CANEY BAY — Brantley County, in search of its first Region 1-A victory and first win in 2025, visits Fitzgerald Friday night.
BCHS (0-6 overall, 0-2 region) faces an unranked Purple Hurricane (2-3, 0 1) team riding a three game losing streak following a 21-3 loss to Brooks, 30-7 setback at top-ranked Worth County and 15-14 to Appling County.
The last time Fitzgerald lost three consecu tive games was 2017 during a 4-7 cam- paign. Over the past eight seasons the Purple Hurricane played in six semifinals (five straight 2020-24) and three championship games (2020-22) going 78-20.
Fitzgerald’s 64-week streak of appearing in every Top 10 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Class AA and Class A DI poll began in 2020 and ended with this week’s release following the home loss to Appling County.
Brantley County will try to avoid the school record for most consecutive shutouts. The Herons have lost each of their last four games by a cumulative score of 160-0.
BCHS was blanked five consecutive games in 1978 starting with Game 5 (Clinch County) through Game 9 (Blackshear High) being outscored 143-0.
Friday’s meeting is the eighth in the series with Fitzgerald winning the first seven by an average score of 45.1 to 12.6.
The Purple Hurricane of first-year head coach Wesley Tankersley are a run-based wing-T offense featuring the talent of senior quarterback Victor Copeland (5-foot-10, 150 lbs.). The fleet-footed Copeland has nearly 500 yards rushing this season.
Fitzgerald is Tankersley’s fourth head coaching stop that includes Gilmer (2008-14; 41-34 won-loss record), Ridgeland (201517; 26-10, two region titles) and Stephens county (2018-24; 47-31, two region titles).
Fitzgerald also utilizes a Notre Dame box backfield and will go to a spread attack in passing situations. Senior Daniel Harris and sophomore Latavius Devine also get touches in the backfield.
The Purple Hurricane throw the ball about six times a game with senior Zavion Nolton the leading receiver.
Fitzgerald’s offensive line is anchored by juniors Kendrick Richardson, Ghavin Bernard, K.J. Richardson, and seniors Bryce Smith and Jaden Williams.
The Purple Hurricane utilize a 4-4 defensive scheme. They will either walk down one outside linebacker for a 50 look or both for a 6-2 look.
Fitzgerald is allowing 14.6 points per game, down from the 20 points per game last season under Tucker Pruitt, who is now at Appling County.
BCHS vs. FHS Hurricanes lead 7-0 BCHS FHS 1988..........27 ............44 1989...........6 .............54 1998 ..........12.............35 1999 ...........7..............34 2004 ..........7..............51 2005..........15.............52 2024..........14.............46
