ATLANTA — A methodical and physical Fitzgerald rushing attack cleared the way for the Purple Hurricane to win the state championship.

The Purple Hurricane threw just two passes and rolled up 295 yards rushing, beating Region 1-AA rival Thomasville 21-7.

“We got outcoached,” Bulldogs coach Zach Grage said after the loss. “That’s it, 100 percent. We got outcoached to a T.”

Thomasville, which beat Fitzgerald 15-8 in the regular season to win the region title, finished at 13-2. Fitzgerald also finished 13-2. 

The Purple Hurricane chalked up 18 first downs and amassed 61 rushing attempts. 

“We do what we do,” Fitzgerald coach Tucker Pruitt said. “I really think it was more about our team just playing for each other. In one final game, we wanted to leave it all on the field and let the chips fall where they may. Thomasville’s got a great program. We’ve got a ton of respect for them.”

The Purple Hurricane took control from its opening possession, going 70 yards in 13 plays. They converted two third downs and a fourth down before E.J. Lightsey powered his way in from 2 yards out. 

The opening drive took 6:21 off the clock and set the tone for the rest of the first half. Fitzgerald ran more plays on that drive than Thomasville did (nine) for the entire first half. 

“It was difficult to get our identity going,” Grage said. “It was tough to get them off the field. It was a matter of them doing a great job of taking us out of our identity and us not being able to stop it.” 

Fitzgerald followed that with a 14-play, 77-yard drive. Denorris Goodwin’s 6-yard run and Michael Martinez’s point after staked the Purple Hurricane to a 14-0 lead. 

Goodwin’s 12-yard touchdown run with 1 minute before halftime ended an 11-play, 71-yard march and pushed the lead to 21-0.

In the first half alone, Fitzgerald outgained Thomasville 216-9. They also converted five of seven third-downs and held the ball for 19:13 of the first 24 minutes.

“As far as talking about being physical and playing our game, we didn’t do that,” Grage said. “They got a lot of third down conversions that went their way. That goes back to 100 percent to me and our preparation. We just have to coach better.”

Grage implored his team at halftime to just be themselves, even with a 21-point deficit.

“Just play ball. Just play us,” he said.

The Bulldogs gave their faithful a reason to cheer in the third quarter. Cole Shaw took off and got behind Fitzgerald’s Jamar Joseph. Shannen White found him and dropped a pass into his hands. Shaw streaked down the Thomasville sidelines for a 61-yard score with 4:25 to go in the third quarter.

But Fitzgerald twice came up with interceptions to thwart Thomasville possessions, and a Purple Hurricane drive that ate up half the fourth quarter, though it ended with a missed field goal, effectively doused Thomasville’s hopes.

A sack of White turned out to be the final play of the game and the season.

“Our season is not one of perfection but it is one of persistence and perseverance,” Pruitt said. “This is special for our community. It’s special for our coaches and our players. They have really paid the price. I’m happy that for the rest of their lives, they get to call themselves champions.”

For Grage and the Bulldogs, the finish was disappointing but he reflected on how much the team accomplished in getting to its first state title berth since 1993.

“You take your hats off to Fitzgerald and Coach Pruitt and his crew,” he said. “It’s a learning experience as far as life goes. You’re supposed to respect your opportunity and respect the game. It’s never, ever given to you.”