TIFTON — The Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane will try to stop one of the top running backs in the state Friday in a Region 2-AA football game in Cuthbert.
The aptly named Chris Clay will lead the Randolph-Clay Red Devils (1-0) against a Fitzgerald (1-0) team ranked in the top five in the Associated Press Class AA football poll. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound junior rushed for 2,112 yards last season and 28 touchdowns. He runs behind a massive offensive line.
“He’s the real deal,” said Fitzgerald head coach Robby Pruitt. “I don’t know that you stop him. You’ve just got to try to slow him up.”
Leading the way for Clay will be a pair of mammoth offensive linemen — Ryan Hill (6-foot-4, 315 pounds) and Brandon Kennedy (6-foot-5, 325 pounds).
“I’ll tell ya, they’re scary,” said Pruitt. “They look pretty good on film.”
On offense, the Hurricane will use a balanced running and passing game featuring four runners who scored in the team’s only game — Dion Ross, Jarell Paschal, Larry King and Nick Williams.
Pruitt said his team will play ball-control offense to minimize the threat from Clay.
“We’re just going to try to control the ball and keep it out of that kid’s hands,” he said.
The coach said the Red Devils are an athletic team on defense that has a dangerous linebacking corps. Linebackers Terrance Walton (6-foot-1, 215 pounds), Michael Adams (6-foot-2, 220 pounds), and Markease Knighton (6-foot-1, 170 pounds) are all college prospects who run 4.5-second 40-yard dashes. Randolph-Clay also has a speedy secondary and big defensive line.
“They’re a good football team,” said Pruitt. “It’s a team you’ve got to go out and play. They’re not shabby at all.”
The Hurricane is nursing several key injuries that have lingered since a preseason jamboree. Tight end R.J. Davis, split end Darian Austile, linebacker Anthony Thorpe and defensive tackle John Smith are not expected to play against Randolph-Clay.
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