TIFTON — It is an unintentional quest, but it is a quest nonetheless.
The Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes seem bound to play every team ranked in the top 10 in the Class AAA Associated Press poll.
Coach Robby Pruitt’s team has wins over fourth-ranked Dodge County, 13-6, this season, as well as sixth-ranked Early County, 24-21.
Another ranked team now awaits the Hurricanes as Fitzgerald will be on the road tonight to face off against the ninth-ranked Thomasville High Bulldogs.
Tonight’s contest appears to be the biggest of the year in Region 1-AA as both Fitzgerald and Thomasville will enter with 5-0 league marks. The Hurricanes, ranked third this week, are at 7-0 overall, while Thomasville is at 5-2.
Offensively the Bulldogs are led by quarterback Ken Dixon.
On the year Dixon has rushed for 749 yards on 89 carries and has scored 14 touchdowns. As a passer, Dixon has completed 23-of-49 passes for 343 yards.
Dixon is joined in the offensive backfield by Tyrone Williams and Charles Hayes.
Williams has rushed for 399 yards on 64 carries and has scored six touchdowns. Hayes has 40 carries for 352 yards and two scores.
Thomasville leads the region in rushing with 2,060 total yards, an average of 294.3 yards per game.
That rushing attack will get a stern test against Fitzgerald. The Purple Hurricanes lead Region 1-AA in run defense. In seven games the Hurricanes have only allowed 414 yards rushing, an average of 59.1 yards per contest.
Fitzgerald also leads the region in total defense. The Hurricanes have allowed 876 yards to opponents in seven games, an average of 125.1 yards per game.
Thomasville defensive lineman Brandon Thompson is a national recruit. This season Thompson has 24 total tackles, 14 of which have gone for loss yardage. He also has three forced fumbles, one pass breakup and has scored once on a safety this season.
Dakari Mitchell leads the secondary with four interceptions. He has 92 yards on returns off of those interceptions, as well.
Hayes and Lawrence Ellis also have two interceptions apiece.
Oscar Jackson leads the team in overall tackles with 46 total stops. He has four tackles for loss yardage, one interception and three fumble recoveries.
That Thomasville defense will be asked to slow down the league’s second-ranked rushing attack. The Purple Hurricanes have averaged 242.3 yards per game as Fitzgerald has rushed for 1,696 yards this season.
Jemea Thomas leads the Hurricanes in rushing with 488 yards on 50 carries. Thomas is averaging 117.4 all-purpose yards per game in 2007.
Also for Fitzgerald, Larry King has rushed 55 times for 389 yards, while Nick Williams has run the ball 55 times for 355 yards.
Quarterback Brad Taylor is also having a good year for the Hurricanes. He has completed exactly 50 percent of his passes — 40-for-80 — while throwing for 514 yards.
His favorite targets have been Trenton Pruitt, 15 catches for 128 yards, and R.J. Davis, nine catches for 174 yards.
Thomas, with two interceptions, Malcolm Lundy, Scotty Thomas and Latravious Stewart are some of the defensive leaders for the Hurricanes.
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