BCHS heads into bye week with 4 games left
CANEY BAY — Fifthranked Fitzgerald quickly jumped out to an early 140 lead here Friday night and steadily pulled away for 46-14 Region 1-A victory over Brantley County.
The Herons (1-5 overall, 1-1 region) were playing for the first time since a 28-21 upset on then eighth-ranked Jeff Davis at homecoming.
A region matchup with Worth County in Sylvester September 27 was cancelled because of Hurricane Helene. The game against the now eighthranked Rams (3-3, 1-1) has been moved to November 8.
Brantley County is open this week before heading to seventh-ranked Thomasville (5-2, 2-1). The then third-ranked Bulldogs were beaten 28-27 by unranked Worth County last Friday night on a 25yard field goal as time expired by Freshman kicker Brody Hancock.
Fitzgerald capitalized on their first drive going 69yards on the ground in five plays scoring on a Victor Copeland (nine carries, 171 yards) 48-yard quarterback keeper. The PAT was added on by Andy Godoy to give the Purple Hurricanes an early 7-0 lead with 9:36 on the first period clock.
The ensuing kick turned disasterous for Brantley County when the Hurricane’s Jason Furguson had a four-yard scoop-andscore touchdown. Godoy’s PAT was knocked through with 9:25 left showing on the first quarter clock.
A mixture of Brantley County’s passing and running game helped make a first quarter comeback to keep them in the game less than three minutes into the matchup and two scores down.
The Herons’ offense responded a little over three minutes later with its first touchdown of the night. Anthony Walker (two catches, 24 yards) and Mason Kicklighter (five carries, 26 yards) combined for 50 yards in the drive.
Kicklighter capped the drive with a three-yard run. Eli Thomas drilled the PAT cutting the margin in half to 14-7 with 6:05 left in the opening stanza.
Fitzgerald responded in eight plays scoring on Oreian Bly’s six-yard run with 2:15 remaining in the period. Godoy added the PAT to extend the lead 21-7.
The Herons’ offense needed just one play to respond 19 seconds later. Kaden Hendrix (6-of-15, 151 yards) connected with Walker on a 78-yard scoring play with Thomas adding the PAT slicing the margin to 21-14 with 1:56 left in the first period.
The Hurricane’s next scoring drive spilled over into the second quarter. It was kept alive when Copeland connected with Nathan Cox on a 4th-andfour at the BCHS 39.
Copeland’s 25-yard scamper three plays later and ensuing two-point conversion run following a penalty against the Herons pushed the Fitzgerald lead to 29-14 10:13 before intermission.
The visitors came up with an interception of Hendrix on Brantley County’s next offensive series. Antwan Doctor plucked off the pass giving Fitzgerald the ball at the BCHS 36.
A pass interference and horse collar penalty by the Herons’ defense helped the Fitzgerald offense ease down the field. Oreian Blye’s six-yard run and Godoy’s PAT extended the Hurricane lead to 36-14 with 7:14 left in first half.
Fitzgerald ended the first half with a 23-yard field goal by Godoy as the horn sounded to take a 3914 lead to the locker room.
The Hurricane tacked on one last score three plays into the third quarter when Copeland burst 74 yards for the score. Godoy kicked the margin to 46-14 with 9:06 to play in the pe-riod.
Officials then put the game in a “mercy rule” with a running clock the rest of the game with neither team threatening.
YARDSTIICK
Fitzgerald 21 18 7 0 - 46 Brantley County 14 0 0 0 - 14 SCORING SUMMARY First Quarter FHS - Victor Copeland 48 run (Andy Godoy kick), 9:36 FHS - Jason Furguson 4 yard scoop and score (Godoy kick), 9:25 BCHS - Mason Kicklighter 3 run (Eli Thomas kick), 6:05 FHS - Oreian Blye 6 run (Godoy kick), 2:15 BCHS - Anthony Walker 78 pass from Kaden Hendrix (Thomas kick), 1:56
Second Quarter FHS - Copeland 25 run (Copeland run), 10:13 FHS - Bly 5 run (Godoy kick), 7:42 FHS - Godoy 23 yard field goal, 0:00 Third Quarter FHS - Copeland 74 run (Godoy kick), 9:06 FHS BCHS First downs 14 7 Rushes-yards 39-304 17-22 Passing yards 56 151 Total yards 360 173 Comp-Att-Int 2-4-0 6-15-1 Punts-Avg 2-25.0 4-45.5 Fumbles-lost 0-0 3-2 Penalties 14-90 12-86.5 3rd Down Con. 5-of-8 3-of-7 4th Down Con. 1-of-1 0-of-0 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING – FHS: Copeland 7-121, Bly 7-48, Cam Johnson 5-33, Latavion Devine 7-32, Diantae Paschal 6-28, Dewayne Westbrook 4-26, Braylon McCray 2-15, Quardale McMiller 1-1. BCHS: Kicklighter 11-27, Hendrix 4- -5, Malachi Saunders 2-0.
PASSING – FHS: Copeland 2-4-0 56. BCHS: Hendrix 6-15-1. RECEIVING — FHS: Nathan Cox 1-21, Antwan Doctor 1-35. BCHS: Walker 6-151.
