Fitzgerald, Cook to play ‘big’ game

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October 4, 2012

Fitzgerald, Cook to play ‘big’ game

Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette CNHI The Tifton Gazette Thu Oct 04, 2012, 10:16 PM EDT

TIFTON — Both coaches are in agreement. Tonight’s region contest between the Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes and Cook Hornets at Jaycee Stadium in Fitzgerald is going to be big.

“It’ll be a big one,” said Fitzgerald head coach Jason Strickland.

“It’s always big for [Region] 1-AA,” Cook head coach Ken Cofer said.

Not only is it homecoming for the Canes, it is a contest between two teams off to hot starts this season

Cook is 4-0 and Fitzgerald 4-1. The Hornets started off the season with three non-region games against Class AAAA opponents and won all of them by wide margins - Worth County, 36-2, Crisp County, 37-0, and Dougherty 42-12. Fitzgerald’s non-region slate included wins over Jefferson County, 23-6, and traditional rival Irwin County, 31-0. They narrowly lost an overtime game to Monroe of Albany, 35-28, before shutting out Charlton County in an emotional game, 37-0.

Last week, both teams started region play, Fitzgerald defeating Pelham 40-11 and Cook taking a defensive battle over the Thomasville Bulldogs, 17-3.

Thomasville’s loss dropped the team’s 2012 mark to 1-4. Despite the slow start, Cofer was full of praise for the Bulldogs.

“Thomasville has a great defense. Once they get their offense clicking, they’ll be a dang good team.”

Though the Canes beat Pelham by 29 points, Strickland said he was not entirely thrilled with the performance. He said they did not play as well as he had hoped, especially after the big win over Charlton.

Though the teams have split the last two battles, the Canes have held the advantage in the recent series. Since Fitzgerald moved to Region 1-AA in 2006, they have won five of the six games played, including last year’s, 21-14.

Strickland said he is worried by the Hornets’ speed.

“They’re faster than anything we’ve seen. It’s going to be a chore on each side of the ball.”

On the Cook side, Cofer is mostly concerned about his offense. He said his squad may have to break some plays out of the arsenal that they have not used yet.

Otherwise, he said his gameplan is going to be “doing what we do.”

Strickland said he was looking for a big crowd.

“If anyone’s looking for something to do on Friday night, come to Jaycee Stadium.”

Kickoff is at 7:30.

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