TIFTON  — Fitzgerald’s Purple Hurricane will be back at home for football, but local fans will have to wait one more day to see a game at Jaycee Stadium.

Tucker Pruitt, Fitzgerald’s head coach, said this week’s opponent, Early County, requested to move the game back one day. It will kick off at 3 p.m.

Pruitt said the decision to delay the game was an easy one, “with their community hit so hard.”

Because of Hurricane Michael, Early’s game with Brooks had been delayed not only until Monday, but moved from Blakely to Quitman. The Bobcats lost a 39-20 decision, but will carry a 5-2 record to Fitzgerald (6-2).

Pruitt, who scouted Early-Brooks in person, said Brooks nearly ran away with game, but the Bobcats made a comeback. Brooks was up 25-0 at one point.

The Bobcats’ comeback was keyed by a pair of touchdown passes from Asher White to Montravious George. The Dothan (Ala.) Eagle also said Aaron Yarbrough had a touchdown on a two-yard run. Pruitt liked from he saw from Yarbrough in particular.

“I have a lot of respect,” Pruitt said about Early. Though it was a loss for the Bobcats, they have had quite a year. Five wins are more than their last two seasons combined and includes wins over Cook and Dothan.

Despite his own team’s big victory over Thomasville last Saturday (36-21), Pruitt is nervous about Early County. “We’re not good enough to overlook anybody,” he said. How they defeated Thomasville may beg to differ.

Fitzgerald trailed 21-10 at halftime. The defense did not allow a point afterwards while the offense racked up more than 250 yards and four touchdowns. Pruitt claims he did not say anything special to the Purple Hurricane at the half. The words he did say apparently worked quite well.

Following a touchdown run by Ethan Gordon, Kody Krause gave Fitzgerald the lead with a 21-yard run. Two runs by Justin Reliford were enough to seal the game. In the first half, Reliford had another touchdown run and Alex Martinez added a 43-yard field goal.

“It was a team win,” said Pruitt. He also praised the team’s toughness, banding together after Damien Devine exited in the first half with an injury.

“A huge win for us.”

With two wins in 1-AA, Fitzgerald has all but clinched a spot in the state Class AA tournament. A win over Early would assure it. The Purple Hurricane has just one more regular season game remaining, which will be at Brooks County next Friday. Brooks (6-2, 2-0) is off this week.