Series Record: First meeting
Winner faces Benedictine-Callaway winner at 1 p.m. December 10 at the Georgia Dome for the state Class AA football championship
This matchup features one of the oldest programs in the state against one of the youngest. Hapeville Charter began play in 2011 with a four-game schedule, while Fitzgerald began in 1908 with one-game schedule. In 2011, Hapeville only scored 27 points in those four games. The next season, things were better as the Hornets went 3-7 picking up the first win in school history, 28-6 over North Springs. Things fell behind in 2013 as the Hornets went 1-8-1, garnering a win over Cross Keys and a tie to Clarkston. In 2014, the Hornets may have gotten the biggest win in school history, a 12-9 triumph over a Wesleyan team that is always in the playoffs, including that season. Overall, Hapeville went 4-6. Things began to turn around for the Hornets in 2015 as coach Winston Gordon's squad finished with the first winning record in school history, 6-4. Hapeville won the first three games of that season, as well as the last two. That progress appeared to be for naught at the start of the current 2016 season, as Hapeville went 1-3 to begin the year. But Gordon's club began a nine-game winning streak, which took the Hornets to the Region 6-AA title, as well as three straight playoff wins, including a 30-21 win over Chatooga last week to earn this shot at the Hurricanes. The Hornets have proven to be worthy of a state semifinal berth. Quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams leads an explosive attack. Statistics are not available from the team's last two games, but Williams, a 6-1, 174-pound junior, passed for 2,202 yards in the team's first 11 games. Completing 137-of-232 passes in those games, Williams had 24 touchdown passes and seven interceptions. Williams also leads the team in rushing with 350 yards on 43 carries in the team's first 11 games. Andunte Devereux is the team's leading receiver. Defensively, the Hornets are led by University of Georgia commit William Poole III at cornerback, and Region 6-AA Defensive Player of the Year Cameron Merrell at defensive end. Poole is 6-0, 180, and Merrell is 6-1, 240. The Hapeville defense will have to stop a Fitzgerald offense that averages nearly eight yards per offensive play. Fitzgerald has rushed for 3,665 yards this season, and has thrown for a total of 1,639 more yards. Quarterback James Graham ran for 112 and passed for 248 in last week's quarterfinal 35-16 win over Rabun County. The junior has been offered by several major Division I universities, including Miami (Fla.). On the year, Graham has rushed for 711 yards on 115 carries, and has completed 73-of-130 passes for 1,489 more yards. He has rushed for 10 touchdowns, and passed for 23 more scores. Region 1-AA Player of the Year J.D. King is an Oklahoma State commit and has had a fantastic season. The senior not only leads the team in rushing with 1,549 yards on 200 carries, with 18 touchdowns, he also leads the team in receiving with 447 yards on 18 catches and nine more scores. Damien Devine, Ethan Gordon and Montrell Harris are good options for the Hurricanes on offense as well. Devine had 371 yards rushing on 61 carries, and 11 scores. He also has 12 catches for 270 yards and four more touchdowns. Gordon has rushed for 492 yards on 57 carries with nine touchdowns, and has caught 11 passes for 201 yards and four touchdowns. Harris has 11 catches for 335 yards and three touchdowns, and has rushed 37 times from his wide receiver spot for 268 more yards and two touchdowns. Donterrious Milsap leads a strong Fitzgerald defense with 112 total tackles and four sacks on the year. Safety Josh Reliford has 103 total tackles and two interceptions. Marlon Jackson should go over 100 total stops if he has a big game against Hapeville. Right now, he sits at 91 total tackles, eight sacks and seven tackles for loss yardage. Other defensive leaders are Rhamir Bryant, eight tackles for loss yardage and five sacks; Willie Ross, five interceptions; Quay Harper, three interceptions; Callen Ray, four sacks; and Markeylan Lundy, three sacks. The game will be broadcast live on 96.9 WRDO radio, and follow Tiftarea Sports here and on Facebook for game updates.
