TIFTON — The Screven County Gamecocks are the third seed from Region 3-AA as the state football playoffs begin. That means Screven will face the Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes in the first round Friday at Fitzgerald’s Jaycee Stadium.
Fitzgerald is ranked sixth in the latest Class AA Associated Press state football poll and is the second seed out of 1-AA.
The Hurricanes are 9-1 on the year, while the Gamecocks are 7-3.
The Gamecocks are accepting the fact they are underdogs going into the game. But coach Pat Collins and his Screven team are still “excited” about their three-hour trip to the Colony City.
“We are not a very talented team, but we work hard and we try hard,” said Collins. “We are going to tee it up and see what happens.”
Offensively, the Gamecocks run the same Wing-T that Fitzgerald has run successfully under coach Robby Pruitt.
“We are similar in scheme, but Fitzgerald is more diverse with their passing game,” said Collins. “They have a very good quarterback (Brad Taylor).”
The Screven quarterback is M.J. Johnson. He has completed 18-of-58 passes this season for 294 yards. He is also the second leading rusher on the team with 653 yards on 88 carries.
Leading the Gamecock rushing attack is Travis Coles. The junior has rushed for 1,095 yards this season on 181 carries. He has also scored 12 touchdowns.
“He is a hard worker and he is a good boy. He is an overall good football player,” Collins said of Coles. “He has made good use of what the good Lord has given him.”
Cameron Abraham has rushed for 516 yards on 75 carries and Todd Scott has rushed for 363 yards on 76 carries.
As a team, Screven has rushed for 3,052 yards this season and Gamecock runners have averaged 6.3 yards per carry.
Collins feels that could be a key to the game — his offense against the Fitzgerald defense.
“I feel like the strength of their team is their defense,” said Collins. “They set the table and usually give their offense short fields to work with.
“I especially like their linebackers. I think Malcolm Lundy is a tremendous player.”
As far as the Screven defense is concerned, Collins said, “Our safety — Travis Sampson — is our emotional leader. He is a hard hitter and he really gets after the football.”
Sampson has 29 solo tackles and 18 assists on the year. He also has three interceptions, one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles.
The team’s leading tackler is Hakeem Loadholt. He has 24 solos and 47 assists on the year, along with five-and-a-half tackles for loss yardage and one interception.
Donnie Mobley has 29 solo tackles and 34 assists. He also has nine-and-a-half tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble and one kick block this year.
“Due to some injuries, we have had to play him more on the offensive line in recent games,” said Collins. “I don’t like to play players both ways, but we will have to play him some on defense against Fitzgerald.”
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