FITZGERALD — Playing in the state Class AA football quarterfinals Friday night, Fitzgerald High ran up 339 yards of offense, and held off a late charge to defeat Callaway, 35-21, at Jaycee Stadium.
With the win, the Hurricanes will host the defending state champions, the Buford High Wolves, Friday night in the Class AA semifinals.
Buford defeated Cook High 26-0 at home Friday to advance. The Wolves defeated the Purple Hurricanes by a 44-21 score in the state semifinal in 2008 at Tom Riden Field in Buford.
“That was a huge win for us. That was a complete team effort,” Fitzgerald coach Robby Pruitt said after the game.
After a 34-yard touchdown run by fullback Nick Williams gave the Hurricane a 35-14 lead, Callaway came right back with a nine-play, 66 yard drive that ended with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Quan Bray to D.J. Rutledge. The PAT was good and Fitzgerald’s lead was 35-21 with five minutes left in the game.
The Cavaliers then recovered the onside kick, and moved down the field behind the arm and legs of Bray. Fitzgerald’s defense stood tall, and kept Callaway from penetrating into the Hurricane redzone. Fitzgerald then got a key sack of Bray on fourth down, and were able to run the clock out from there.
On their first possession, Fitzgerald went 66 yards on a nine-play drive that was capped off by a Kaleb Nobles to R.J. Davis touchdown pass from 21 yards out. Paul Gallegos’ PAT gave the Hurricane an early 7-0 lead with 6:22 remaining in the first quarter.
After a Callaway punt, Fitzgerald marched 54 yards on 10 plays. Trenton Pruitt took a handoff in from the 6-yard line. The drive was extended after a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty on the Cavaliers on a fourth down play. This moved the ball down to the Callaway 15 yard line. Pruitt would then score four plays later.
The Hurricanes forced another punt and took over at their own 16-yard line with 6:24 remaining in the second quarter. Pruitt broke off an 18-yard run and Nobles found Pruitt three times on the drive for 44 yards. The final completion to Pruitt went for an 18-yard touchdown to give Fitzgerald a 21-0 lead with 1:18 remaining in the half.
Callaway answered after a kickoff return by Quantavius Leslie put the ball near midfield. On a third down play, Bray found Leslie streaking down the sideline for a 56-yard touchdown pass, narrowing the lead to 21-7, with just over 30 seconds left in the second quarter.
The Cavaliers surprised Fitzgerald with an onside kick, as Rutledge recovered the kick on the Hurricane 34-yard line. A 36-yard field goal try by Josh Ham was partially blocked to give the Hurricane a two touchdown lead at the half.
Fitzgerald would build that lead when Latravious Stewart scored on a 4-yard touchdown run to put Fitzgerald up 28-7, but the Cavaliers responded on the ensuing drive, as Bray scored on a 65-yard touchdown run. Ham’s PAT left Fitzgerald with a 28-14 lead with just over seven minutes left in the third quarter.
“They (Callaway) have size, speed and the play hard. My hat goes off to coach (Pete) Wiggins. His kids never quit,” Pruitt said.
Trenton Pruitt ended the night with 58 yards rushing and 58 yards receiving. He had two total touchdowns on the night. Williams added 88 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown, and Stewart had 58 yards on seven attempts and a touchdown. Stewart also had two receptions for 30 yards.
Nobles completed nine passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns on the night.
Bray led Callaway with 98 yards rushing and 176 yards passing. Marquis Terrell, who had over 1,600 yards on the season, was held to 11 yards on only five attempts. The Cavaliers had 306 yards of total offense.
Fitzgerald improves to 13-0, while Callaway ends the season 10-3
Local Sports
Hurricanes advance with 35-21 win
- Local Sports
-
-
Busy day for signings in Tiftarea
For fans of college and high school football National Signing Day is an unofficial national holday.
If it is truly a holiday, friends, fans and family joined six local players Wednesday in helping celebrate Wednesday. - Tift basketball program to honor seniors
-
Battle of Georgia goes one more Super round
New England Patriot wide receiver Deion Branch, nursing a bout of the stomach flu, had little to do here in his hotel Tuesday evening.
He decided to reach out and text someone.
“There he goes, texting me and talking junk,” said New York Giants safety Deon Grant. “I expected it. He always does.” -
Tiftarea's Marvin Barton resigns as head football coach
After five years as Tiftarea Academy Panther head football coach, Marvin Barton informed The Tifton Gazette Wednesday he has resigned from the position. He will remain at the school until the end of the school year.
-
Steve Carter column: Be happy for those who sign scholarships
Wednesday will see kids — and yes, even the 6-5, 300-pounds ones are still kids to me — all over the country sign scholarships with colleges big and small to play football on Saturdays.
-
Logan’s to host meet and greet for Firebirds
With the start of their 2012 season just around the corner, the Georgia Firebirds football team will be having a meet-and-greet Thursday from 8-11 p.m. at Logan’s Roadhouse in Tifton.
-
Tiftarea sweeps Columbus visitors
The Calvary Christian Knights and Lady Knights left Chula Friday night for the long ride back to Columbus. Making it longer was the Calvary team’s losses to both the Panthers and Lady Panthers of Tiftarea Academy.
The Panthers notched a 56-44 win, while the Lady Panthers were victorious, 41-12. -
Local wrestlers competing in Albany
Several local independent wrestlers will be competing Friday in a card being held in Albany.
-
Several Tiftarea Academy wrestlers headed to state
Several Tiftarea Academy Panther wrestlers will be competing for state titles this weekend at Tattnall Square Academy in Macon.
-
Tift County Lady Devils win region swim title
History has been made for Tift County High School as the girls swimming and diving team won the Region 1-AAAAA title Saturday in a battle against region foes Coffee, Lowndes, Colquitt, and Valdosta High. This is the first region title for the girls swim team.
The girls won overall with a score of 98 over Coffee's 85, as Lowndes finished third with 54. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
