FITZGERALD — Fitzgerald's high-powered offense was anything but against Thomasville’s stingy defense Friday night.
Despite entering the Region 1-AA contest at Jaycee Stadium averaging more than 40 points per game, the Purple Hurricane found points scarce in a 14-10 win against the Bulldogs (5-3, 5-1).
Even the 14 points Fitzgerald (8-0, 6-0) mounted is misleading, for the Purple Hurricane scored two on a safety when a Thomasville snap sailed over punter Freddrick Holton's head and through the end zone. Also, one of the Purple Hurricane’s two touchdowns came after another botched punt snap gave them possession at Thomasville’s 9.
“Oh yeah, our defense was outstanding,” Thomasville coach Richie Marsh said. “They played their hearts out.”
Part of that stellar defensive showing came just before half as Fitzgerald was driving for the go-ahead score. Hurricane running back Corey Taylor took a third-down handoff from the Bulldog 5, where he was corralled by Thomasville senior linebacker Oscar Jackson by the back of the shirt.
Jackson then spun Taylor around and ripped the ball out of the senior Hurricane’s hands and took off 95 yards in the other direction to push the Bulldogs to a 10-2 halftime lead.
“That's what I love about coaching Thomasville,” Marsh said of Jackson’s play. “You ain’t got to teach kids how to play football.
“When they're born at Archbold Hospital, they come out learning out how to play football. That just something from growing up in Thomasville, kids know that. They love the game.”
The Hurricane finished with 201 yards rushing, 93 yards below their season average. Thomasville also held them to just 4.47 yards per carry, down from 8.9 on the season.
n OPPORTUNISTIC BULLDOGS: In addition to Jackson’s 95-yard fumble return, Thomasville’s other three points also came as a result of a Fitzgerald field goal.
Following the safety that gave the Hurricane a 2-0 lead just more than two minutes into the game, the Bulldogs forced Taylor to fumble at midfield on the ensuing kickoff. Senior linebacker Ricardo Barrett recovered at the Fitzgerald 49 to give the Bulldogs momentum. The Bulldogs offense then picked up first downs on three straight plays — a 12-yard swing pass to Allen Johnson, an 18-yard run by Lanoris Christopher and a 10-yard sweep from Dakari Mitchell. However, two penalties inside the Fitzgerald 10 stalled the drive, forcing a 23-yard field goal from Davis Vann.
“I wish that one would have been a touchdown,” Marsh said.
“Still, that would have just made it 14-14. It didn't happen.”
n STINGY ’CANE: Thomasville mustered just 10 points and 154 yards of total offense against Fitzgerald. Both totals, though, are above the Hurricane’s season average.
Fitzgerald entered allowing just 3.4 points and 129 yards. It also allowed an average of just 55 rushing yards. Tyrone Williams led the Bulldogs with 72.
Thomasville finished with 132 yards on the ground.
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