Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes (4-0) at Tift County Blue Devils (4-2)
Series Record: Tied 7-7
The storylines in this game are everywhere. It is Tift County's homecoming game; it's the team's first meeting since 2011; it'll be the third straight game that Class AA Fitzgerald has faced a AAAAAAA opponent; and it's a contest featuring a vaunted Fitzgerald rushing attack against a vaunted Tift County passing game. Tift ended a two-game losing streak last week with a 31-20 victory over Coffee. Quarterback Griffin Collier had a big game for the Devils. He went 24-for-35 passing for 306 total yards and three touchdowns. In six games, Collier has thrown for 1,571 yards on 103-for-173 passing this season. He has thrown 16 touchdown passes and has only been intercepted four times. His favorite targets have been Rashod Bateman (35 catches for 570 yards and four touchdowns); Cameron Cobb (21-243-4); Fred Lloyd (20-374-4) and Brant Watson (12-236-4). Brenton Jones has been Tift's leading rusher with 250 yards on 62 carries. Tift has rushed for 760 yards on 184 carries. The top-ranked team in most state Class AA polls, the Purple Hurricanes had trouble making a schedule this season and a result was three straight games against much bigger schools. Fitzgerald has responded well with a 41-14 victory over Rockdale County and a 41-7 win over Smiths Station (Ala.). The Hurricanes have relied on a high-powered offense led by quarterback James Graham and running back JD King. Graham is 26-for-46 passing for 547 yards with nine touchdown passes and only one interception. He also has rushed for 317 yards on 42 carries with five touchdowns. King has 53 carries on the year for 484 yards and seven scores. He also has caught seven passes for 156 yards and two more scores. Tight end Lectius Smith has four catches for 66 yards and two touchdowns. On the year, Fitzgerald has rushed for 1,368 yards on 178 carries, a 7.7 yard per carry average.
Tiftarea Academy Panthers (4-2) at Brookwood School Warriors (5-1)
Series Record: Brookwood leads 15-14
This could be one of the biggest games in GISA this week. The Panthers have already doubled their win total of a year ago, and will be on the road against Brookwood, who sports a 5-1 record on the year. The Warriors' only loss was last week against Valwood, 27-23. In a 34-6 win over Southland last week at the Panther Pit, Tiftarea was led by Spence Massey, who had over 200 yards rushing and four scores in the first half alone. Ahmad Mosely was among the other Panthers who had a good night against Southland. The win over Southland gave Tiftarea a 1-0 record in Region 3-AAA, this will be the first league game for Brookwood.
Charlton Countty Indians (1-3) at Irwin County Indians (2-3)
Series Record: Charlton leads 19-18
This is one of the weirdest series in south Georgia. Irwin County won the first 15 meetings between the two schools, but Charlton County coach Rich McWhorter arrived in 1990, and the Folkston Indians rolled off 17 straight wins. The Ocilla Indians ended the streak in 2012 with a 55-34 win and have a 3-2 advantage since that game. This is a key Region 2-A battle as both teams already have a loss in the region standings and neither team can afford a second loss with both Turner and Clinch both being unbeaten in league play. Charlton fell 39-31 last week in Folkston to Turner. That put Charlton at 1-3 on the year, the first time since 1985, the Folkston Tribe has started the season with that record. It is only the fifth time, Charlton has lost three regular season games since McWhorter became head coach. Paced by Jay Ashley's big night, 13 carries for 212 yards and four touchdowns, Irwin ended a three-game losing streak this past week with a 52-26 win over Telfair County.
Cook High Hornets (2-3) at Early County Bobcats (0-4-1)
Series Record: Cook leads 10-9
After starting season with three losses, the Cook High Hornets may be the hottest team in south Georgia. Paced by junior running back Brandon Doe, the Hornets have defeated Berrien 48-28, and beat Thomasville on the road for the first time since 1950 last week, 43-18. Doe rushed for 202 yards on 23 carries against Thomasville and added three touchdowns. Doe in five games has rushed or 1,025 yards on 104 carries, a gaudy 9.9 yard per carry average.
Harris County Tigers (3-2) at Worth County Rams (2-3)
Series Record: First meeting
After a week off, the AAA Worth County Rams return to action at home Friday against AAAAA Harris County. The Rams will be trying to continue their roller coaster season as Worth alternated losses and wins this year. Two weeks ago, Worth fell 25-21 to Thomasville. That game saw Thomasville score the winning touchdown in the game's final minute when an offensive lineman fell on a fumble in the end zone.
Turner County Rebels (3-2) at Lanier County Bulldogs (1-4)
Series Record: Turner leads 8-2
Fresh off of a 39-31 win over Charlton County last week in the Folkston swamp, the Turner County Rebels will be on the road again this week against Region 2-A rival, the Bulldogs of Lanier County. The win over Charlton gave Turner a perfect 2-0 mark in the league standings. It also gave the Rebels a two-game winning streak over Charlton for the first time ever in the 11-game series.
Berrien High is off this week.
This week's Class A Power Ratings:
http://www.ghsa.net/2016-2017-ghsa-power-ratings-football
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