The Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane stormed through the regular season, opening with six consecutive wins and finishing with one of the best records in school history. Entering his fifth season, head coach Jason Strickland has led his team to at least 10 wins in all but one of his campaigns so far with the school.
After a single season loss to eventual region champion Brooks County (Quitman, Ga.), the team finished the regular season with a 9-1 record and entered the postseason as the second seed from Region 1-AA. The playoffs began with more of the same, as Fitzgerald reeled off four straight wins to earn a spot in the GHSA Class AA State Championship. A 42-21 defeat at the hands of Pace Academy (Atlanta, Ga.) ended their hopes of a title run but rest assure, the Purple Hurricane are prime to make another attempt at glory.
Backfield sensation J.D. King looks to make his return for Fitzgerald; in 2015 he seamlessly cracked the 1,500-yard mark while standing tall as a fearless leader for the Hurricane. With more of the same from him, another chance at a state championship should be all but guaranteed.
The Hurricane will open the 2016 campaign at home against Irwin County before a two-game road trip against Macon County and Rockdale County. If 2015 is any inclination, however, the venue should stand to be little trouble. In route to the title game, Fitzgerald was a perfect 7-0 in road contests.
Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane
A State Championship Equals Improvement For The Hurricane
Written by James Washington
Photo by Marque Milla Reese
