Rivalry continues for Irwin, Fitzgerald

Published 11:00 am Wednesday, August 23, 2017

OCILLA — Irwin County and Fitzgerald need no reminding about what is coming Friday.

“We all know what this week is,” said Irwin head coach Buddy Nobles.

This is the big one, the game like no other. This is rivalry week for Fitzgerald and Irwin County.

The series dates back to 1922, when Warren Harding was President of the United States and when the team opposing Fitzgerald was known as the Ocilla Orphans (Ocilla also used Aces and Terrapins as nicknames before the 1950s).

Fitzgerald was a post-Civil War town that grew so quickly that Ben Hill County was created in 1906 out of north Irwin County. The Purple Hurricane started football first, playing their first known game in 1908.

With 10 miles separating the two towns, it is no surprise that competition between the sides is fierce, resembling a family feud.

That resemblance to a family feud is even deeper this year. Following the departure of head coach Jason Strickland earlier this year, Fitzgerald hired Tucker Pruitt to the same post during the spring.

Pruitt is no stranger to Fitzgerald, no stranger to its football program or to its rivalry with Irwin.

Pruitt is a former quarterback for Fitzgerald and his father, Robby Pruitt, coached the Purple Hurricane from 2000-02 and from 2004-11. He is also close to Nobles, who was an assistant coach for years for Robby Pruitt.

“He was my second grade P.E. teacher,” said Tucker.

Nobles remains close to Robby and Tucker Pruitt.

“It’s tougher to coach against Tucker,” said Nobles. He said he knew coaching was going to be Tucker’s destiny, even when Pruitt was a “young buck.”

Nobles said, “I could always tell he was going to be a coach.”

Tucker Pruitt said the one main difference Friday for him from his playing days in the series is, “You don’t have as much to do with the outcome.”

That will come down to the players on the field.

Irwin is 1-0 coming into Friday, Fitzgerald 0-1.

The Indians defeated Berrien last week, 31-0, while Fitzgerald fell in a road game to Hapeville Charter, 25-22.

The loss will make Fitzgerald extra dangerous, Nobles said, with the Purple Hurricane itching for their first win of the season and for Pruitt as a head coach.

“I was hoping they’d win and play perfect,” said Nobles.

Fitzgerald led for most of the contest before a rushing touchdown midway through the fourth quarter gave Hapeville the lead for good. A field goal attempt by Fitzgerald at the buzzer was blocked.

“It didn’t come out how we wanted,” said Pruitt

Pruitt said turnovers were a problem for his team.

Five mistakes cost Fitzgerald, three fumbles and two interceptions. Two of the fumbles came inside the Hapeville five yard line. Another turnover deep in their own territory directly led to a Hapeville touchdown.

There was also a delay in the fourth quarter when the lights went out at Banneker Stadium, but Pruitt said that was not to blame in the outcome.

“We had the same delay they had,” he said.

Overall Pruitt felt Fitzgerald played better than he expected.

Quarterback James Graham accounted for all of the Purple Hurricane’s scoring with three rushing touchdowns on 243 yards. He also passed for 210 yards.

Pruitt said Graham spread the ball around well to receivers Montreil Harris, Damien Devine and Quantavious Pugh.

The Indians had an easier time in their victory over Berrien, with D.J. Lundy, Steven Thomas, and Jamorri Colson running for touchdowns. Will Stephens also had a scoring pass to Javon Stanley.

Stephens, said Nobles, threw the ball well and finished with about 100 yards.

“We were fortunate to really get things done,” said Nobles.

Irwin last won a game in the series in 1999, which predates Pruitt’s high school days as Fitzgerald’s quarterback.

Keeping the emotion of the series contained is not an easy task. Nobles said he kept his players calm Monday by letting them look at the eclipse.

Players burning their eyes, though, will not come from staring at the sun, he said.

“That’s what happens when you watch James Graham,” said Nobles.

When rivalry week is out of the way, Irwin and Fitzgerald will resume their schedules with Camden County (Fitzgerald) and Macon County (Irwin). The Camden game is a replacement for Albany High, which closed this summer.