Fitzgerald opens Region 1-AA slate against brand new opponent

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September 27, 2012

Fitzgerald opens Region 1-AA slate against brand new opponent

Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette CNHI The Tifton Gazette Thu Sep 27, 2012, 11:17 PM EDT

TIFTON — The Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes will be hitting the road tonight to play the Pelham Hornets in their Region 1-AA opener tonight. While a new part of the season begins, head coach Jason Strickland is relieved one portion is over. Last Friday, the Canes defeated the Charlton County Indians, 37-0, and the game was an extra special one for Strickland, as he had once been an assistant at Charlton under their long-time leader, Rich McWhorter.

Strickland said last week that he was nervous about facing his old boss. Earlier this week, he said that indeed turned out to be the case.

“It was emotional before the game,” he said, adding he shared a hug with his old mentor.

Though it has been several seasons since the two were involved in the same program, they have remained close friends. Strickland said he attributes all of his success to McWhorter and still calls him often for advice.

While Strickland was not surprised by the amount of emotion before the game, he said he was surprised by the score. He credited the margin to striking early and to his team’s defensive efforts.

“Defensively, they played well,” he said.

The win over Charlton boosted Fitzgerald’s season record to 3-1. They will be taking that record and a No. 5 Associated Poll ranking to Pelham today to face a Hornets eleven that comes in at 1-3. In addition to making its season debut in Region 1-AA, Pelham is making its first entry into Class AA play in 30 years. The Hornets were briefly a AA school in the early 1980s, but have been mainstays of Class A since then.

Pelham’s lone win this season came in their opening week when they defeated Baconton Charter, 40-0. Since then, they have gone on a three-game losing skid, dropping games to Mitchell County, Miller County and Seminole County.

Strickland said he was not fooled by the record.

“They can sneak up and bite somebody,” he said, “we have to do a great job coaching.”

Strickland said he hopes that going to a new place and facing an unfamiliar team will not affect his players.

Pelham is not just a new opponent for Fitzgerald in recent history. Amazingly, this is the first game ever between the two schools, though both have been pillars of gridiron tradition in each respective community for generations. Fitzgerald began fielding prep teams in 1913, Pelham just a few years later in 1922.

Fitzgerald and Pelham will play their first region game of the season and against each other in Pelham at Hornets stadium. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

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Fitzgerald opens Region 1-AA slate against brand new opponent

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