Fitzgerald is itching to get to their first State Title Game in the Tucker Pruitt era! The Purple Hurricane reached the championship game in back to back years (2015 - 2016) under former Head Coach Jason Strickland, now coaching at Pierce County, but lost both of those games. Heard County has never been to the final game, but have had plenty of success under Head Coach Tim Barron (140 - 59 in 18 seasons) and are now looking for a new high watermark! Between the two teams they've only had 1 loss since the end of September and both teams are peaking at the right time.
Fitzgerald amassed over 400 yards rushing against a very physical, talented, and well coached Rabun defense. The weather was abysmal, but that didn't and doesn't make much different to The Purple Hurricane. Why? Because, they run very unique style of offense that utilizes 4 backs in various formations in the backfield, a lot of misdirection and almost resembles the old single wing style. Pruitt's team does an excellent job of executing this style of offense and the backs are built for it keeping a low center of gravity and constantly churn their legs and break tackles. Damien Devine and Ethan Gordan combined for 306 yards (169 and 137 respectively) in an impressive road victory in Shaw country over Rabun! Fitzgerald did not complete a pass, heck they only attempted 2, but if you can run to the tune of 423 and 4 scores, do you really need to?!
Heard County will not flinch in the face of The Purple Hurricane rushing attack. The Braves only yield an average of 12 points per game to opponents this season, and an even more minuscule 10.3 points per game in the playoffs! Even more impressive was the performance that Tim Barron's defense put on display versus perennial state power Dublin, who sports a potent rushing that is also deadly with the playaction game, and held the Fighting Irish to 3 points! The Braves' hard hitting free safety Aaron Beasley, who is a 3 star commit to the University of Tennessee listed as an athlete, is a major part of their defensive prowess. Folks, anytime you are listed as an "athlete" and are signing to play football in the SEC, then you're a stud! Oh, and not to mention he is also a beast of a running back. He will most definitely be rolled down into the box to stop the Purple Hurricane run game, along with fellow defensive terror Jai Wright. Wright is not as heralded as Beasley, but he tackles very soundly and flies all over the field on defense and special teams!
The oldest football cliche in the book is that defense wins championships! However, it rings true on cold, late November nights with a state title birth on the line. I think Beasely, Wright, and the Braves defensive unit holds down the Purple Hurricane dynamic duo of Devine and Gordan and wins this game at home. Braves also cover the 6.5 point spread as the home favorite.
Heard County (-6.5) 24 - Fitzgerald 16
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