While Fisher played well, Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane quarterback James Graham proved to be the dominant signal caller Friday night leading his team to a 35-16 win over Rabun.
The victory puts Fitzgerald back into the state semifinals for the third consecutive year. Approximately 45 minutes following the game Fitzgerald received more good news by winning a coin toss over next week's semifinal opponent, Hapeville Charter, meaning that game will be at home.
Graham was a true dual threat against Rabun. The junior was 6-of-12 passing for 253 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 128 yards on 17 carries with another score.
Fisher did fire the opening salvo on the night. On the fourth play from scrimmage, Fisher hit a streaking Noah Cannon on a 73-yard touchdown pass.
However, a mere 13 seconds later Graham answered by connecting with JD King on a 58-yard scoring pass.
Later in the first half Graham would add a second quarter score on a 38-yard run. The score was 14-7 and was the first time Rabun had been behind this season.
That deficit would increase in the third quarter.
Taking the half's opening kickoff, Fitzgerald drove to the Rabun 23. On a 4th-and-11 play, Graham hit King on a 23-yard scoring strike over the middle.
Besides the two catches for 81 yards and two scores, King would also rush for 86 yards on 18 carries. The senior gained 74 yards in the second half wearing down the Wildcat defense.
After a 32-yard field goal by Wildcat Andrew Barnes, Fitzgerald answered on a five-yard scoring run by Ethan Gordon. The big play in that drive was a Graham 44-yard pass completion to Damien Devine.
Down 28-10, Fisher would cut the Rabun deficit with a five-yard scoring strike to Austin Jones. The kick failed and the score was 28-16 going into the fourth quarter.
With 8:17 left in the game, Graham would complete the Fitzgerald scoring with a Graham to Gordon 27-yard scoring strike.
Fitzgerald would end the game with a long drive to the Rabun three. However instead of scoring Fitzgerald took a knee to end the game.
Fitzgerald would end the game with 498 yards of total offense. Besides Graham's passing, the Hurricanes rushed 46 times for 245 yards.
Montrell Harris was another big Cane contributor with two catches for 101 yards.
Fisher rushed 32 times for 101 yards and completed 13-of-24 passes for 218 yards. Cannon had five catches for 128 yards. Rabun had 368 total yards, rushing 46 times for 150 yards. The Wildcats had 241 yards in the first half.
