Fitzgerald's Ethan Gordon.

FITZGERALD — The Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane has been looking for a break for weeks. On the cusp of their Region 2-AA schedule starting next week, they have a chance to get some positive momentum. They host Rockdale County Saturday at 5 p.m.

“We’re just trying to hang in there,” said Tucker Pruitt, Fitzgerald’s first-year head coach.

The same can be said for Rockdale County.

Both squads enter Saturday’s contest with 1-4 records. Fitzgerald won its sole game in the second week of the season; Rockdale won its opener.

“Two teams in similar places,” said Pruitt.

Each team would like a little bit of momentum on its side.

Fitzgerald has battled injuries all season, including the loss of star quarterback James Graham. Rockdale, which went 2-8 in 2016, lost 14-12 to Shiloh last week. Shiloh entered the contest without any wins.

Though Rockdale’s won-loss record is not sparkling, Pruitt believes the Bulldogs will bring much talent to Jaycee Stadium.

Rockdale is led by quarterback Justin Steele, who has shown plenty of mobility in highlight videos.

“He’s scary,” said Pruitt. “He can run it, he can throw it.”

In Rockdale’s lone win against Berkmar (75-8), Steele threw for 213 yards and two touchdowns. He ran for another and the Bulldogs led 69-8 at halftime.

Helping keep the pressure off Steele is running back David Baros. Jermaine McSweet ran for a touchdown against Shiloh.

The Bulldogs are averaging nearly 31 points per game. They ran out of steam, though, against Shiloh.

“It looks a lot like us,” said Pruitt.

Fortunately, the Purple Hurricane have had better news recently.

Graham has been practicing with the team and Pruitt has been waiting for him to be cleared to play in a game. Fitzgerald also held a 14-3 lead on undefeated Tift County (a Class AAAAAAA school to Fitzgerald’s AA) in the first half of last Friday’s contest.

The ‘Canes’ scores game on short rushes by Matthew Howell.

Howell ran in from one yard out to close a 75-yard drive. After Kody Krause scooped up an onside kick, Howell ran a two-yard touchdown.

On offense, Fitzgerald attempted a double pass, a halfback pass and a couple of reverses in attempts to keep Tift off-guard. The defense contributed with a fumble recovery and an interception.

Pruitt said his strategy against Tift County was because of Fitzgerald’s situation: “We felt like our back was against the wall.”

He worried his offense would not be able to move the ball on the Blue Devils’ defense. Unfortunately, that became the case after intermission.

“We ran out of gas in the second half,” he said.

Fitzgerald still had good performances from a number of players.

Pruitt liked what he saw from Quantavious Pugh and freshman running back Mario Clark.

Ethan Gordon was one of the team’s top runners and Howell, too, showed poise in the pocket and kept on playing despite some hard licks from Tift’s defensive line.

Saturday afternoon may seem a bit of an unusual time to schedule a high school football game, but Pruitt said this worked out best for Rockdale.

The two were originally set to play Sept. 15, but in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, both Pruitt and Rockdale head coach Greg Manior decided to reschedule.

Saturday afternoon was picked as Rockdale has been on fall break this week.

Four months ago, this date would not have been available. Fitzgerald was to have opened the region schedule this week with Albany. However, Albany High closed during the summer and Fitzgerald filled the schedule void with Camden County Sept. 1.

The Hurricane will finally play a conference game next week, traveling to Berrien. Berrien, which opened region two weeks ago with a win over Early County, plays Thomasville tonight.