Canes face tough challenge

TIFTON — Fitzgerald High will head north today, looking to upset big, bad, Buford in a true David-versus-Goliath battle.

The Purple Hurricanes and Wolves will meet tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Tom Riden Stadium in Buford in a GHSA Class AA semifinal.

Buford has several standout athletes, including running backs Cody Getz and Storm Johnson. The offensive line is led by left tackle Dallas Lee (6-4, 295), who has verbally committed to play at Georgia next season. Other major contributors on the O-line include right tackle Duvon Millsap (6-4, 300), right guard Kolton Houston (6-5, 248), center Blake Bennett (6-3, 265), left guard Trevor Warbington (6-0, 250), and tight ends Devin Durden and Colt Ours.

In 13 games this season, the Wolves have rushed for 2,953 yards and 59 rushing touchdowns this season, and have been led by Getz and Johnson all season long.

A senior, Getz leads the team with 1,040 yards on the ground and 20 touchdowns. Johnson, a junior, is second on the team with 1,007 yards and 18 touchdowns this season.

Fitzgerald will try to counter Buford’s offensive firepower with a little of their own.

Jemea Thomas, Juwan Alexander, Trenton Pruitt, and Nick Williams will try to penetrate a tough Buford defense that has allowed only 17 points, and less than 200 yards in the last two playoff games.

The Hurricanes have amassed 3,454 rushing yards, and 50 touchdowns this season out of the wing-T offensive scheme of head coach Robby Pruitt.

Williams leads the team with 1,215 yards on 162 attempts and 15 touchdowns rushing. Alexander has rushed for 687 yards on just 51 attempts, while Pruitt has 638 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns.

Thomas, who has verbally committed to play for Georgia Tech next fall, has 449 yards rushing and five touchdowns.

Senior Brad Taylor directs the offense for Fitzgerald. In only 10 games played because of injury, the signal-caller has completed 48-of-85 passes for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Taylor’s favorite target has been Pruitt, who has 26 receptions for 468 yards and six touchdowns — bringing his total to 20 touchdowns for the season.

Tevin Stewart-Gauldin has 12 catches for 292 yards, and tight end R.J. Davis has 11 grabs for 279 yards. Stewart-Gauldin and Davis each have five receiving touchdowns.

On defense, Thomas leads the Hurricanes in tackles with 126, and four interceptions, while Omar Daniel has 125 total tackles and six sacks.

Mauro Meza has been nearly perfect for Fitzgerald in the kicking game. The place-kicker has made 54-of-57 extra point attempts, and made his only field goal try. Meza has 57 total points on the season.

Game time tonight is set for 7:30 p.m. in Buford.

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