Ocilla/Irwin game, 27-6. The Hurricane
followers, the Fitzgerald Faithful, has the bragging rights for at least one more year,
the fifth in a row. With the win, the boys from Fitzgerald extend their dominance in the
series to 41 wins, 21 losses, and 2 ties.
The Irwin defense along with untimely penalties stymied the Hurricane offense for the
first half. Fitzgerald got on the board with 3:25 left in the first quarter to take the
early lead when Fabian Daniels scored from 30 yards out. Sanchez's extra point was good.
Irwin had the opportunity to tie it up when they capitalized on a Fitzgerald fumble at
the Indian 23. The fullback, Charlton, found the end zone from 15 yards out at the 9:37
point of the game. The Indians were unable to tie up the game when the Sandy Paulk extra
point attempt was no good., making the score 7-6 at the half.
The boys in purple regained their game presence in the second half and put up 20 unanswered
points for the rout.
"I thought we did about everything we could to give it away," said Head coach Robby Pruitt.
"We played better the second half."
With the win, the Hurricane will advance to the state play-offs next week. The Fitzgerald
community will host the Manchester Blue Devils and their followers Friday night in Jaycee
Stadium.
Fitz vs. Irwin County Indians, 27-6
Scoring Summary:
1st Quarter:
3:25 Fitz 30 yard run, Daniels(24); EP, Sanchez(10); Fitz 7, IC 0.
2nd Quarter:
9:37 IC 15 yard run, Carlton(45); EP, Young(15), unsuccessful; Fitz 7, IC 6.
3rd Quarter:
5:23 Fitz 1 yard run, Roberts(22); EP, Newell(14) 2 pt. unsuccessful; Fitz 13, IC 6.
:24 Fitz 5 yard run, Inman(42); EP, Sanchez(10); Fitz 20, IC 6.
4th Quarter:
4:45 Fitz 22 yard run, Daniels(24); EP, Sanchez(10); Fitz 27, IC 6.
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| Press Clippings: Suey, Irwin, Suey!...
RANDY
RODGERS - 10/28/04
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Take several generations of Fitzgerald and Ocilla boys and put them in the same room and one thing
is for sure, they’ll soon get around to talking about The Game. Who won their senior year and maybe
even about a personality or two that wore Purple and Gold and went by the names Hurricanes, Terrapins,
or Indians.
They may even get around to the great Fitzgerald teams of the 40s, 60s, and the first few years of
the new millennium or the great Irwin teams of the 60s, 70s, and 90s. Surely there will be Fitzgerald
names like Jay, Goff, Hargrove, Paulk, Chambless, Luke, Pruitt, McDonald, Johnson, and Bell that will
be mentioned. Even the Ocilla boys like Sumner, Roberts, Roberts, Paschal, Walters, Walters, and Barnes
will be discussed.
The Ocilla boys will surely bring up the 1964 game when the Indians ruined Fitzgerald’s perfect regular
season by knocking off a Hurricane that was riding high, headed towards a title game appearance. They’ll
also talk about the winning streak of the 90s when the Indians beat Fitzgerald 5 straight years.
Canes will mention the payback of the 1968 team when they squashed the Indian perfect record by beating
them, unexpectedly. They’ll also talk about the 1973 team that was resurrected by a returning Joe Compton.
The Pruitt era of the last few years will be mentioned and the extraordinary game that Carlos Bell had
last year when he single-handedly score 4 touchdowns, setting up Leo Sanchez for the last minute field
goal that closed the deal for the Canes.
They’ll talk about a lot. The competition, the meetings at the Dairy Queen, Tastee Freeze,
Hardee's, and
the Wal-Mart parking lot. I bet places like Johnnie’s and Harper’s were pretty popular spots, too. The
girls that the boys from Fitzgerald dated down in Ocilla and the Fitzgerald girls that dared wear an
Indian letter jacket in the halls of old Fitz-Hi.
The Fitzgerald boys might even recall Coach Compton’s 1973 cheer that he unveiled just for the game:
Born in the back wood, straddle of a log,
Ears like a Billy Goat. Teeth like a hog.
Suey, Irwin. Suey!
Some of the pep-rallies will come up. I, personally, have seen “10 Little Indians” played out in at
least a dozen different ways and I know the folks down in Ocilla have “taken the wind out of a purple
storm” in a bunch of different ways.
My friend Michael Parker, a former administrator at ICHS, told me that when he was a new assistant
principal down in Ocilla, he and another staff member performed at the Irwin-Fitz pep rally. Parker
dressed up as the dreaded Hurricane with a cape and a purple wig. The other guy, dressed as the Indian,
chased Parker around the gym and “scalped” him, removing the wig to reveal a bloody head. “The crowd
went wild,” said Parker. “It didn’t help, though. We still lost.”
I’m hoping that the Canes can continue their winning streak and make it 41-21-2. The sure thing is
that both teams will come out and leave it all on the field like Carlos Bell did a year ago. Someone
will step up big and a new story will be created.
Shoot! We might even bring out Compton’s old cheer which is allowable for just one game out of the
year.
Born in the back wood, straddle of a log,
Ears like a Billy Goat. Teeth like a hog.
Suey, Irwin. Suey!
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| Press Clippings: Irwin-Fitzgerald pre-game...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 10/28/04
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| Auld Lang Syne: Fitz head coaches and their college careers...
JIM OGILVIE / MIKE KITCHENS - 10/26/04
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| Press Clippings: Fitzgerald-Jeff Davis post-game...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 10/26/04
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| Phun with Photoshop: WMD's discovered!...
MIKE KITCHENS - 10/25/04
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| Scoring Summary: Fitz vs. Jeff Davis, 49-0...
RANDY RODGERS - 10/25/04
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Scoring Summary:
1st Quarter:
9:40 Fitz 2 yard run, Daniels(25); EP, Sanchez(10); Fitz 7, JD 0.
5:35 Fitz 12 yard run, Roberts(22); EP, Sanchez(10); Fitz 14, JD 0.
2nd Quarter:
9:26 Fitz 31 yard run, Inman(42); EP, Sanchez(10); Fitz 21, JD 0.
9:17 Fitz 5 yard fumble return, Inman(42); EP Sanchez(10); Fitz 21, JD 0.
5:30 Fitz 18 yard run, Inman(42); EP, Sanchez(10); Fitz 35, JD 0.
0:12.9 Fitz 39 yard run, Inman(42), EP, Sanchez(10); Fitz 42, JD 0.
3rd Quarter:
8:11 Fitz 56 yard run, Ross(32); EP, Sanchez(10); Fitz 49, JD 0.
4th Quarter:
None
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| Press Clippings: Fitzgerald vs. Ocilla/Irwin County...
JIM OGILVIE /
RANDY RODGERS - 10/24/04
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OCILLA/ |
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| YEAR |
FITZ |
IRWIN |
RESULT |
| 1922 |
64 |
0 |
W |
| 1923 |
6 |
7 |
L |
| 1924 |
Did not play |
| 1925 |
6 |
0 |
W |
| 1926 |
0 |
48 |
L |
| 1927 |
6 |
45 |
L |
| 1928 |
7 |
12 |
L |
| 1929 |
27 |
0 |
W |
| 1930 |
Did not play |
| 1931 |
59 |
0 |
W |
| 1932 |
? |
? |
W1 |
| 1933 |
78 |
0 |
W |
| 1947 |
40 |
0 |
W |
| 1948 |
59 |
6 |
W2 |
| 1949 |
39 |
0 |
W |
| 1954 |
0 |
13 |
L |
| 1955 |
45 |
6 |
W |
| 1956 |
19 |
37 |
L |
| 1957 |
25 |
0 |
W |
| 1958 |
13 |
0 |
W |
| 1959 |
8 |
20 |
L |
| 1960 |
0 |
0 |
T |
| 1961 |
61 |
19 |
W |
| 1962 |
21 |
6 |
W |
| 1963 |
21 |
13 |
W |
| 1964 |
7 |
20 |
L3 |
| 1965 |
21 |
7 |
W |
| 1966 |
34 |
12 |
W |
| 1967 |
18 |
7 |
W |
| 1968 |
19 |
13 |
W |
| 1969 |
37 |
7 |
W |
| 1970 |
35 |
6 |
W |
| 1971 |
25 |
6 |
W |
| 1972 |
14 |
39 |
L |
| 1973 |
20 |
18 |
W |
| 1974 |
0 |
13 |
L |
| 1975 |
0 |
7 |
L |
| 1976 |
7 |
9 |
L |
| 1977 |
0 |
0 |
T |
| 1978 |
35 |
12 |
W |
| 1979 |
40 |
0 |
W |
| 1980 |
25 |
0 |
W |
| 1981 |
10 |
5 |
W |
| 1982 |
14 |
0 |
W |
| 1983 |
28 |
14 |
W |
| 1984 |
16 |
7 |
W |
| 1985 |
0 |
21 |
L |
| 1986 |
7 |
13 |
L |
| 1987 |
27 |
7 |
W |
| 1988 |
20 |
0 |
W |
| 1989 |
41 |
0 |
W |
| 1990 |
27 |
14 |
W |
| 1991 |
10 |
18 |
L |
| 1992 |
30 |
0 |
W |
| 1993 |
43 |
7 |
L4 |
| 1994 |
24 |
7 |
W |
| 1995 |
0 |
28 |
L |
| 1996 |
0 |
17 |
L |
| 1997 |
19 |
28 |
L |
| 1998 |
7 |
26 |
L |
| 1999 |
13 |
32 |
L |
| 2000 |
28 |
22 |
W |
| 2001 |
43 |
14 |
W |
| 2002 |
49 |
41 |
W |
| 2003 |
32 |
29 |
W |
| 2004 |
TBD |
| Overall
record: |
|
Fitz-40, Ocilla/Irwin-21, Tie-2 |
| Fitzgerald
Average: |
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.635 |
| Ocilla/Irwin
Average: |
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.333 |
| Shutouts: |
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Fitz-17, Ocilla/Irwin-9 |
| Winning
streaks: |
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7 games: Fitz-3 |
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5 games: Irwin-1 |
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4 games: Fitz-2 |
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3 games: Fitz-1, Irwin-2 |
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2 games: Fitz-1, Irwin-1 |
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| Found
no records prior to 1922 |
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| 1
Fitzgerald paper states as win, but has no score |
| 2
Fitzgerald was State Champion |
| 3
Only regular season loss, Fitzgerald went on to play for the state
championship |
| 4
Forfeit due to eligibility violation |
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| Phun with Photoshop: Canes are king of the 2-AA hill...
MIKE KITCHENS - 10/23/04
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| Press Clippings: Fitzgerald destroys hapless Jeff Davis, clinches region...
RANDY
RODGERS - 10/23/04
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The Purple Hurricane beat the Jeff Davis Yellow Jackets 49-0 at Yellow Jacket Stadium in Hazlehurst on Friday
night. With the win, the Canes have ran their record to 9-0, 6-0 for the season and clinches the 2-AA Region
Championship and the number 1 seed going into the state play-offs in two weeks.
The Canes ran the score to 42-0 by the half, with the trio of the Pruitt backfield (Inman, Daniels, and Roberts)
scoring six touchdowns and scoring them often. The Jr. Varsity played the entire second half with sophomore
Dionne Ross getting a TD of his own 3 minutes into the second half.
“Our first goal was to clinch the region championship and we did that,” said Head Coach Robby Pruitt. “We can
now focus on next week and a perfect regular season. The Irwin County game is always a lot of fun.” He added,
“They’re a good football team and we’ll be working hard to get ready for them.”
Fitzgerald wins the Region Championship three out of the last five years, with the win. The other two years
the boys in purple were runners-up.
The Canes will face the Indians of Irwin County next Friday night and will then host the number 4 team out of
Region 4-AA the following week, also at Jaycee Stadium. |
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| Press Clippings: Fitzgerald-Jeff Davis pre-game...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 10/21/04
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| Press Clippings: Appling-Fitzgerald post-game...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 10/20/04
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| Phun with Photoshop: "The Donald" weighs in...
MIKE KITCHENS - 10/20/04
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| Scoring Summary: Fitz vs. Appling County, 52-21...
RANDY
RODGERS - 10/15/04
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Scoring Summary:
1st Quarter:
9:00 36 yard FG, Sanchez(10); Fitz 3, AC 0.
3:41 2 yard Run, Sellars(10); EP, Fenn(15); Fitz 3, AC 7.
2nd Quarter:
7:46 25 yard pass, Battle(2) to Austile(84); EP, Sanchez(10); Fitz 10, AC 7.
5:14 22 yard run, Reed(20); EP, Fenn(15); Fitz 10, AC 14.
1:41 14 yard run, Daniels(24); EP, Sanchez(10); Fitz 17 AC 14.
:38 33 yard pass, Battle(2) to Fabian Daniels(24); Fitz 24, AC 14.
3rd Quarter:
9:01 7 yard run, Roberts(22), EP, Sanchez(10); Fitz 31, AC 14.
1:38 40 yard pass, Sellers(10) to Fountain(2); EP Fenn(15); Fitz 31, AC 21.
4th Quarter:
11:28 28 yard pass, Battle(2) to Daniels(24); EP, Sanchez(10); Fitz 38, AC 21.
10:40 28 yard int. for TD, Thrower(15); EP, Sanchez(10); Fitz 45, AC 21.
6:49 16 yard run, Inman(42); EP, Sanchez(10); Fitz 52, AC 21.
Unofficial:
Fitz
Rush 274 , 44 carries, 3 TD
Pass 116, 5/9/3/0
Total 390
Appling
Rush 131, 23 carries, 1 TD
Pass 213, 9/19/1/2
Total 344
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| Press Clippings: Appling comes into Jaycee Stadium for Band Night...
RANDY
RODGERS - 10/14/04
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"They’re good!” said Head Coach Robby Pruitt. “They’re quick on defense and they have some weapons
that they can beat you with.”
Coach Pruitt was talking about the Appling County Pirates and the upcoming game on Friday night.
“They’ve moved their personnel around over the last few games and they’re an even better team.” He
added, “This is a good football team.”
The Pirates, 5-2 on the season, come into Jaycee Stadium with losses only to #1 ranked Vidalia and
#5 Charlton County. The Vidalia Indians beat the Pirates 28-21 on August 27th in a non-region AA
contest. The Charlton Indians won 33-7 on September 24th. Fitzgerald is undefeated, 7-0, and dethroned
the Charlton Indians from their #1 ranking in the 7th week of the season, 26-22, at Charlton County
on October 1st.
The player to watch for the Pirates is #20, Chris Reed. Reed plays fullback and middle linebacker. He
led Appling last week against Bacon County with 45 yards on 6 carries and was the leading tackler with
6.5 tackles. #10 John David Sellars was 10-for-16 for 202 yards and 3 touchdowns, also last week
against Bacon County. Ronald Johns (30) had 2 catches, both for TDs, for 106 yards. Tyrell
Paulk (7)
had 3 catches for 52 yards and a touchdown in the game, a 48-0 thumping of the Red Raiders.
The Canes and the Pirates, Friday night at 7:30 Jaycee Stadiums, in the annual Band Night game. The
Marchin’ Cane seniors will be recognized during pre-game festivities.
|
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| Press Clippings: Appling-Fitzgerald game previewed in Tifton paper...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 10/14/04
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| Phun with Photoshop: The perfect storm is brewing...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 10/13/04
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| College Canes: Kevious Johnson has second consecutive career-best game...
MIKE KITCHENS - 10/10/04
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| Scoring Summary: Fitzgerald over Brantley County, 51-7...
RANDY
RODGERS - 10/09/04
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After arguably the biggest game in years and the defeat of powerhouse Charlton County, Robby Pruitt’s
Fitzgerald High School Purple Hurricane beat the Brantley County Blue Herons down in Nahunta on Friday
night, 51-7. This ran the Fitzgerald record to 7-0, the Region 2-AA record to 4-0, and the all time
record against Brantley County to 5-0.
The Hurricane got off to a slow start, but by half time, the guys in purple enjoyed a 37-0 lead.
Fitzgerald got on the scoreboard for the first time with 6:42 left in the first half when Nate Inman
scored from 9 yards out. Leo Sanchez added the extra point.
Johnathan Roberts added to that score with 4:20 left in the first quarter when he ran the ball for a
22 yarder. Nate Inman added the 2 point conversion to make the score 15-0.
Chad Thompson was the receiver on the TD pass with 4:47 left in the half. Sanchez’s extra point made
the score 22-0.
Fabian Daniels scored from 35 yards out on a run that everyone in the stands thought had ended at 15,
but a cut back to the center of the field found open running room for the senior and the touchdown.
Sanchez added the extra point to make the score 29-0 with 2:22 left in the half.
Donte McCray became the fifth Hurricane on the night to score a touchdown when he picked of a Blue
Heron pass and ran it back 28 yards to add to the Hurricane lead. The extra point attempt looked doomed
when a bad snap sent Corey Taylor, the holder, scrambling. His last second toss to Chad Thompson made
the attempt gone bad effort good and the score 37-0 with 2:02 left in the half.
The second half was played under a running clock as a result of the recently implemented “Mercy Rule”
due to one of the teams being up by 35 points. There was 8:15 left on the clock when Johnathan Roberts
got into the end zone from 59 yards out. Sanchez added the point after to make the score 44-0.
The Blue Herons capitalized on a pass interference call against Fitzgerald that set them up at the
Fitzgerald 15. The quarterback tossed a 10 yard TD pass to the tight end for their only score of the
night. The extra point was good to make the score 44-7.
The junior varsity got their chance on the final drive of the evening and resulted in Jerrell Paschal
sticking it in from 20 yards out with 2 minutes left. Victor Ayala added the extra point to cap all
scoring for the evening to make the final score 51-7, Fitzgerald.
“I was concerned about us coming out like that,” said Head coach Robby Pruitt. “We didn’t have a good
Monday or Tuesday. Tonight’s start was a direct result of our Monday and Tuesday.” He added, “To
their credit (Fitzgerald football players), they did get in the game and got better as the game went
on. We were glad to get the win.”
Fitzgerald will host Region 2-AA foe Appling County at Jaycee Stadium on Friday night. “They have a
lot of speed and a lot of athletes,” said Coach Pruitt. “It’s going to take a good effort.”
Congratulations, Canes, on your big win against the Herons.
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| Press Clippings: Fitzgerald-Brantley previewed in Tifton paper...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 10/07/04
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| Press Clippings: Canes #4 in AJC, #2 in AP...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 10/06/04
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| Press Clippings: Fitzgerald-Charlton game highlighted in articles...
MIKE KITCHENS - 10/04/04
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| Phun with Photoshop: Hurricane warning for Charlton County...
MIKE KITCHENS - 9/30/04
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| Press Clippings: Fitzgerald-Charlton game mentioned in Atlanta, Macon, and
Tifton papers...
MIKE KITCHENS - 9/30/04
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| Press Clippings: Article on Fitzgerald football in Macon
Telegraph (9/23/04)...
MIKE KITCHENS - 9/26/04
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| Press Clippings: Fitzgerald may be second hurricane to hit Folkston this week...
RANDY
RODGERS - 9/25/04
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The folks down in Folkston are getting ready for some bad weather this week. Hurricane Jeanne
is projected to be in the general area on Monday, even though it may be downgraded, by then, to
a tropical system. On Friday, Rich McWhorter and his tribe of very good football playing Indians
will be expecting a football playing Hurricane of great intensity. They’ve observed that storm
of the purple persuasion getting better and stronger every week.
When you say Charlton County
football, you’ve referred to one of the elite programs in the state
with Rich McWhorter, one of the most sought after coaches in the southeast. The Indians have had
some pretty outstanding success down through the years under McWhorter. He ran his career record
to 150-39 as a head coach. Coach McWhorter added his 150th win on Friday night when the Indians
defeated Region 2-AA foe Appling County, 33-7.
The Indians are known for premier players and you only have to mention the family name “Bailey”
to prove that point. This year’s blue-chip, premier player is defensive end Justin Mincey.
Mincey(5) plays defensive end and anywhere else McWhorter and his staff have a need for a 6’ 51/2”,
245 pounder that has all of the tools and prior performance to be selected as a member of
Jacksonville’s Florida Times-Union Super 11 as well as The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11.
Mincey runs a 4.8 in the 40 and is ranked as the second best defensive end by theinsiders.com. He
has the likes of Georgia, Florida, Miami, LSU, and Tennessee coveting his services and throwing
scholarships his way.
Mincey is one part of a defense that is characterized by speed. You can bet that there will be few
sweeps ran to Mincey’s side of the field, but he will have plenty of help to try to neutralize the
Hurricane attack. Dustin Nobles (11) and Maurice Sims(35) were both credited with 5.5 tackles
against Appling County. L.T Glover(12) intercepted a pass and Edward Thompson(20) and Larry Moore(69)
both covered fumbles to stymie the Pirate effort. There were 3 recorded sacks.
Offensively, the Indians are outscoring their competition 145-45 and are led by Lemuel Walker(31).
Walker scored 3 touchdowns and totaled 131 yards on the ground against Appling County
and is averaging
6.9 per carry on the season. The quarterback, Dwight Dasher(9) launched a 30 yard touchdown pass to
his teammate, 6-2 wide receiver John Boatright(19), on his way to a 193 yard performance. The
Indians had 390 yards total offense.
The boys in purple have had their own success and will be in an underdog position Friday night as
very few expect Robby Pruitt’s charges to be able to overcome an Indian attack in the swamp. Nate
Inman(42) had 54 yards on 5 carries and 3 touchdowns, while Fabian Daniels(24) had 130 yards on 3
carries and a score, and Johnathan Roberts(22) got in the end zone once with 54 yards on 5 carries.
Reserves Tony Vickers(21) with 51 yards on 2 carries and Jerrell Paschal with 50 yards on 4 carries
showed that they are able to contribute.
The boys on the other side of the ball are playing strong and in a “no-name” defense led by the
senior Rodney Milsap(91) are punishing opposing offenses. Look for the Hurricane defense to cause
concern for the Indian offense. With Johnny Bly(8) and Donte McCray(4) roaming the secondary, it
must make opposing quarters think twice about throwing anything in their direction.
The other team, special teams, has some stars of their own. Leo Sanchez(10) was not called on
Friday night for a field goal attempt, but the whole state knows he can boot 50 plus yards field
goals and, when the ball is on the tee, he is dead eye on extra points. Johnny Bly(8) and Donte
McCray(4) have proved that they can return everything in their reach for big outcomes.
Game time is 7:30 at The Swamp, Charlton County’s stadium, just north of Folkston, east of US1.
It’s the Canes and Indians in Region 2-AA play, the big one, the one that everyone’s looking forward
to, 7:30 Friday night. |
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| Press Clippings: Purple Hurricane beats Pierce County, 49-0...
RANDY
RODGERS - 9/25/04
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Robby Pruitt’s prolific Wing T-based offense was clicking on all cylinders last night as the
Purple Hurricane defeated the Pierce County Bears, 49-0. The Canes scored on long runs from
scrimmage the entire evening and even hit the end zone three times on one possession before
finally getting credit for it three penalties later.
The outcome of the game was never in doubt as the Hurricane received the kickoff and marched
to the end zone. After the Bears attempted an onsider to get the game underway, the Hurricane
started their drive at the 40 and culminated the effort on a 20 yard run by the fullback, Nate
Inman(42).
Inman scored 2 more times and Johnathan Roberts(22), Fabian Daniels(24) and Jelani Shelton(20)
also got in the end zone from scrimmage. Returner Donte McCray(4) put points up for the Hurricane
when he returned the punt after PC’s first drive attempt 69 yards. The Hurricane received the 2
point bonus when the punter, dealing with a punt that soared over his head, kicked the ball out
of the back of the end zone.
Fitzgerald’s kicker extraordinaire, Leo Sanchez(10) got 4 extra points to add to his yearly total,
but was denied the opportunity to add two more when the snap missed its mark and the attempts
were botched.
At the end of the first half, the Hurricane score 4 times before they were awarded points. Donte
McCray(4) received a PC punt and, after bouncing off of Bear head hunters, regrouped and routed
himself 51 yards for an apparent Fitzgerald touchdown, but the guys in the striped shirts called
a return block in the back that backed the Canes up to the Fitzgerald 47. Fabian Daniels(24) found
the end zone two plays later when he took the ball 51 yards for the second ill-fated score of the
series. Result: called back and backed up 10 yards, to boot, for a Hurricane hold. The next play,
the tricky Cane brain trust added a pitch back to the quarterback, Josh Battle(2), who gad to go
61 yards for the goal line. Result: back, back, back due to a call of illegal forward pass that
appeared to be a forward lateral across the line of scrimmage. No points. The Canes went to a more
traditional way of getting points, subsequently, and chewed up chunks at a time enroute to a 21 yard
“up the gut” score by Nate Inman(42), the fullback. Four times, in the case, with this team, with
these referees, and with patience was the charm.
The Canes will travel to Folkston next Friday to take on the top ranked Charlton County Indians in
a contest, starting at 7:30 PM, which will merit state-wide attention.
|
|
| Miscellaneous: A "Category 5" Conversation with
Alan "Snake" Dixon...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 9/23/04
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The following interview was conducted with Alan "Snake" Dixon, a former Hurricane football
player who went on to play at Harding College and in the NFL. The interview occurred late
in the summer of 2004.
MK: Mr. Dixon, what was the experience like when you were drafted? Were you expecting it?
Snake Dixon: Our quarterback, Tom Ed Gooden, was drafted in the 11th round and soon after that
I got a call from the Kansas City Chiefs. They told me they were planning on drafting me shortly
and would call me back. However, the call came from the Vikings instead and they told me they had
drafted me in the 14th round. They said that they would be calling me back in a couple of weeks
and would be flying my wife Belinda and I up there to meet the coaches and the other draftees.
Belinda said to me, "Where in the world is Minnesota?".
MK: I guess you both figured out where Minnesota was pretty soon after that. Had you been to
Minnesota before? What was that experience like?
Snake Dixon: I have never been that far up north -- only as far as Northeast Missouri State to
play in a football game (which turned out to be my best career college football game). The
experience was awesome. After the draft, the Vikings flew Belinda and I to Minneapolis where
we met with some of the coaches and about ten of the draftees at a fancy restaurant. It was
a neat experience!
MK: And what happened after you joined up with the team?
Snake Dixon: In '74 there was an NFL strike and only rookies and first year players came to
training camp. This was good for the rookies because ten rookies made the team that year. Bud
Grant was not in favor of a strike. After going through training camp, I beat out the 8th round
draftee (a running back from Nebraska) and started the first preseason game against the Denver
Broncos. I got a knee injury, but it got better before the first regular season game. However,
Coach Grant placed me on injured reserve and said that when another player got on the injured
reserve list I would be moved up. No other player got injured and I spent the entire season
practicing every practice and going through all the team meetings with the team.
MK: How dramatic was the jump from Harding to the pros in terms of the competition and the level of
play?
Snake Dixon: In college you feel like you can intimidate some of your opponents and teammates in
practice by speed or quickness. However, once you get in the pros no one gets intimidated unless you
are special like Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson, or Deion Sanders.
MK: Who were some of the more well-known people you played with/for and what were they like?
Snake Dixon: As far as some of the well-known Vikings, Bud Grant is still one of my five heroes along
with Joe Compton. Coach Grant was a strong disciplinarian whom we all respected. I feel that some of
the players now on the Vikings team could not play for Bud Grant. If you get a chance, read his book
titled "Bud: The Other Side of the Glacier". Alan Page, Carl Eller (NFL Hall of Fame 2004 - joining
previous inductees Grant and Page), and Jim Marshall were the Purple People Eaters. I had to to go
up against them every day at practice and that was a daily task that a lot of people would not like
to do. Fran Tarkenton was a Georgia boy and he took a liking to me after he found out I was from
Georgia. He still holds a ton of records and he was like one of the coaches. He would get up at the
meetings and the coaches would let him go over how the team would play against the next opponent.
MK: So you were with the Vikings for two years?
Snake Dixon: I finished out the 1974 season and came back in July for the 1975 season. I played in
two preseason games before getting a note after a morning practice to come see Coach Grant at his
office and bring my playbook. So I was cut before the regular season began. As a result, I can only
say I played for the Vikings one year.
MK: Then you went to the Seahawks for their inaugural season? What was that like?
Snake Dixon: Jack Patera was an assistant coach at Minnesota and I got to know him there. When Jack
Patera was hired as the head football coach for the Seattle Seahawks in the spring of 1976, I called
out to Seattle to talk to him. After a couple of times of failing to get through to him, I said that
I was Alan Dixon who played for the Vikings -- then they hooked me up with him. I asked him for a try
out and he said they were having a rookie camp that weekend and he would hook me back up with the
secretary for a plane flight. That was on a Tuesday and the next day I was on a plane from Atlanta to
Seattle. I went thru the camp and was signed to a contract to start training at summer camp. I was the
second string fullback and I played in the first game that was ever played in the new Kingdome at
Seattle against the San Francisco 49ers. I played the last part of the second quarter and all of the
fourth quarter. I didn't miss any assignments during the game, but I got a call the next week after
practice to come to Coach Patera's office and bring my playbook. He said they were not happy with any
of the running backs! It was like when Bud Grant cut me, he said, "There are some things you just have
to accept". Well, it was hard to accept! But at least I can say, I got a chance to play with the
pros!!!
MK: What have you been doing since your playing days were over?
Snake Dixon: When I got cut from Seattle, they sent me home on a plane that made about ten stops from
Seattle to Atlanta instead of the first class seat like the trip there. I asked my wife Belinda if she
wanted to go to Jekyll Island for a few days and we did. While we were there, I got a phone call from
Phil Jones, the head coach of the Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes. He wanted to know what my plans were.
I told him I didn't have any, but wanted to coach. Even though the Hurricanes' summer camp was over he
hired me as the varsity assistant coach to coach with him, Max Braun, Mike Ellis, and David Carter.
This was 1976-1977 season. I ended up coaching for the Canes for 3 years as assistant varsity football
and head track coach. I retired from coaching after three years because I felt like in order to be a
successful head football coach, I would have to move from Fitzgerald and travel all over the state of
Georgia. In 1979, I went to work for David Y. Sims selling real estate at Roanoke Realty and have been
there ever since.
MK: Any final thoughts/memories/experiences you want to share?
Snake Dixon: I have been fortunate to play for some super Christian disciplinarian coaches and play with
winning teams. It started with Woot Goff Little League (Turkey Bowl Champs), Lamar Wynn (B-Team
undefeated season), Joe Compton (8-1-1), Jesse Dyess (7-3), John Prock (head coach at Harding University),
and Bud Grant (coach of the 1974 NFC Champion Minnesota Vikings). At Harding, I was able to start for
four years and we never had a losing season. In 1972, we went 10-1 and won the Cowboy Bowl by a score of
30-27. Also, I served as a co-captain with Bubba Hopkins on the 1972 team at Harding. Bubba graduated
from Fitzgerald High School a year after I did and became my teammate at Harding. I have had a lot of
great memories and experiences with football and love Fitzgerald and I'm glad that Belinda and I were
able to raise our three children (Jad, Andee, and Ashlee) who have all graduated from college now!
But one of my most cherished memories is playing for and being associated with the Fitzgerald Purple
Hurricanes!
MK: Thanks for your time. Your ability to carry a football so well certainly took you to a number of places
and through a number of great experiences. It has been a pleasure reliving some of those great memories
with you.
1974 Vikings team picture
1974 Vikings team picture (close-up)
Vikings-Broncos game program
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|
| Press Clippings: Article on Pierce/Fitzgerald game in Tifton Gazette this week...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 9/23/04
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| Press Clippings: Canes go for 5-0 against Bears...
RANDY
RODGERS - 9/20/04
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The Pierce County Bears will be in for homecoming on Friday night. Fitzgerald will
be looking for a big homecoming win and to run their 2004 record to 5-0.
The Bears have had a hard time finding the end zone this year as they were shutout
in their first three outings. They found it three times on Friday night against
Richmond Hill for the first win of the season.
Fitzgerald has never lost to Pierce County or Blackshear in a series that dates back
to as early as 1919. The Canes last traded home and away games in 1988 and 1989 with
the Canes winning both of those games handily.
It’s a new day, though and the new coach in Blackshear is Coach Tom Hybl. Hybl has a
reputation and a record to back it up of athletic success and he, along with his team
of Bears will be looking to establish themselves in Region 2-AA as the season goes
along. They would like nothing better than to knock off a top10 team, the Fitzgerald
Purple Hurricane.
The Purple Hurricane will continue to build intensity as they get ready for the
following week and what will surely be the Game of the Week in AA when they face the
Indians down in the swamp in Charlton County. Look for the Hurricane and their
leadership to try some new and different things as they try to find the end zone as
early and often as possible.
Game time is 7:30 with pre-game festivities getting underway at 7:00 and the crowning
of the queen at halftime. It’s Homecoming 2004, the Canes and the Bears at what will be
ground zero, Fitzgerald’s Jaycee Stadium.
|
|
| Press Clippings: Canes take care of Red Raiders, 38-0...
RANDY
RODGERS - 9/20/04
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Senior Leo Sanchez kicked a 50 yard field goal and three extra points on the way
to a 38-0 rout of the Bacon County Red Raiders in Alma on Friday night. The Hurricane
stopped the Raiders at every turn and stymied any hope of them getting anything going
all night.
The big gainer in the show was fullback Nate Inman. The junior had 91 yards in his
performance against the boys in the “Blueberry Capital of the World. Darian Austile
had 36 yards on three receptions, but it was little Donte McCray that led all receivers
with an acrobatic 39 yard reception.
There were several replacements in on defense for the Bacon County game. Demarcus
Duffy at nose guard and Corey Taylor at outside linebacker were two of the younger
guys in for starters that received extended playing time.
“It’s always good to get a region win,” said Head coach Robby Pruitt. Of the running
clock that the game was finished under Friday night, he said, “the rule is good, I
guess, but it doesn’t let you play as many of the younger kids as you would like to.
Before you know it, the game is gone.”
Frustration on the part of the boys from Alma became evident and resulted in the
ejection of one of the Bacon County players. “I don’t know what they were upset
about,” said Pruitt. “It looked like it might get out of hand, but the referees handled
it well.”
Fitzgerald put up a balanced attack with 230 yards rushing and 107 through the air. The
Canes had one interception, by Johnny Bly, that was returned for a 50 yard touchdown.
Fitzgerald will be at home on Friday night against the Pierce County Bears. Kickoff is
at 7:30 with homecoming festivities beginning at 7:00 and the homecoming queen being crowned at halftime.
|
|
| Press Clippings: Canes still at #6 in AJC AA Poll...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 9/20/04
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| Press Clippings: Hurricane begins region play at Bacon County...
RANDY
RODGERS - 9/13/04
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| The
Purple Hurricane of Fitzgerald will be on the road this week to Alma to take on
the Bacon County Red Raiders, the first Region 2-AA contest of the season. The
Hurricane is 3-0 while the Raiders are 0-3.
Fitzgerald leads the all time series between the two schools by a margin of 11
wins and 1 loss. The last four games have been shutouts for the Purple Hurricane
with a total score of 147-0 over the span of time between 1968 and 1989. The only
loss to the Red Raiders was in 1962 when the Raiders edged the Canes, 19-13.
Fitzgerald will return to the friendly confines of Jaycee Stadium next week to
host the Pierce County Bears. The boys from Blackshear are 0-3 and will be facing
AAA Richmond Hill. The week following Fitzgerald will be in the Charlton County
swamp to take on the #1 ranked Indians.
Game time in Alma is 7:30. The stadium is located on US1 on the right, traveling
north, ½ mile after turning north off of GA32.
Good luck, Canes, as you return to Region 2-AA and begin the 2004 campaign.
|
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| Press Clippings: Canes maintain #6 ranking in AJC AA Poll...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 9/13/04
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| College Canes: Wofford-Georgia Southern game to be on TV...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 9/13/04
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| According
to the Wofford football website, the game between Wofford and Georgia
Southern in Statesboro will be on Fox Sports Net South this Saturday (August
18th). Kickoff will be at 7:30PM.
Wofford features Fitzgerald native Kevious Johnson as its primary running
threat. The sophomore was the 2003 SoCon Freshman of the Year, a 2004
preseason All-SoCon selection, and was named a 2004 Preseason
honorable-mention All-American by National Football Gazette.
After his successful freshman year, Johnson started his sophomore campaign
last Saturday by rushing for 89 yards on 20 carries against South Carolina
State in Wofford's season opener. He also became the first Wofford player in
the last 22 years to return a kickoff for a touchdown when he returned the
opening kickoff 90 yards for a score.
Good luck to Kevious in the Georgia Southern game and try to catch the game on
TV if you get a chance! |
|
| Press Clippings: Canes still at #6 after open week...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 9/13/04
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| Press Clippings: Fitzgerald stuns Perry, 24-7...
RANDY
RODGERS - 9/9/04
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| As the Perry-Fitzgerald match up was taking place, the folks in Florida
were being left reeling by a Hurricane named Frances. Though kinder and gentler than the
last storms to come ashore on the Floridian peninsula, Frances left enough damage on the
mainland and the panhandle to make her a memorable storm. So was the case of the Purple
Hurricane that thumped the Cats from Perry on Friday night.
Fitzgerald got on the board first and out to a 14-0 lead on touchdowns by Nate Inman and
Fabian Daniels before the Panthers pulled within 7 to go in at halftime. Leo Sanchez, the
Fitzgerald soccer connection and big time kicker, kicked a chip-shot 21 yarder in the third
to stretch the lead to 17-7. In the last stanza, Josh Battle hooked up with Inman to put
the icing on the cake and stretch the lead to 24-7.
“I was pleased to get the win,” said Head Coach Robby Pruitt. “Our offense played better
and the defense played a good game.”
The Purple Hurricane will be off this week in preparation for the Region 2-AA schedule
that begins on September 17th in Alma. |
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| Press Clippings: Canes maintain #6 ranking in AJC AA Poll...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 9/9/04
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| Press Clippings: Fitzgerald to host Perry...
RANDY
RODGERS - 9/1/04
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| The Perry Panthers, under the leadership of Coach Chuck Conley, will
be in town on Friday night to challenge the hometown Purple Hurricane. Old friends,
the Canes and Cats will face-off in a game that will count for nothing but pride and
bragging rights.
The Cats are AAA while the Canes are AA, having dropped down in the most recent re-classification
effort by the Georgia High School Association. That won’t keep them from going at each other,
though. You can bet that the Cats won’t be easy on a smaller Purple hurricane team.
“They’re pretty good,” said Head coach Robby Pruitt. “You’ve got to respect them. They have
outstanding athletes. They’ll line up and go after you. They beat Stephens County a couple of
weeks ago and that’s no small feat.”
The Hurricane is coming off of a 17-0 win over AAAAA Tift County, a score that was provided
by defense and special teams. Senior place kicker Leo Sanchez (10) accounted for 5 of those
points, a field goal and two extra points, while Johnny Bly (8) scored on a 99 yard kickoff
return and big Rodney Milsap (91) got in the end zone on a “scoop and score” after he recovered
a fumble by the Tift County quarterback at the 17.
“They were beaten by Crisp County who came out in a set totally different from what they showed
against Tift County,” said Pruitt. “They’re a good team.”
Game time is 7:30 on Friday at Fitzgerald’s Jaycee Stadium.
|
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| Press Clippings: Fitzgerald moves up to #6 in AJC AA Poll...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 8/31/04
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| Fitzgerald is now #6 in the AJC Class AA after its win against
Tift County last week. Three teams from 2-AA are still in the Top 10.
AJC
prep polls (registration required) |
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| Press Clippings: Make that 2-0: Canes dispatch Tift County,
17-0...
RANDY RODGERS - 8/28/04
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| The Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane accomplished a couple of things
Friday night at Jaycee Stadium. First, they knocked off AAAAA Tift County. Second,
they established themselves as a defensive team to be respected.
Last week’s virtual shutout of Berrien County, the Rebels only scored on the Canes
backups, served notice that the Canes may be a team to respect on that side of the
ball. This week’s shutout of the Tift County Blue Devils reinforced that claim in
a big way.
The Devils were fresh off of a win over the Crisp County Cougars and had high hopes
of downgrading the powerful Hurricane to a mere storm. It just didn’t happen.
Fitzgerald’s heralded offense was unable to get in the Blue Devil end zone all night,
but they were able to set up a field goal in the first half for standout placekicker
Leo Sanchez (10) who kicked the 32 yarder for the 3-0 halftime score.
Johnny Bly (8) put the region on notice in the third quarter that the Canes special
teams are no fluke. He returned the opening kickoff in the second half 99 yards to
extend the Fitzgerald lead to 9-0. Sanchez(10) handled the extra point and Fitzgerald
led 10-0.
Is it any accident that Rodney Milsap (91) is being salivated over by the southeastern
region’s Who’s Who in college football? Absolutely not. Milsap increased the value of
his stock in the fourth quarter when he got the rare opportunity to scoop and score on
a Donnell Cullins (15) fumble from 17 yards out. Again Sanchez (10) sealed the deal with
the point after. Fitzgerald was up 17-0, which held to be the final score in the neighbor
versus neighbor contest.
Donte McRae (4) had a breakout game with three interceptions deep for the Canes that stymied
the blue Devil passing attack. The Devil offensive line was unable to handle the defensive
front 7 and made it hard to run or pass.
“I was very pleased with the play of our defensive unit,” declared defensive coordinator
Jim Moore. “We did what we had to do and stayed where we needed to be to put points on the
board.” He added, “We had a couple of breaks, too.”
Fitzgerald will be back in action on Friday night for their final non-region contest of the
season. The Perry Panthers will bring their traveling show into Jaycee Stadium for a 7:30
kickoff.
Congratulations Canes and staff on being 2-0 in the young 2004 campaign.
|
|
| Press Clippings: Tift County Blue Devils bring 1-0 record into Jaycee
Stadium...
RANDY RODGERS - 8/23/04
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| One of Fitzgerald’s oldest opponents, the Tift County Blue Devils will be in
Friday night to take on our own Purple Hurricane. The Devils are coming off of their season
and home opening win against Crisp County, 28-16, while Fitzgerald is sporting a win of their
own, 45-6, against the Berrien County Rebels.
“They’re real good,” said head coach Robby Pruitt. “They are huge. They’re more athletic than
they’ve been in the past.”
The Devils sported a 21-3 lead at half time over the Cougars and went on to hold off the cats
from Cordele to take the 28-16 win.
“They have two defensive linemen that are 6-5, 340 pounds and 6-2, 275 pounds,” added Pruitt.
“The ends are 6-0, 220 pounds and the middle linebacker is 250 pounds. They’re big.”
Fitzgerald has a few athletes of its own including Rodney Milsap and brother Quinton Milsap
in the middle on defense for the Canes. Don’t write off Josh Mims at linebacker, either, as he
has been all over the field during the preseason scrimmages and in Friday night’s win over Berrien
County.
Fabian Daniels will be back after a game on the sidelines that was a result of a neck injury the
week before. He will join Nate Inman and Johnathan Roberts who along with Jelani Shelton and others
ran out of the Hurricane backfield.
Josh Battle was the offensive player of the game this week and he will be looking to again air
it out against the Blue Devils as they come into town for the annual renewal of the AAAAA-AA
rivalry.
Don’t forget defense. It will again be Bly, McRae, and Thrower who will again be patrolling
the skies over Jaycee Stadium and will be looking for “picks”.
It’s the Canes and Devils, Friday night at 7:30 in Fitzgerald’s Jaycee Stadium. |
|
| Press Clippings: Fitzgerald #9 in latest AJC AA Poll...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 8/22/04
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| Fitzgerald moved up to #9 in AA in the just-updated AJC high
school football polls. Region 2-AA was well-represented with Charlton County
at #5, Appling County at #7, and Fitzgerald at #9..
AJC
prep polls (registration required) |
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| Press Clippings: Fitzgerald Hurricane preview on WALB's website...
MIKE
KITCHENS - 8/22/04
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| In case you missed it, there is a good preview of the 2004
Hurricane squad on WALB's website. It includes a video you can watch online as
well.
WALB preview of the
2004 Canes |
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| Press Clippings: Purple Hurricane gets 45-6 win in season
opener...
RANDY RODGERS - 8/21/04
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| Robby Pruitt’s debut as the returning head coach at Fitzgerald
High School was a success. The Hurricane put up 45 points on the rebuilding Berrien
County Rebels. The pesky Rebs hung in with their first team to put up a late score
on the Hurricane subs to finish the scoring for the evening.
The Canes were without the backfield senior magician, Fabian Daniels, who was taking
the week off after a stinger in the final against the Turner County gridsters a week
ago, but Pruitt simply went to his stable and let the horses pick up the slack.
“They played us tight on the run all night,” said Head coach Robby Pruitt. “The
passing game was there all night. I was pleased with what I saw. We’ll get to work
on the tape when we get back to the school.”
“We’ll have to look at the film,” said Defensive Coordinator Jim Moore. I feel
pretty good about the turnovers. We’ll just have to see what it looks like.”
The stingy Hurricane defense capitalized time after time on the Berrien offensive
miscues, scoring and setting up scores for the Hurricane offense.
Josh Battle, the junior, spent most of the time under center and threw the ball at
will on the Rebels. Nate Inman rushed and received for TDs until cramping slowed his
offensive prowess, but he hung in all night.
The Canes will now turn their attention to a den of Blue devils that will be putting
together a plan to knock off the Canes at Jaycee Stadium on Friday night. The devils
are coming off of a convincing win over the Crisp County Cougars on Friday night and
are described by the media as much improved over last year when the Canes held on for
a 6-0 win in the Mud Bowl in 2003. Game time will be 7:30. |
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| College Canes: Former Cane Kevious Johnson name to preseason
All-SoCon team...
MIKE KITCHENS - 8/20/04
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| Press Clippings: Fitzgerald ranked #10 in preseason AP poll...
MIKE KITCHENS - 8/13/04
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CLASS AA
1. Buford (12) 136
2. Charlton County (2) 121
3. Decatur 75
4. Early County 74
5. Vidalia 64
6. Swainsboro 59
7. Greater Atlanta Christian 45
8. Calhoun 32
9. Cook 29
10. Fitzgerald 26
Others receiving votes: Screven County 25, Appling County 21, Laney 18,
Adairsville 13, East Hall 8, Darlington 4, Thomasville 4, Wesleyan 4, Jeff Davis
3, LaFayette 3, Metter 3, Brooks County 2, Macon County 1. Source: AJC |
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| Auld Lang Syne: Former Fitzgerald coach takes over top job at Shorter College...
MIKE KITCHENS - 7/31/04
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Phil Jones, who was head football coach and athletic director at Fitzgerald from 1975-1979,
has accepted the head coaching position at Shorter College. Coach Jones will be
building the program from scratch as this will be Shorter's first football
team in its 131-year history. It will compete in
the NAIA and will be the only NAIA football program in the state of Georgia.
Coach Jones has had a long career as a high school and college coach. He has coached at
Warner Robins, Jeff Davis, Fitzgerald, Dooly County, and Winder-Barrow at the high
school level.
At the college level, he has been an assistant at the University of Georgia (under Jim Donnan),
SMU, and Gardner-Webb.
We certainly wish Coach Jones the best of luck in this exciting new position.
For more information, feel free to visit the
Shorter College Athletics website.
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| Press Clippings: Canes break camp today...
RANDY RODGERS - 7/29/04
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The 2004 version of the Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane breaks camp this afternoon
after having gone through the annual meeting at J.D. Tygart near Ray city. The
Canes have been engaged in intense workouts in preparation for the upcoming season.
“We have eons to go,” said Head Coach Robby Pruitt. “We have some bright spots
and we have some areas that will require a lot of work.”
Pruitt characterized the backfield as a bright spot. “They’re talented and quick.
We have a lot to work with.” He added, “I’d have to say that the backfield on offense
and the defensive front are the bright spots. Our linebackers are pretty good, too.”
The coaching staff has been challenged to replace a senior line of 2003 that was loaded
with leadership and experience. “Someone is going to have to step up. We have decent
size, but we’re not near where we need to be.”
The Canes will take on the Lee County Trojans next Friday in Leesburg at 7:30 before
hosting the Turner County Rebels the following week and getting into the regular schedule
on the 20th against Berrien County in Nashville.
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| Press Clippings: Fitzgerald on all-time wins list for high
school football...
MIKE KITCHENS - 6/28/04
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Fitzgerald's long history of success on the gridiron places it amongst the
all-time wins leaders (state and national) for high school football
programs. This list comes from the Football
Friday Night website (replicated here with permission). A more exhaustive
national list can also be found at the Texas
HS Football site (which actually shows FHS in 237th place nationally - a
negligible difference).
NOTE: Records current through July 1st, 2004
| Georgia |
National
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Record
|
School
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Winning Percentage
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1
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1
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813-169-34
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Valdosta
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.8169
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2
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50
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617-275-46
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Thomasville
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.6823
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3
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58
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605-305-29
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LaGrange
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.6597
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4
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60
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601-220-23
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Lincoln County
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.7257
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5
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101
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568-218-26
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