Reigning 2A champ Fitzgerald is expected to be in the hunt for another state championship in 2022. That will put a smile on the face of Purple Hurricane fans, who had to wait 72 years between state titles.
Head coach Tucker Pruitt, who is entering his sixth season at the south Georgia school, has built the program into one that should be a contender every year. Pruitt has taken the Purple Hurricanes to two straight AA championship games after a 4-7 record in his first season in 2017. His overall record at Fitzgerald is 48-18.
Making the road to another state championship game will be a bit easier with Thomasville moving out of Region 1 in AAA with Georgia’s realignment for the next two season.
Last year, Thomasville won the region with a 15-8 regular season win. The Purple Hurricanes then gain revenge by beating Thomasville in the state title game.
One of the highlights on Fitzgerald’s schedule will be a September 10 matchup against defending Florida 1A champ Madison County at the South Georgia/Florida Border War in Brunswick, Georgia.
Fitzgerald’s top competition in the class could be Callaway, the team that beat the Purple Hurricanes for the 2020 state title. Last year, Callaway lost to Fitzgerald in the state semifinals.
Callaway has a tough schedule that should prepare them for Region 5 play. The Cavaliers will open against Opelika, a 7A team ranked No. 10 in the High School Football America Alabama Top 10, powered by NFL Play Football
Region 5 has a new look with last year’s champ Haralson County moving into Region 7. Moving into is Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy after state dissolved the private division in Class A. ELCA is ranked No. 7 in the High School Football America Preseason Small Schools Top 25 national rankings.
Below are the AA schedules from the Georgia High School Association ‘s website.
AA Region 1 Berrien Rebels 8/19 Clinch County 8/26 At Atkinson County 9/02 Bacon County 9/09 At Lanier County 9/23 At Worth County 9/30 Jeff Davis 10/07 At Sumter County 10/14 Cook 10/28 At Dodge County 11/04 Fitzgerald
Cook Hornets 8/19 Pelham 8/26 At Valdosta ( ) 9/02 Brooks County 9/09 Clinch County 9/23 At Jeff Davis 9/30 Sumter County 10/14 At Berrien 10/21 Dodge County 10/28 At Fitzgerald 11/04 Worth County
Dodge County Indians 8/19 Pelham 8/26 At Valdosta 9/02 Brooks County 9/09 Clinch County 9/23 At Jeff Davis 9/30 Sumter County 10/14 At Berrien 10/21 Dodge County 10/28 At Fitzgerald 11/04 Worth County
Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes 8/19 Irwin County 8/26 Turner County 9/02 At Northeast 9/10 At Madison County (Florida) 9/23 Dodge County 10/07 At Worth County 10/14 Jeff Davis 10/21 At Sumter County 10/28 Cook 11/04 At Berrien
Jeff Davis Yellow Jackets 8/19 Charlton County 8/26 Pierce County 9/02 At Swainsboro 9/09 At Metter 9/23 Cook 9/30 At Berrien 10/07 Dodge County 10/14 At Fitzgerald 10/21 Worth County 11/04 At Sumter County
Sumter County Panthers 8/19 Houston County 8/26 Westover 9/09 At Crisp County 9/15 At Northside, Columbus 9/30 At Cook 10/07 Berrien 10/14 At Dodge County 10/21 Fitzgerald 10/28 At Worth County 11/04 Jeff Davis
Worth County Rams 8/19 At Turner County 8/26 At Mitchell County 9/02 Upson-Lee 9/09 Central, Macon 9/23 Berrien 9/30 At Dodge County 10/07 Fitzgerald 10/21 At Jeff Davis 10/28 Sumter County 11/04 At Cook
Region 2 ACE Charter Gryphon 8/19 Crawford County 8/26 At Georgia Military College 9/02 Pataula Charter 9/09 At Jordan 9/16 Northeast 9/30 At Kendrick 10/07 Central, Macon 10/21 At Rutland 10/28 Southwest 11/04 At Spencer
Central Chargers (Macon) 8/19 Westside, Macon 8/26 Howard 9/09 At Worth County 9/15 At Rutland 9/23 Kendrick 9/30 At Northeast 10/07 At ACE Charter 10/21 Jordan 10/28 Spencer 11/04 At Southwest
Jordan Red Jackets 8/26 At Columbus 9/01 Mt. Zion, Carroll 9/09 ACE Charter 9/16 At Southwest 9/23 At Shaw 9/29 Spencer 10/06 Rutland 10/21 At Central, Macon 10/28 At Northeast 11/04 Kendrick
Kendrick Cherokees 8/19 Seminole County 8/25 At Shaw 9/02 At Heritage, Newnan 9/15 Spencer 9/23 At Central, Macon 9/30 ACE Charter 10/07 At Northeast 10/20 Southwest 10/28 Rutland 11/04 At Jordan
Northeast Raiders 8/20 Mary Persons 9/02 Fitzgerald 9/09 Carver, Columbus 9/16 At ACE Charter 9/23 Southwest 9/30 Central, Macon 10/07 Kendrick 10/21 At Spencer 10/28 Jordan 11/03 At Rutland
Rutland Hurricanes 8/18 Towers 8/26 At Hawkinsville 9/09 At Westside, Macon 9/15 Central, Macon 9/23 At Spencer 9/30 Southwest 10/06 At Jordan 10/21 ACE Charter 10/28 At Kendrick 11/03 Northeast
Southwest Patriots 8/19 At Howard 8/26 Westside, Macon 9/02 At Pike County 9/16 Jordan 9/23 At Northeast 9/30 At Rutland 10/07 Spencer 10/20 At Kendrick 10/28 At ACE Charter 11/04 Central, Macon
Spencer Greenwave 8/19 At Greenville 8/26 At Carver, Columbus 9/01 At Westover 9/15 At Kendrick 9/23 Rutland 9/29 At Jordan 10/07 At Southwest 10/21 Northeast 10/28 At Central, Macon 11/04 ACE Charter
Region 3 Appling County Pirates 8/19 Ware County 8/26 Aiken (South Carolina) 9/02 At Wayne County 9/16 Moore Haven (Florida) 9/30 Pierce County 10/07 At Toombs County 10/14 At Windsor Forest 10/21 Vidalia 10/28 Tattnall County 11/04 At Brantley County
Brantley County Herons 8/19 Atkinson County 8/26 At Groves 9/02 Beach 9/09 At Johnson, Savannah 9/23 At Pierce County 9/30 Toombs County 10/07 At Windsor Forest 10/14 At Vidalia 10/21 Tattnall County 11/04 Appling County
Pierce County Bears 8/26 At Jeff Davis 9/02 At Metter 9/09 Liberty County 9/16 At Charlton County 9/23 Brantley County 9/30 At Appling County 10/14 Toombs County 10/21 Windsor Forest 10/28 At Vidalia 11/04 At Tattnall County
Tattnall County Battle Creek Warriors 8/19 Claxton 8/26 At Long County 9/09 Hephzibah 9/16 At Southeast Bulloch 9/23 At Toombs County 9/30 Windsor Forest 10/07 Vidalia 10/21 At Brantley County 10/28 At Appling County 11/04 Pierce County
Toombs County Bulldogs 8/19 Long County 8/26 Wheeler County 9/09 At Jefferson County 9/16 At Treutlen 9/23 Tattnall County 9/30 At Brantley County 10/07 Appling County 10/14 At Pierce County 10/28 At Windsor Forest 11/04 Vidalia
Vidalia Indians 8/19 South Effingham 8/26 Beach 9/02 Pinewood Christian 9/09 At West Laurens 9/23 Windsor Forest 10/07 At Tattnall County 10/14 Brantley County 10/21 At Appling County 10/28 Pierce County 11/04 At Toombs County
Windsor Forest Knights 8/19 At Savannah Country Day 8/26 New Hampstead 9/02 Johnson, Savannah 9/09 At Islands 9/23 At Vidalia 9/30 At Tattnall County 10/07 Brantley County 10/14 Appling County 10/21 At Pierce County 10/28 Toombs County
Region 4 Butler Bulldogs 8/19 At Cross Creek 9/02 At Airport (South Carolina) 9/09 Savannah 9/16 At Putnam County 9/24 At Laney(D) 9/30 Glenn Hills 10/07 Thomson 10/21 Washington County 10/28 At Westside, Augusta 11/04 Josey
Glenn Hills Spartans 8/19 At Hancock Central 8/26 Cross Creek 9/01 At Washington-Wilkes 9/08 At Josey 9/16 Washington County 9/23 Westside, Augusta 9/30 At Butler 10/07 At Putnam County 10/28 Thomson 11/04 At Laney
Josey Eagles 8/19 At Savannah 9/02 Richmond Academy 9/08 Glenn Hills 9/16 Westside, Augusta 9/23 At Putnam County 9/30 Thomson 10/07 At Laney 10/22 Therrell 10/28 Washington County 11/04 At Butler
Laney Wildcats 8/19 Strom Thurmond (South Carolina) 8/26 At Hephzibah 9/09 First Presbyterian 9/16 Thomson 9/24 Butler 9/30 At Washington County 10/07 Josey 10/21 At Westside, Augusta 10/28 At Putnam County 11/04 Glenn Hills
Putnam County War Eagles 8/26 Baldwin 9/02 Oconee County 9/09 At Jasper County 9/16 Butler 9/23 Josey 9/30 At Westside, Augusta 10/07 Glenn Hills 10/21 At Thomson 10/28 Laney 11/04 At Washington County
Thomson Bulldogs 8/19 Burke County 8/26 Jefferson County 9/02 At Grovetown 9/16 At Laney 9/23 Washington County 9/30 At Josey 10/07 At Butler 10/21 Putnam County 10/28 At Glenn Hills 11/04 Westside, Augusta
Washington County Golden Hawks 8/26 Swainsboro 9/02 At Dodge County 9/09 Baldwin 9/16 At Glenn Hills 9/23 At Thomson 9/30 Laney 10/07 Westside, Augusta 10/21 At Butler 10/28 At Josey 11/04 Putnam County
Westside Patriots (Augusta) 8/19 Hephzibah 8/26 Aquinas 9/02 At Screven County 9/16 At Josey 9/23 At Glenn Hills 9/30 Putnam County 10/07 At Washington County 10/21 Laney 10/28 Butler 11/04 At Thomson
Region 5 Callaway Cavaliers 8/19 Opelika (Alabama) 8/26 At Cedartown 9/02 At Troup County 9/09 Heard County 9/23 Redan 9/30 At Columbia 10/14 Towers 10/21 Eagle’s Landing Christian 10/28 At McNair 11/04 At Landmark Christian
Columbia Eagles 8/19 At Camden County 8/26 Woodland, Stockbridge 9/01 Washington 9/09 At Cartersville 9/23 McNair 9/30 Callaway 10/06 Landmark Christian 10/14 At Eagle’s Landing Christian 10/21 At Redan 11/04 Towers
Eagle’s Landing Christian Chargers 8/19 At Brentwood Academy (Tennessee) 8/26 At Blessed Trinity 9/02 At Calvary Day School 9/16 Prince Avenue Christian 9/23 At Landmark Christian 10/07 At Redan 10/14 Columbia 10/21 At Callaway 10/28 Towers 11/04 McNair
Landmark Christian War Eagles 8/19 Rockdale County 8/26 St. Francis 9/02 At Lithonia 9/16 At McIntosh 9/23 Eagle’s Landing Christian 9/30 At McNair 10/06 At Columbia 10/21 At Towers 10/28 Redan 11/04 Callaway
McNair Mustangs 8/19 At Northview 8/25 Druid Hills 9/02 North Clayton 9/09 At Mercy Catholic 9/23 At Columbia 9/30 Landmark Christian 10/06 At Towers 10/14 Redan 10/28 Callaway 11/04 At Eagle’s Landing Christian
Redan Raiders 8/19 At Central, Carroll 8/25 At Stone Mountain 9/02 Tri-Cities 9/16 Southwest DeKalb 9/23 At Callaway 9/29 Towers 10/07 Eagle’s Landing Christian 10/14 At McNair 10/21 Columbia 10/28 At Landmark Christian
Towers Titans /18 At Rutland 8/26 At Chamblee 9/02 B.E.S.T Academy 9/08 At Therrell 9/29 At Redan 10/06 McNair 10/14 At Callaway 10/21 Landmark Christian 10/28 At Eagle’s Landing Christian 11/04 At Columbia
Region 6 B.E.S.T. Academy Eagles 8/19 Greene County 8/25 Midtown 9/02 At Towers 9/15 Washington 9/22 At KIPP Atlanta Collegiate 9/29 Mt. Paran Christian 10/13 Walker 10/20 At South Atlanta 10/28 North Cobb Christian 11/04 At Therrell
KIPP Atlanta Collegiate Warriors 8/19 At Midtown 8/26 North Clayton 9/08 At Forest Park 9/16 At Mt. Paran Christian 9/22 B.E.S.T Academy 10/01 At South Atlanta 10/07 North Cobb Christian 10/15 Therrell 10/22 At Washington 10/27 Walker
Mt. Paran Christian Eagles 8/26 At Mt. Pisgah Christian 9/02 Mount Vernon 9/16 KIPP Atlanta Collegiate 9/29 At B.E.S.T Academy 10/07 South Atlanta 10/14 Social Circle 10/21 At North Cobb Christian 10/29 At Therrell 11/04 Washington
North Cobb Christian Eagles 8/19 At Christian Heritage 8/26 Ridgeland 9/02 Wesleyan 9/16 Therrell 9/23 At Washington 10/07 At KIPP Atlanta Collegiate 10/15 At South Atlanta 10/21 Mt. Paran Christian 10/28 At B.E.S.T Academy 11/04 Walker
South Atlanta Hornets 8/27 Chapel Hill 9/03 Gray Collegiate Academy (South Carolina) 9/09 At Lovejoy 9/16 At Walker 9/23 At Therrell 10/01 KIPP Atlanta Collegiate 10/07 At Mt. Paran Christian 10/15 North Cobb Christian 10/20 B.E.S.T Academy 10/29 At Washington
Therrell Panthers 8/27 Mt. Zion, Jonesboro 9/02 At Clarkston 9/08 Towers 9/16 At North Cobb Christian 9/23 South Atlanta 9/30 At Washington 10/15 At KIPP Atlanta Collegiate 10/22 At Josey 10/29 Mt. Paran Christian 11/04 B.E.S.T Academy
Walker Wolverines 8/26 Our Lady of Mercy 9/02 At Lake Oconee Academy 9/09 At Strong Rock Christian 9/16 South Atlanta 10/07 Washington 10/13 At B.E.S.T Academy 10/27 At KIPP Atlanta Collegiate 11/04 At North Cobb Christian
Washington Bulldogs 8/19 Banneker 8/26 At Douglass, Atlanta 9/01 At Columbia 9/15 At B.E.S.T Academy 9/23 North Cobb Christian 9/30 Therrell 10/07 At Walker 10/22 KIPP Atlanta Collegiate 10/29 South Atlanta 11/04 At Mt. Paran Christian
Region 7 Fannin County Rebels 8/19 At Union County 8/26 At Gilmer 9/02 Pickens 9/16 Murphy (North Carolina) 9/23 At Gordon Central 10/07 At Model 10/14 North Murray 10/21 At Murray County 10/28 Rockmart 11/04 Haralson County
Gordon Central Warriors 8/19 At Armuchee 8/26 Southeast Whitfield 9/02 Coosa 9/09 At Trion 9/23 Fannin County 9/30 At Haralson County 10/07 At North Murray 10/21 At Rockmart 10/28 Model 11/04 Murray County
Haralson County Rebels 8/19 Rabun County 8/26 At Bremen 9/09 Mary Persons 9/16 At Upson-Lee 9/23 At North Murray 9/30 Gordon Central 10/07 At Rockmart 10/14 Model 10/28 Murray County 11/04 At Fannin County
Model Blue Devils 8/19 Cherokee County (Alabama) 8/26 Pepperell 9/02 At Woodland, Cartersville 9/16 At Trion 9/23 Murray County 9/30 At Rockmart 10/07 Fannin County 10/14 At Haralson County 10/21 North Murray 10/28 At Gordon Central
Murray County Indians 8/19 At Coahulla Creek 8/26 Lakeview-Ft. Oglethorpe 9/02 At Gilmer 9/16 Chattooga 9/23 At Model 9/30 North Murray 10/14 Rockmart 10/21 Fannin County 10/28 At Haralson County 11/04 At Gordon Central
North Murray Mountaineers 8/19 At Dalton 8/26 Pickens 9/02 At Ridgeland 9/09 Northwest Whitfield 9/23 Haralson County 9/30 At Murray County 10/07 Gordon Central 10/14 At Fannin County 10/21 At Model 11/04 Rockmart
Rockmart Yellow Jackets 8/19 Cedartown 8/26 At Cass 9/09 At Dalton 9/16 Irwin County 9/30 Model 10/07 Haralson County 10/14 At Murray County 10/21 Gordon Central 10/28 At Fannin County 11/04 At North Murray
Region 8 Athens Academy Spartans 8/19 At Dade County 8/26 Mobile Christian School (Alabama) 9/02 Prince Avenue Christian 9/09 At Mt. Pisgah Christian 9/23 At Mount Vernon 10/07 Providence Christian 10/14 At Fellowship Christian 10/21 Banks County 10/28 Union County 11/04 At East Jackson
Banks County Leopards 8/19 Johnson, Gainesville 9/02 Oglethorpe County 9/09 At Franklin County 9/16 At George Walton Academy 9/23 Commerce 9/30 At East Jackson 10/07 Union County 10/21 At Athens Academy 10/28 At Fellowship Christian 11/04 Providence Christian
East Jackson Eagles 8/19 At Oglethorpe County 8/26 At Social Circle 9/02 At West Hall 9/16 Franklin County 9/23 Johnson, Gainesville 9/30 Banks County 10/07 Fellowship Christian 10/21 At Union County 10/28 At Providence Christian 11/04 Athens Academy
Fellowship Christian Paladins 8/19 At Mt. Pisgah Christian in Corky Kell Classic in Rome at Barron Stadium 8/26 Trinity Christian 9/09 At St. Francis 9/23 At Lovett 9/30 Rabun County 10/07 At East Jackson 10/14 Athens Academy 10/21 At Providence Christian 10/28 Banks County 11/03 At Union County
Providence Christian Storm 8/19 St. Francis 8/26 At Hebron Christian Academy 9/02 Whitefield Academy 9/09 At Riverside Military 9/16 Athens Christian 10/07 At Athens Academy 10/14 At Union County 10/21 Fellowship Christian 10/28 East Jackson 11/04 At Banks County
Union County Panthers 8/19 Fannin County 8/26 Lumpkin County 9/02 At Towns County 9/09 At Armuchee 9/16 West Hall 10/07 At Banks County 10/14 Providence Christian 10/21 East Jackson 10/28 At Athens Academy 11/03 Fellowship Christian
