>>> WE WILL WATCH FOR A LOT FROM THIS GUY.

HE IS A WEAPON ON OFFENSE.

WE ARE GOING TO CALL HIS NAME QUITE A BIT TODAY.

HE IS SOMEBODY THAT YOU WANT TO HEAR ABOUT HERE.

>>> LOSING LATE IN THE PLAYOFFS, FINALLY THIRD TIME IS THE CHARM WITH THIS GROUP GETTING TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND.

HOW ABOUT FOR THOMASVILLE, THEIR BIG OFFENSIVE STAR.

>> BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE HAVE SEEN THEM PLAY IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

IT STARTS WITH THEM, THEY HAVE A RUNNING BACK TOO.

THEY CAN GET IT DONE.

>> MALIK HARPER.

YOU MAY HEAR HIS NAME CALLED, 22 TOUCHDOWNS AND HE IS NIFTY OUT OF THE BACKFIELD.

YOU WANT TO WATCH FOR NUMBER TWO.

>> GOT THE PRESCRIPTIONS GLASSES LIKE A CHUCK MUNCY LOOK FOR YOU OLD TIMERS.

MEANWHILE ON DEFENSE.

>> TYE ANDERSON, EVERY COACH WANTS A GUY LIKE THIS.

COACH, WHAT DO YOU WANT?

TACKLES?

TACKLES FOR LOSS?

SACKS.

HE DOES IT ALL ON DEFENSE.

WE ARE READY TO GO.

>> 13-1 NOR THE BULLDOGS.

KEYS TO THE GAME.

WHAT ARE THE TWO TEAMS -- >> WE WILL START WITH THE KEYS.

PURPLE HURRICANES RUN THE FOOTBALL.

THEY DON'T THROW IT.

THEY RUN IT.

RUN, RUN, AND DEFENSIVE SIDE, BRING PRESSURE.

PUT PRESSURE ON SHANNON WHITE AND GET THEM TO FORCE MISCUES.

FOR THOMASVILLE, BALANCED ATTACK, THEY RUN AND THROW, BOTH.

LET'S SEE HOW THEY MAINTAIN A BALANCED ATTACK.

AND ON DEFENSE, THEY WANT TO LIMIT THE RUSHING YARDS AND MAKE FITZGERALD THROW.

LET'S SEE IF THEY CAN DO IT.

>> THE THIRD MEMBER OF OUR TEAM IS WILEY BALLARD ON THE SIDELINE.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, LARRY AND YOU MENTIONED IT OFF THE TOP.

THE TWO TEAMS ARE IN THE SAME REGION.

REGION I, AA, THEY HAVE HAD 13 SEMIFINAL APPEARANCES.

UP UNTIL LAST NIGHT.

NO TEAM IN REGION I-AA HAS WON A CHAMPIONSHIP.

BROOKS COUNTY SNAPPED THEIR DROUGHT LAST NIGHT.

FIRST TITLE SINCE 1994 AND THE QUESTION TODAY IS WILL IT BE THOMASVILLE SNAPPING A STREAK FROM 1988 OR FITZGERALD, FOR OVER 70 YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING.

>> GOOD TO SEE THE RAIN HAS SUB BE SIDED.

ON THE CAMPUS, THOMASVILLE WON THE TOSS AND DEFERRED SO THEY WILL KICK OFF AND HERE WE GO.

THE OPENING KICKOFF BROUGHT TO YOU BY BUCKLE UP, GEORGIA.

THE KICK IS ON THE GROUND.

UP IN THE HANDS AND NOW, OFF AND RUNNING.

FITZGERALD, ON THE RETURN.

IT'S JAYDEN STANLEY FORFEITS -- STANLEY, FOR FITZGERALD.

>> RUNNING THE BALL AND RUNNING THE OFFENSE, HE DOES IT VERY VERY WELL, WATCH THEM GO TO NUMBER SEVEN RIGHT AWAY.

>> POINT CORRECTION ON THE RETURN.

IT WAS ACTUALLY, JOSEPH OF ON THE RETURN.

PHILIP DEREK, COOPER, YOU SEE HIS NUMBERS.

JUSTICE, JR. AND WE ARE SEEING THE RUN GAME, RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

WHEN A SPINNING MOVE TO GET EXTRA YARDS.

GREAT MOVE ON THE RUN.

FOR FITZGERALD BY LITZIE, GET BACK IN THE GAME WITH REGIONS BANK.

SIMMONS A SOPHOMORE, 310 POUNDS AND YOU SEE THE SKILL POSITIONS.

TRICKERATION, THOMAS A VILLE DEFENSE WAS NOT STOPPED AT ALL.

>> STARTING LINEUP.

WE LOOK AT THE DEFENSE.

THE 230 POUND SENIOR OVER ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

HAYES, ANDERSON P STEPHENS AND MARIBELL, AND IN THE BACKFIELD, RANDLE WILLIAMS, WIN, AND BOWDRY, 165 POUND 6 FOOT SENIOR.

>> THEY GET AFTER IT.

>> THEY DO.

>> NO GAIN ON THE LAST PLAY.

SO THEY WILL TAKE IT FOR A FIRST DOWN AND MORE.

PUSHED OUT OF BOUNDS.

AND NEEDED FIVE YARDS AND GOT MORE THAN THAT.

>> HE IS THE GUY THAT MAKE APPROXIMATES THING -- THAT MAKES THINGS GO.

HE HAS BLOCKERS.

FOLLOW THEM, CUT TO THE OUTSIDE.

GET AROUND THE EDGE.

THOMASVILLE WILL WATCH FOR IT TODAY.

>> 25 YARD PICK UP ON THE FIRST CARRY AND HE IS PUMPED UP OVER THERE ON THE SIDELINE.

RANDLE ON THE STOP FOR THE BULLDOGS.

SO, FIRST AND TEN, THEY LINE UP, FIRST TIME IN THOMASVILLE TERRITORY.

RIGHT SIDE, STILL ON IT.

EIGHT YARD PICK UP.

AND HE WILL PLAY IT AGAIN.

>> 23, DAVIS, MAKES THE NICE BLOCK.

WATCH FOR 23.

RIGHT HERE, MAKES THE BLOCK.

THAT HELPS TO BRING HIM, PICKS UP, MAKES IT LOOSE.

SEE HOW THE PURPLE HURRICANE LIKES TO MOVE IT.

>> HE IS A LOAD, YOU WILL NOT BRING HIM DOWN, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN.

YOU HAVE TO TRY AND BRING HIM DOWN.

GOODWIN, TWO CARRIES, 33 YARDS.

OPENING MINUTE, CLASS 2-A CHAMPIONSHIP.

SNAP, TO GOOD WIN, AB A COUPLE OF YARDS AND A APPEARS ON THE FIRST DOWN, MOVING THE CHAINS FOR THE PURPLE HURRICANES.

>> GET THAT TO GET WHAT YOU NEED, KEEP YOUR OFFENSE ON THE FIELD AND KEEP THOMASVILLE'S OFFENSE ON THE SIDELINES.

GOING TO CONTROL THE CLOCK HERE TO START THE GAME.

>> WE TALK ABOUT THEY MET BACK IN WEEK NINE AND FITZGERALD, COACH WAS SAYING THEY HAD A CHANCE TO WIN AT THE END AND DID NOT GET IT DONE AND WERE PLAYING BETTER OFFENSIVE FOOTBALL IN THE PLAYOFFS.

THAT WAS A GOOD DRIVE FOR THEM ON THE OPENING DRIVE.

>> COOPER UNDER CENTER ON FIRST DOWN.

ANOTHER RUN, GOING THE OTHER WAY.

THAT'S JACORIAN, THE SENIOR.

6 FOOT, 220.

AND GOOD GAME THERE.

YOU MENTION THE RUNNING PLAYS.

THEY WILL RUN.

THEY PASS LESS THAN TEN TIMES A GAME.

>> YEAH.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO BRING AT YOU.

A LOT OF DIFFERENT LOOKS.

MAKE THEM STOP FOR THOMASVILLE.

FOUR YARD PICK UP.

SECOND AND SIX.

SNAP, AGAIN.

GOOD SECOND AND THIRD EFFORT THERE, FINALLY A HOST OF BULLDOGS, BRINGING THEM DOWN.

EJ LIGHTFEET.

TALKED ABOUT HIM.

DIRECT SNAP.

>> GOOD LOOK AT HIM.

FIFTH SEASON, 47 WINS.

TALKING ABOUT JUST THE TEAM TOGETHER.

WHAT A GREAT FOOTBALL COMMUNITY THAT IS DOWN THERE AND WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT COACH AND HIS RESUME AS WE GET HERE IN THE GAME.

CURRENT THREE RIGHT NOW, DIRECT SNAP TO GOODWIN, HE HAS CLOSE TO A THIRD DOWN AND STOP THERE AND WHAT A GREAT EFFORT ON THE DEFENSE.

AND JIMMY FOUNDRY MADE THAT STOP AND FOURTH DOWN AND A DECISION NOW FOR COACH PRUITT.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, ZACH GAUGE.

6th SEASON NOW, THOMASVILLE AND HE WAS SAYING, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING.

AS YOU SAID, HAVE NOT GOT 10 TO THIS POINT, HE WAS FULFILLED AND HE BROKE THROUGH AND MADE A TRIP TO ATLANTA.

>> HE IS A BASEBALL GUY.

AND LOOKING IN THAT.

>> FOURTH AND ONE.

FITZGERALD, ADVISED TO GO FOR IT.

DIRECT SNAP AND HE HAS IT AND MORE.

GOOD JOB ON THE DEFENSE TO BRING HIM DOWN.

NUMBER TWO, TY ANDERSON, TALKING ABOUT HIM QUITE A BIT AND FIRST DOWN FOR FITZGERALD.

>> FITZGERALD IS SHOWING YOU HOW THEY DO IT.

THEY ARE METHODICAL IN THE FIRST SERIES THE WAY THEY HAVE GONE DOWN THE FIELD.

GOODWIN GETTING A BREATHER.

>> HE IS DESERVING IT.

HE GETS THE DRIVE.

WE ARE ALMOST HALF WAY THROUGH THE FIRST QUARTER AND WE GET TO SEE HIM.

LONG DRIVE, SO FAR.

IT'S A SUCCESS AND THEY MAKE IT COUNT?

GOING UP TOP FOR A RARE PASS AND THE END ZONE, A LOT OF ACTIVITY BETWEEN RECEIVER AND DEFENSIVE BACK.

TRYING TO HIT HAWK.

BUT NO FLAG, INCOMPLETE.

>> I GOT EXCITED, MAN, IT WAS UP TO THE PASS.

YOU KNOW HOW OFTEN IT HAPPENS?

>> WHOA!

>> I'M BACK HERE.

>> SOME CONFIDENCE AND YOU KNOW?

THE WAY THEY RUN THE BALL AND FRY TO SURPRISE THE SECONDARY OF THOMASVILLE.

>> ALL RIGHT, NOW, A RARE STOPPAGE OF THE CLOCK.

DIRECT SNAP TO GOODWIN AGAIN.

>> UH OH.

>> LOOK AT THAT, LOOK AT ALL THE RED SHIRTS AROUND THE BALL.

GOODWIN NOT MUCH ON THAT CARRY.

SO, BRINGS UP THIRD AND LONG.

>> 13, CANE STEPHENS, AMONG THOSE THAT WENT TO THE BALL TO GET A STOP.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE TOUGH AND GET TO THE POINTS AND MAKE YOU EARN IT.

>> TENTH PLAY OF THE DRIVE COMING UP FOR FITZGERALD.

FIRST OF THREE GAMES TODAY FROM CENTER PARK STADIUM IN DOWNTOWN ATLANTA.

GOOD LOOK AT THE THOMASVILLE CHEER LEADERS TRYING TO URGE ON THEIR DEFENSE.

ANOTHER PASS A, UNDER CENTER, COMPLETE, AND HE GOT A FIRST DOWN AND DID HE STAY IN BOUNDS?

NO.

OUT OF BOUNDS AT THE TWO.

WHAT AN EFFORT.

TEN YARDS ON THE MICK UP.

>> WHAT A TIME TO DIAL UP THE PLAY.

RIGHT?

>> AND CAME OUT OF THE BACKFIELD, MAKES THE CATCH.

FRIES TO TIP TOE IN THE END ZONE, NOT QUITE.

AUTO GREAT TIME TO MAKE CALL.

THE DEFENSE GOING ONE WAY AND GETS THE COMPLETION AND TRIES TO STAY IN BOUNDS.

GOES OUT RIGHT THERE.

>> CLOSE.

?

NO REPLAY IN GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

TRYING PUNCH IT IN.

DIRECT SNAP.

TRYING TO FIND THE HOLE, HE GOES AROUND, TOUCHDOWN.

PURPLE HURRICANES IN THE OPENER DRIVE DOWN ON THE SCORE.

>>> WHEN HE NEED A PLAY MADE, YOU GO TO YOUR PLAY MAKERS AND LITZIE DOING THAT.

A COUPLE OF CARRIES.

THAT BRINGS UP THE EXTRA POINT ATTEMPT.

KICK IS UP AND GOOD.

6:21 OFF THE CLOCK.

>> THAT IS SOMETHING, ISN'T IT?

THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU COME IN THE GAME.

I CANNOT THINK OF SCRIPTING A BETTER START OFFENSIVELY.

BUT FORFEITS GERALD, AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IN THE GAME.

THEY HAVE DONE PRETTY MUCH WHATEVER THEY WANTED TO DO.

THEY HAD THE ONE COMPLETION ON THE FIRST INCOMPLETION OF THE FIRST PASS ATTEMPT.

EVERYTHING HAS GONE THEIR WAY.

GREAT EXECUTION.

AND THEY COME AWAY WITH THE FIRST POINTS OF THE GAME.

>> AND MICHAEL MARTINEZ WITH THE EXTRA POINT.

KICKED THE GAME WINNING FIELD GOAL AGAINST IRWIN COUNTY.

6:00 OFF THE CLOCK AND THE CLOSING OUT.

AND FITZGERALD DRAWING FIRST BLOOD.

THOMAS HILL'S OFFENSE ABOUT TO COME UP.

>> I WANT SEE ABOUT THE GAME.

WE SAW A TRACK MEET LAST NIGHT.

I WAS NOT EXPECTING MANY POINTS.

LAST SEASON, IT WAS 15-8 WHEN THOMASVILLE WON THE GAME.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FROM THE SAME AREA.

OVERCAST DAY.

MOISTURE COMING DOWN.

A LOW SCORING GAME.

I COULD BE WRONG.

>> SO FAR, YOU ARE RIGHT.

>> TRAYHILL ON THE KICK.

THOMASVILLE.

ON THE RETURN.

MALIK HARPER.

GOOD RETURN.

>> BY THE WAY, ON THE DRIVE.

LITZIE THREE CARRIES AND NOT TWO.

AND GOOD WIN ON THE DRIVE.

SEVEN CARRIES AND 50 YARDS.

WHAT A START FOR HIM.

>> WHAT A START, HE IS A WORKHORSE.

WE THOUGHT IT FROM THE BEGINNING.

WE SHOWED YOU WHY IN THE FIRST SERIES.

WE WILL SHOW YOU WHAT THOMASVILLE WILL DO ON OFFENSE.

AND THE QUARTERBACK, SHANNON WHITE.

AND MALIK HARPER JUST RAN THE KICK RETURN.

WE TALKED ABOUT I AM FROM THE TOP.

THERE'S THE NUMBERS ON WHITE.

>> YOU SEE THE DUEL THREAT, 465 ON THE GROUND.

HARPER, NUMBER TWO NEXT TO HIM IN THE BACKFIELD.

FIRST AND TEN FROM THEIR OWN 33.

WHITE WILL KEEP IT HIMSELF AND FITZGERALD DEFENSE COMING UP STRONG.

AND LET'S LOOK AT THE STARTERS THAT ARE PRESENTED BY REGENT BANK.

LET'S LOOK AT THE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN.

ANDERSON, THAT'S A KEY, AND SHAW, THURMON AND WILLIAMS.

SECOND DOWN NOW, NOT MUCH GOING ON AND NOT MUCH MORE ON SECOND.

THIRD AND LONG.

THAT WAS HARPER ON THE CARRY AND WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE DEFENSE FOR FITZGERALD.

BACK IN THE GAME.

JAMES HILL AND CURRY THE SENIOR.

LINEBACKERS NOR THE PURPLE HURRICANE.

DREWMORE, BROWN, AND STANLEY.

IN THE BACK FIELD, BROWN, AND JOSEPH.

THIRD AND EIGHT.

WHITE.

EVERYONE COVERING.

ALMOST RUN.

AND HE IS BROUGHT DOW WHO ELSE?

LITZIE, THAT WILL BRING OUT THE PUNT TEAM FOR THE BULLDOGS.

?

LITZIE, YOU KNOW WHAT?

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

YOU NEED ME ON THE OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE SIDE?

AND HERE HE IS.

GOING STRAIGHT FOR SHANNON WHITE, WILL LIMIT HIS PROGRESS.

GET THE SOLO STOP RIGHT THERE.

>> AND JUST SLAMMED HIS FACE IN THE GROUND ON THE TACKLE.

>> GREAT JOB BY THE THOMASVILLE OFFENSIVE LINE.

HE HAD ALL KINDS OF TIME.

THE FITZGERALD DEFENSIVE BACKS WERE EQUAL TO THE TASK.

>> FOURTH AND FOUR.

GOOD LOOK THERE AT A.J.

LITZIE AND A PUNT TEAM COMING ON.

HE IS A SENIOR.

KICKS AWAY.

TAKES A FITZGERALD BOUNCE AND DOWN THERE AT ABOUT THE 21 YARD LINE.

EACH OFFENSE HAS HAD A SHOT AT IT, FITZGERALD WITH THE OPENING ROUND.

CLASS 2-A CHAMPIONSHIP LIVE ON THE GPB, BACK WITH MORE AFTER THIS.

>>> THEY LOOKED AROUND AND THEY SAID, HE MOVES AROUND.

REALLY GETTING UTILIZED IN THE LINE BACKING CORE ON.

>> WHAT A GREAT STORY.

HE IS A PLAYER THAT YOU CAN PUT ANYWHERE AND HE WILL DO SOMETHING FOR YOU.

>> ON DAY LIKE TODAY, YOU NEED THOSE GUYS TO COME IN.

>> 23 FIRST DOWNS.

GOODMAN WITH THE CARRY.

TRIES TO BE RIGHT SIDE, AND THE BULLDOGS SNUFF IT OUT AFTER A GAIN OF ONE.

SECOND DOWN.

>> BOY, HE HAS BEEN BUSY, IT'S HIS EIGHTH CARRY IN THE EARLY GOING.

>> I WANT.

HE IS READY AND HE HAS BEEN WORKING FOR THIS DAY.

WE TALK ABOUT THE OFF-SEASON AND THE CONDITIONING.

THE WEIGHT ROOM, THE FILM ROOM, SPRING BALL.

BACK TO HAVING SUMMER WORK WORKOUTS, COULD NOT HAVE THOSE LAST YEAR AND NOW, IT CULMINATES TO TODAY.

>> SECOND DOWN, LEFT INSIDE.

LOOK LIKES A SCRUM, THAT WAS HARD TO BRING DOWN.

>> BY THE TIME THEY FINALLY BROUGHT HIM DOWN.

>> THEY DON'T LIKE TO THROW THE BALL TOO.

WE SAW THEM THROW IT TWICE IN THE GAME.

SEE WHAT HAPPENS HERE.

>> THIRD AND SIX, DIRECT SNAP A LOT OF ROOM OUT LEFT, FIRST DOWN AND MORE.

OUT OF BOUNDS AT THE 46 YARD LINE.

YOU NEED SOMETHING TO HAPPEN, GIVE IT TO GOODWIN.

>> WHEN IN DOUBT.

YOU NOD GOES TO -- HE IS NOT GOING GET TIRED TODAY.

>> A WELL DESERVED BREAK ON THE SIDELINES FOR DENORRIS GOODWIN.

UP 7-0 ON THE OPENING DRIVE.

TRYING TO GET MORE ON THE SECOND SHOT ON OFFENSE.

DIRECT SNAP.

GOOD BLOCKING.

HE FINDS A HOLE.

SEVEN YARD GAIN THERE AND ENDS IN THOMASVILLE TERRITORY, AND REMEMBER THE TWO TEAMS JUST PLAYED IN WEEK NINE.

REGION COMPETITORS AND GERALD IS DIALING UP ALL THE RIGHT NUMBERS.

>> THEY WAIT FOR THE HOLD OVER.

HE MOVES FORWARD WITH THE RIGHT GAIN.

>> SEVEN YARD PICK UP THERE, AND THE CLOCK KEEPS ROLLING.

THEY DON'T PASS IT OFTEN.

IT'S BEEN A QUICK FIRST QUARTER HERE AT GEORGIA STATE.

GOODWIN BACK IN THE GAME.

DIRECT SNAP AND GIVES THEM ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO GET AWAY FROM THE FIRST INITIAL TACKLER TO GET ACROSS THE LINE.

ANOTHER FIRST DOWN.

PURPLE HURRICANES.

>> WE HAVE 1:13 TO GO IN THE QUARTER.

THINGS MOVE, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT WENT TO THE STADIUM TO WATCH BASEBALL BACK IN THE DAY.

IT'S LIKE GREG MADDUX.

>> IT'S A GREAT COMPARISON.

YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> MAD DOG.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

FIRST DOWN ALREADY.

THEY ARE ON THE FIELD FOR JUST ABOUT A MINUTE HERE IN THE FIRST QUARTER.

NOT MUCH AT ALL.

FIRST AND TEN, DIRECT SNAP TO LITZIE IN THE GAME.

PICK UP OF A FEW YARDS.

SECOND DOWN, FOR THE FITZGERALD OFFENSE.

>> THAT'S HOW THEY HAVE BEEN GOING.

EITHER IT'S BEEN LITZIE OR GOODWIN AND NOW, LITZIE WILL TAKE A BREATHER.

GETTING A CHANCE TO GET BACK.

WHAT A GREAT FOOTBALL COMMUNITY.

SECOND AND SIX.

STILL ON HIS FEET.

HE HAS A FIRST DOWN.

WITH THE FINAL PLAY OF THE FIRST QUARTER.

FITZGERALD, AND THE PURPLE HURRICANES EVERYTHING WORKING SO FAR.

>> EVERYTHING.

>> THIS PLAY, JUST GRAB ON AND SEE IF YOU CAN GET HIM TO FALL.

>> Referee: END OF THE FIRST QUARTER.

>> PURPLE HURRICANES GOT IT GOING THEIR WAY.

>> 12:00 IN THE BOOKS.

AND ALL FITZGERALD SO FAR.

SCORING AND RUNNING TO ANOTHER, PURPLE HURRICANES GOING THEIR WAY TO THE EARLY LEAD, SECOND QUARTER ACTION COMING UP IN A MOMENT HERE ON GPB.

>>> RIGHT BACK HERE FOR THE SECOND ACCOUNT QUARTER.

WE BEGIN SECOND QUARTER PLAY HERE FOR FITZGERALD AND THE THOMASVILLE GAME.

?

THE AREA OF A FOOTBALL FIELD, THERE CAN BE A MILLION TERMITES.

MORE AT GPB.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THE MISTAKES THAT WERE MADE AND TO CLEAN IT UP IN THE WHOLE FIRST QUARTER.

ONE INCOMPLETION, NO PENALTIES, TURNOVERS.

>> GREAT POINT.

>> ON THE CARRY TO START THE SECOND QUARTER AND HOW ABOUT THE DEFENSE BY THE BULLDOGS.

>> AND WHILE WE WERE AWAY ON THE FIRST DOWN RUN JUST A MOMENT AGO BEFORE THE BREAK, AND SO, THEY STARTED FIRST AND 15 AND THE STOP RIGHT THERE.

GREAT DEFENSE I WAS PLAY THERE BY JaMYCHAL JONES.

>> THIS IS A GREAT DEFENSE, ESPECIALLY UP FRONT.

>> THE 9TH PLAY OF THE DRIVE COMING UP RIGHT HERE.

SECOND DOWN.

E.J.

LITZIE WITH THE CARRY SECOND SIDE.

HE GETS UP A HEAD OF STEAM IN A HURRY.

GOOD PICK UP THERE, SECOND DOWN.

>> YOU DON'T GET MUCH DROP OFF.

IT'S GOODWIN, YOU GET THE SAME TYPE THINGS HARD RUNNING.

DETERMINED RUN ARE.

SPEED TO GET ON THE EDGE.

>> INSIDE LINEBACKER ON THE STOP AFTER THE GAIN OF ABOUT EIGHT.

LITZIE, YOU SEE HIS RECEIVING NUMBERS ON THE YEAR.

GOODWIN BACK IN THE GAME.

HE FUMBLED THE BALL.

NOT PICKED UP BY QUITE ENOUGH FOR FITZGERALD.

THAT WAS WILLIAMS ON THE PICK UP.

RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

>> SOMETIMES IT BOUNCES YOUR WAY AND CERTAINLY DID RIGHT THERE.

ONE MORE LOOK AT IT.

GREAT JOB, THE SENIOR, POPPED THE BALL OUT.

FOURTH AND TWO.

FITZGERALD WENT FOR IT.

FOURTH AND TWO.

TRYING PICK UP THE TWO YARDS AND HE DOES.

FITZGERALD, FOURTH AND TWO ON FOURTH DOWN ATTEMPTS ALREADY.

>> THAT IS GREAT.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD A SHOT AT HIM.

AND CAN'T GET HIM DOWN, ALLOWS HIM TO GETTY THE FIRST DOWN.

>> WHAT A DISPLAY OF A RUSHING OFFENSE HERE EARLY ON BY THIS FITZGERALD, PURPLE HURRICANES OFFENSIVE UNIT.

>> THEY DON'T PUT IT IN THE AIR VERY MUCH AND THEY KIND OF DON'T NEED TO IF THEY GO OUT AND DO IT EVERY NIGHT.

>> GOOD LOOK AGAIN AT LITZIE.

FIRST DOWN, DEFENDER, BOUNCES UP AND BRINGS UP SECOND DOWN FOR FITZGERALD.

>> XAVIER WALKER, NUMBER 50, TAPPED HIM ON HIS HELMET, SORRY, MAN, EXCUSE ME.

HIT THE BACK OF HIS OWN MAN.

>> AND THE QUARTERBACK COMING BACK.

THE COACH TALKED ABOUT THE LOSS.

THEY WERE SHUTOUT AND WENT OUT AND MADE CHANGES IN THEIR APPROACH.

THEIR PERSONNEL.

BACKED UP.

AND A LOSS, THOMAS VILLE, SECOND DOWN AND OUT TO, AND ONE AGAIN, NEVER SEEN THAT, JUST CONSISTENTLY EVER SINGLE TIME, TRYING TO BRING THE GUY DOWN ON.

>> YOU ARE WATCHING LITZIE AND GOODWIN, HE SAID WHEN I HAVE A CHANCE, I'M RUNNING IT HARD.

LOOK, I WANT TO CARRY MORE.

HE TOUCHES THE BALL TODAY AND HE WILL NOT BE DENIED.

THEY TRIED TO PICK UP A LEG AND HE IS STILL RUNNING THE FOOTBALL.

THAT'S WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU WATCH YOUR TEAM DOING GREAT THINGS AND YOU HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO TOUCH THE BALL YET.

HE IS CLOSE -- IT'S A TOUCHDOWN.

TO YOUR POINT AGAIN.

GOODWIN HIT THE THREE YARD LINE AND KEPT HIS LEGS PUSHING AND FOUND HIS WAY IN FOR THE SIX YARD TOUCHDOWN AND FITZGERALD STRIKING PAY DIRT AGAIN.

>> THAT'S THE GUY THAT HAS BEEN CARRYING THE BALL AND THE FREIGHT SO FAR IN THE GAME.

HE GETS CALLED ON TO FINISH THE DRIVE.

WATCH THE SURGE, PUSH UP FRONT, HE GETS A DRIVE OFF OF ONE.

ANOTHER RED JERSEY.

ANOTHER RED JERSEY.

HE LEANS IN AND GETS A TOUCHDOWN.

>> EXTRA POINT IS UP AND GOOD.

14-0 FITZGERALD.

MARTINEZ ON THE KICK.

A GOOD LOOK AT GOODWIN.

WHATEVER IT'S BEEN HERE FOR THE PURPLE HURRICANES THEY CAME UP SECOND IN THE REGULAR SEASON TO THOMASVILLE, THEY HAVE BEEN OUT IN FRONT IN THIS.

DENORRIS GOODWIN, GETTING IT DONE FOR THE PURPLE HURRICANES.

>>> CIGNA IS A PROUD PARTNER OF GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

LEARN HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT YOUR PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.

FITZGERALD, ON TOP.

RESPECT IS MORE THAN A WORD.

QUALIFY FOR MORE AT GO ARMY.COM/BONUS, OR 800-USA-ARMY.

PAID FOR BY THE U.S. ARMY.

THEY TOOK 6:21 OFF THE CLOCK IN THE FIRST DRIVE.

>> THERE'S DENORRIS, GETTING A LOOK AT HIM.

HEY, GET READY.

JUST GETTING STARTED.

PULL ED IN ON 100 YARDS ALREADY.

TRAHO, IN FOR THE KICK.

THE TWO KICKERS ARE BROTHERS HERE.

GOOD RETURN THERE.

MALIK HARPER FOR THOMASVILLE, AND LET'S SEE WHAT THE BULLDOGS HAVE GOT GOING.

BACK.

THE SAINTS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> REALLY GATHER OURSELVES.

>> A LOT OF THE AUDIENCE HAS NO IDEA WHAT WE ARE TALKING B THEY ARE SCRAMBLING AROUND ON THE INTERNET.

>> LET'S GO GOOGLE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> DICKERSON, AS WELL.

>> YEAH.

>> PONY EXPRESS, THAT'S THE NEW NFL, HALL OF FAME.

>> AND A FLAG.

THEY THINK THEY ARE GOING TO GET MOVEMENT ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE.

AND THE OFFICIALS, YOUR REFEREE, THERE'S THE REST OF THE GENTLEMEN WORKING WITH HERE.

WE AGAIN, TALK ABOUT HOW WE TALK SO MUCH ABOUT HOW THERE'S A SCARCITY OF REFS, WE APPRECIATE WHAT THESE MEN DO EVERY WEEKEND.

SALUTE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> FIRST AND 15.

HAND OFF TO RICKY FOLTON FOR A FEW POSITIVE YARDS.

A PLAY FROM SCRIMMAGE.

AND THE 8:00 MINUTE MARK IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

>> IF HE HAD A GREAT DAY TODAY, HE COULD GO OVER A THOUSAND YARDS.

CLOSE, 900.

>> COACH WAS WELCOMING THAT.

GOT ANOTHER WHISTLE.

TIME OUT, FITZGERALD.

>> Referee: TIME-OUT, FITZGERALD.

FIRST CHARGED TIME-OUT OF THE HALF.

>> IT'S THEIR FIRST AS WAS MENTIONED, BRINGING IN THE THOMASVILLE BULLDOGS TO THE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

THE FIRST APPEARANCE SINCE 1993.

GREAT FOOTBALL HISTORY FOR THEM.

FIVE TIMES AS A STATE CHAMPION.

AND LAST IN 1988.

FITZGERALD OVER IN THOMAS VILLE.

YOU KNOW, YOU GO BACK AND WE WERE TALKING BEFORE ABOUT THE HISTORY.

WILLIAM ANDREWS.

>> ANDREWS, WAS ON, HAVING A TREMENDOUS CAREER AT AUBURN AND PLAYED PROFESSIONALLY HERE.

THE ATLANTA FALCONS WILL HAVE THE GREAT TRADITION OUT OF THOMAS VILLE.

AND ANOTHER GUY, YOU GO UP, AND A FEW TIMES THEY HAVE GOT A STATE MING TIRE.

PLAYED ON THE 49ers TEAMS.

GREAT, GREAT PLAYERS.

GOING TO BE PART OF THE TRADITION HERE AT THOMASVILLE.

>> GOING TO HANDLE THE 49ers STYLE UNIFORMS.

>> HOW ABOUT THAT, HUH?

>> THEY DO HAVE THAT LOOK.

>> LET'S CHECK IN WITH WALLY FOR MORE ON THE THOMASVILLE BULLDOGS.

>> TALKING ABOUT THOMASVILLE, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY.

THEIR MOTTO IS EVERY DAY, GOING 1-0, IT GOES BEYOND WINNING FRIDAY NIGHT.

IT'S BRUSHING YOUR TEETH AND TAKING TESTS AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

THEY TRY TO CONTINUE THAT TRADITION A.

>> ALMOST A CATCH THERE.

GREAT EFFORT, COULD NOT BRING IT IN.

THIRD AND NINE.

THOMASVILLE, LOOKING FOR THE FIRST, FIRST OF THE GAME.

UNDER PRESSURE AND BROUGHT DOWN.

DANIEAL JAMES.

ON THE SACK OF SHANNON WHITE AND THIS THOMAS VILLE OFFENSE HAS HAD NO ANSWERS SO FAR IN THE GAME.

>> GOT IT ALL, THEY CAN THROW THE BALL SOME.

AND THEY COME AROUND THE EDGE, WON'T BE DENIED.

I'M GOING TO GET YOU.

WATCH OUT, NUMBER SIX >> I WANT THINK HE IS AROUND AND SURPRISED THAT HE IS UNINCUMBERED, HE SAID, LET'S GET BACK AND GET THE GUY.

>> GREAT PLAY, GREAT PLAY.

>> >> YOU HAVE 42 FROM ANDERSON.

IT'S THE GUYS THAT WERE THERE FIRST.

>> COOPER.

AND THE CARRY FOR A FIRST DOWN.

>> WILCOX BACK WITH THE FOOTBALL AGAIN, BACK IN THE GAME.

COACH LIKED WHAT HE DID WHEN HE TOUCHED IT LAST TIME.

GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE, COACH, I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING GOOD, I PROMISE YOU.

>> HE IS QUICK, FINDS A HOLE.

LOOK AT THE FIRST DOWN.

WOW.

JUST, WOW.

ONCE AGAIN, THESE TWO OUT OF THE SAME REGION, THOMASVILLE GOT THE WIN IN THE SEASON, AND FITZGERALD GETTING IT DONE HERE.

AGAIN, THE SECOND EFFORT, TO GET THE FIRST THE DOWN.

>> THE PATIENCE, JUST WAIT, JUST WAIT, JUST WAIT, WAIT FOR THE HOLE TO MATERIALIZE, AM I GOING TO GO LEFT OR RIGHT?

IT OPENS TO THE RIGHT.

NICE GAIN.

>> ACTUALLY, HE STEPPED IN AND PLAYED QUARTERBACK AFTER AN INJURY DURING THE SEASON.

IN FACT, THE COACH SAID THEY WENT 4-1 WITH GOODWIN AT QUARTERBACK.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE KIND OF WAYS, THE PROBLEM HE WOULD POSE.

SECOND AND FOUR NOW.

GETTING CLOSE TO MIDFIELD.

FIRST OF THREE GAMES TODAY.

THIS TIME, THE THOMASVILLE DEFENSE, DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB TO HOLD LITZIE TO NO GAIN, AND THIRD DOWN.

>> GOT AHOLD OF THEM AND WOULD NOT ON LET GO.

BROUGHT THEM DOWN.

WATCH FOR FIVE IN ARE RED.

RIGHT UP THERE.

FINISHES THE PLAY.

>> GREAT JOB, NOT TO HIT HIM.

BUT TO STAY WITH IT AS YOU MENTIONED.

MAKE SURE YOU FINISH OUT.

THIS IS A TEAM THAT WAS EXPERIENCED ON DEFENSE.

FIVE TO PLAY COLLEGE BALL AND THEY SAID TEN OF THE 11 ON DEFENSE HAD MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE FROM LAST YEAR.

FIRST -- FIRST DOWN IN TO THOMASVILLE TERRITORY.

ANOTHER FIRST DOWN, THE 11th ALREADY FOR FITZGERALD.

SOME.

>> HOLDING OFF, THEY WERE TRYING TO GET THEM TO COME DOWN.

WATCH THE 23, HE GAPS HIM AND LOOKS AT HOW MANY YARDS THAT GOES FORWARD WITH HIM.

THAT IS DETERMINATION FROM WILLOX >> IT'S A SEVEN YARD PICK UP AFTER HE GRABBED HIM.

>> LOOK AT WILLOX, HE GETS A BREATHER.

THOMASVILLE, 14-0, GOING FOR MORE.

COOPER WITH THE HANDOFF A.

ONCE AGAIN, THE YARDS AFTER CONTACT.

HUGE FOR GOODWIN AND HE IS OVER 90 YARDS ON HIS 15TH CARRY.

AND CLOSE TO 100 HERE.

>> 93 SAID, NO, NO YOU STAY IN THE GAME.

IT'S LIKE, WHEN YOU HIT HIM, HE FINDS ANOTHER GEAR.

WATCH, WATCH AS HE GETS THE CONTEXT.

OKAY, LET'S GO.

WHAT CONTACT?

HE WILL STILL DRIVE.

>> RA YEAH THAT, IS JUST EFFORT GREAT, FOCUS AGAIN, YOU HAVE THREE RED SHIRTS THERE TO BRING HIM DOWN AS HE DOES JUST NOW, THAT CARRY HITS THE 100 YARD MARK.

16 CARRIES AND 100 YARDS.

>> COOPER THE HAND OFF.

GOOD WIN AGAIN.

SECOND AND ONE.

HE GETS A FIRST DOWN.

>> HE IS HAVING FUN.

BOY, THIS IS SO MUCH FUN OUT HERE.

GOOD TIME.

WHY NOT.

YOU ARE IN A GREAT CHAMPIONSHIP GAME YOU ARE IN DOWNTOWN ATLANTA.

YOU LEAD YOUR TEAM.

LOOK AT THE SMILE.

YOU KIDDING ME?

FITZGERALD LOSING THE CALLOWAY.

22-17 IN LAST YEAR'S CHAMPIONSHIP.

2-A GAME.

AND THEY CAN PLAY THEIR CARDS RIGHT.

MADE THE SECOND HALF.

ALREADY, 14, UNDER 3:00 TO GO.

HANDOFF ON FIRST DOWN AND THIS TIME, THE BULLDOG DEFENSE HOLDS.

TO MIDDLE GAIN.

JONES.

16 TACKLES FOR LOSS.

>> HE HAS A TOUCHDOWN EARLIER.

MOVES THE PILE.

PLAYER THAT HAS LOST HIS HELMET.

MICHAEL, GREEN, THE SENIOR TACKLE.

THIRD DOWN PLAY, THE CLOCK IS STOPPED.

WE WILL SEE IF FITZGERALD CALL CANS A TIME-OUT.

LITZIE COMES OFF.

CLOCK ROLLING AGAIN, NOT SURE WHY 93 STOPPED IT THERE.

?

NOW, WILLOX IN THE GAME.

10TH PLAY OF THE DRIVE, WILCOX FIRST DOWN STILL GOING.

MARKED OUT ABOUT THE 12 AND UNTIL THOMASVILLE, 1:20 TO GO.

TRYING GET IN THE END ZONE ONE MORE TIME BEFORE HALFTIME.

>> AND GREAT RUNNING, INTELLIGENT RUNNING BY WILCOX OFF THE DIRECT SNAP.

THE LEFT SIDE AND FOLLOWS THE BLOCK.

FOLLOW TODAY THE BIG FELLA OUT THERE.

AND 5-0.

XAVIER WALKER, SAYS FOLLOW ME.

>> I GOT YOU.

>> WILCOX, 36 YARDS ON FOUR CARRIES, GOOD ONE, BREAKS THROUGH FROM 12 YARDS OUT.

HIS SECOND SCORE OF THE DAY.

FITZGERALD, GETTING IT DONE AGAIN.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE UNEXPECTED.

FITZGERALD WITH THE 8TH.

IT'S A DIFFERENT GAME TODAY.

ONE TEAM THAT NEVER PLAYED THE FOOTBALL.

BOY, AM I WRONG.

>> THEIR TEAM ON TO THE EXTRA POINT AND JUST LIKE THAT.

IT HAS BEEN A ONE-SIDED GAME ON CENTER PARK STADIUM.

JUST GETTING IT DONE TO ANYTHING THEY WANT ON THE GROUND.

HAD A GREAT OPENING LOOK.

LOOK AT THAT OPENING UP FOR HIM.

AND LOOK AT THAT.

JUST WALK AED IN TO THE END ZONE.

5:47 TAKEN OFF THE CLOCK.

THE FIRST DRIVE IS MORE THAN SIX MINUTES AND SECOND MORE THAN SEVEN MINUTES AND THIS ONE, MORE THAN SIX MINUTES.

>> THEY ARE TAKING THE BALL AND HITTING.

AND TAKING THE BALL AWAY AND SAYING, WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET YOU SEE THE BALL AT ALL.

>> IT'S BEEN SHOCKING WHEN YOU THINK THAT THOMASVILLE HAS A MINUTE LEFT TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING DONE.

AND THEY HAVE YET TO HAVE A FIRST DOWN IN THIS ENTIRE GAME.

>> 38 PLAYS FOR FITZGERALD TO SIX FOR THE BULLDOGS.

>> MAN.

>> TUCKER PRUITT.

FIFTH YEAR AS A HEAD COACH.

BULLDOGS.

ABOUT TO RECEIVE, SEE IF THEY CAN GET SOMETHING GOING.

SWIVEL KICK, SHORT.

HE IS STILL ON HIS FEET.

STILL GOING.

>> HE HAS HAD A ROUGH FIRST HALF.

HE DOES GREAT THINGS ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE AND A HARD TIME FIGURING OUT THE OFFENSIVE ATTACK.

>> FRUSTRATION BY THE BULLDOGS AND UNDERSTANDABLE HERE IN THE 2-A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

THOMASVILLE'S OFFENSE.

THEY HAVE 54 SECONDS BEFORE HALFTIME.

BRINGS DOWN THE OFFENSE.

DOWN 21-0.

FROM THEIR OWN 38, THE SHOTGUN.

WHITE.

PASS IS COMPLETE THERE, NICE MOVE.

AND GREAT DEFENSE BY E.J.

LITZIE.

THURMON ON THE CATCH, HE WENT NOWHERE.

>> NOTHING BECAUSE LITZIE WAS RIGHT THERE, DID NOT ALLOW HIM TOO.

>> Referee: TIME-OUT.

THOMASVILLE.

>> THOMAS VILLE CALLS A TIME-OUT.

41 SECONDS.

THEY HAVE TIME.

SEE WHAT THEY DO.

LOOK AT THE HISTORY.

FIVE-TIME STATE CHAMPIONS.

29 REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS YEAR AND NOT MENTION IN THE QUARTERFINALS OR BETTER.

PLAYED BASEBALL.

>> STILL GREAT.

>> ANOTHER OLYMPIC FACILITY AS THE ONE WE ARE PLAYING IN TODAY.

THIRD AND TEN, THOMASVILLE, WHITE, TIPPED AWAY, GREAT DEFENSE BY WILCOX.

BRINGS UP FOURTH DOWN.

UNLESS THEY GO FOURTH.

THEY WILL GO IN TO HALFTIME WITHOUT A SINGLE FIRST DOWN IN THE FIRST HALF.

WHAT A DOMINANT DEFENSE.

IT'S UNTHINKABLE THAT THEY CAN PLAY A TEAM THAT PLAYED A FEW WEEKS AGO AND HERE THEY ARE, CAN'T GET A FIRST DOWN.

THEY ARE GOING TO KICK IT AWAY HERE TO DO BASICALLY END THE FIRST HALF.

NOT WORK ON.

SAW IT LAST TIME.

SAW THE GREAT FIRST HALF.

THIRD QUARTER.

AND CAME OUT AND PLAYED BALL AND MADE THE GAME.

LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS COMING OUT OF THE LOCKER ROOM.

>> HOW ABOUT TO FITZGERALD, APPROACH ON SPECIAL TEAMS NO KICK RETURNER BACK THERE.

THEY LET THE KICK GO AND LET THOMASVILLE WITH 16 SECONDS TO GO.

TAKE A LOOK AT FITZGERALD.

FOURTH APPEARANCE IN SEVEN YEARS AND STILL LOOKING FOR THE SECOND STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, 1948 WAS THE LAST TIME FOR A PROGRAM, THEY LOVE THEIR FOOTBALL, VERY PROUD.

BACK IN 1908 WHEN THEY STARTED.

>> A LOT OF FOOTBALL.

THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT REALLY, REALLY DID.

AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE BOOSTER CLUBS AND FEEDING THE KIDS AND MAKING SURE THEY DO ALL THE RIGHT THINGS FOR THE KIDS IN THE PROGRAM.

>> AND THOSE ARE ALL PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK OF HOW YOU ARE LIMITED AND HOW WE DO THINGS FOR FOOTBALL GAMES.

PEOPLE WHO MAKE FRIDAY NIGHT GO.

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE YOU TALK ABOUT.

THEY HAVE BEEN ENTRENCHED.

THEY WERE THE PEOPLE SUPPORTING THE PROGRAM.

>> THEY ARE ENJOYING WHAT THEY ARE SEEING SO FAR LARRY.

>> THEIR EFFORTS ARE BEING REWARDED IN THE FIRST 24 MINUTES.

IT'S BEEN ALL FITZGERALD PURPLE HURRICANES.

21-0 AT HALFTIME, IT'S BAN LOPSIDED GAME IN THE CLASS 2-A CHAMPIONSHIP, AND AGAIN, AT THE FIRST OF THREE GAMES.

THREE MORE TOMORROW AS WE ARE THRILLED TO BE A PART OF THIS TELLECAST AND CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK.

A LOT TO TALK ABOUT AND A LOT TO WORK ON HERE FOR THE FINAL 24 MINUTES.

SAM, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE GAME WE DID YESTERDAY, THE CLASS-A PRIVATE TRINITY CHRISTIAN WAS UP 35-7 AT HALFTIME AND LOOKED LIKE THAT WAS BLOW-OUT, BACK CAME PRINCE AVENUE CHRISTIAN.

THREE STRAIGHT TOUCHDOWNS AT THE END OF THE THIRD QUARTER.

>> AND THEY SCORED GOING IN THE LOCKER ROOM.

LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SECOND HALF.

>> 21-0.

FILING IT IN TO THE LOCKER ROOM.

THANKS, AND COACH PRUITT, ON THE SIDELINES.

THREE TOUCHDOWNS.

NO FIRST DOWNS ALLOWED.

HOW DO YOU ASSESS YOUR TEAMáS PERFORMANCE IN THE FIRST TWO QUARTERS?

>> IT'S A GOOD START AND NOTHING MORE UNIMPORTANT THAN HAMP THYME.

THEY HAVE A GOOD FOOTBALL TEAM AND I EXPECT THEM TO COME OUT SWINGING.

>> WHAT IS THE MESSAGE GOING TO BE?

>> THEY HAVE TO PLAY 48 MINUTES.

>> HALF TIME COVERAGE.

>> THANKS, WILEY, FOR COACH PRUITT, FIRST HALF LOOKED PRETTY GOOD.

WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IS AHEAD, THANKS TO OUR GEORGIA EMC SCHEDULE AND WE WILL TRACK DOWN OUR FRIEND AND PAL A, JOHN NELSON AT CENTER PARK STADIUM.

THAT IS ALL COMING UP NEXT.

>>> WELCOME IN TO THE GPB HALFTIME SHOW.

WE ARE HANGING OUT IN THE GPB STUDIO.

IT'S GAME ONE, DAY TWO OF THE 2A TITLE GAME BETWEEN FITZGERALD AND THOMASVILLE, IT'S BEEN NOTHING BUT THE PURPLE HURRICANES LEADING AT THE HALF.

21-0, YESTERDAY, WAS A WONDERFUL DAY OF GAMES.

THAT WAS GAME ONE.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND SEE HOW THAT DAY TURNED OUT THANKS TO OUR GEORGIA EMC SCHEDULE AND SCOREBOARD.

GEORGIA'S EMC, SO MUCH MORE THAN ELECTRICITY.

WE STARTED OUT THURSDAY.

WITH OUR CHAMPIONSHIP.

20-0 OVER PORTAL.

AND WE HAVE HAD DIVISION 2-A GAME.

BIG WIN IN THE TRIPLE OVER TIME, FANTASTIC FINISH SHE AND WE CLOSED OUT THE FLAG FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH DIVISION THREE.

A BIG WINNER AFTER LOSING IN THE FINALS LAST YEAR.

THEN WE MOVED IN TO OUR SINGLE-A PRIVATE GAME, TRINITY, MOVED ON TO THE 14-0, THEY WON THE STATE TITLE, TAKING IT BACK.

AND THEN WE FINISHED OUT THE EVENING LAST NIGHT, SINGLE-A PUBLIC.

THEY BROUGHT THE HAMMER.

THEY ARE GETTING THE TASSEL AND THEY TOOK THE TITLE BACK HOME.

STICK WITH US, WHEN WE COME RIGHT BACK.

WE WILL CHECK IN WITH OUR FRIEND, JOHN NELSON AT CENTER PARK STADIUM.

WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>>> WELCOME BACK IN, WE ARE HANGING OUT IN OUR GPB STUDIO IN ATLANTA.

HOWEVER, OUR FRIEND, JOHN NELSON IS WHERE THE ACTION IS IN CENTER PARK STADIUM.

JOHN, DAY TWO, HOW ARE YOU FEELING, FRIEND?

>> SO FAR, SO GOOD.

GOT TO LAY DOWN FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS AND NOW, TIME TO PUT THE WAR PAINT ON AND READY TO GO.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.

HANNAH, WE MISS YOU AND LOVE YOU AND DO NOT WAIT UNTIL NEXT WEEK.

TIME TO CATCH UP WITH A FRIEND OF OURS.

SHE IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE AUTO COACH APP, YOU SAW IT THAT I HAVE IT DOWNLOADED ON MY PHONE.

YOU KNOW THE AUTO COACH IS A PART OF MY ANDROID.

>> I DID INDEED SEE IT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE APP AND I DOWNLOADED IT AND KNOW A BIT.

FOR THOSE THAT HAVEN'T, WHAT CAN THE AUTO COACH APP DO?

>> IT WAS FUNDED BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND DEVELOPED BY OUR DRIVING SAFETY EXPERTS TO GET US BACK ON THE ROAD AND IT'S AN ENTIRE CONTENT AND CURRICULUM TO KEEP -- >> WHAT IS THE GROWTH OVER ON THE APP.

IT EDUCATES THE PARENTS OF WHAT THE GRADUATES DRIVER'S LICENSE RULES ARE.

THE APP, IN ABOUT 15 SECONDS, LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF THE APP FOR ME AND WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> SOMETHING THAT IS EXCITING ABOUT THE APP, IN 2018, WE ADDED CONTENT FOR PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DISABILITIES, AND FOR PARENTS TO HELP TEACH THEM DRIVE PROPERLY WITH THOSE ISSUES.

WE HAVE SEEN THEM GETTING INDEPENDENCE ON THE ROAD AND HELPS THE PARENTS KEEP THEM SAFE.

>> BACK TO YOU.

>>.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

WE WILL HEAR FROM THE PRINCIPALS OF THOMASVILLE AND FITZGERALD, WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO THE GPB HALFTIME SHOW, LET'S GO AHEAD AND GO BACK TO CENTER PARK STADIUM, WITH JOHN NELSON WHO HAS AN IMPORTANT PURPLE HURRICANE WITH HIM.

JOHN?

>> THAT'S TRUE, IT'S TIME TO CATCH UP WITH THE FITZGERALD SIDE OF THINGS.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> WHAT'S THE WEEK BEEN LIKE GETTING BACK HERE FOR THE LAST GAME OF THE YEAR?

>> IT'S BEEN CRAZY.

WE ACTUALLY STARTED STATE TESTING THIS WEEK.

SO, WE HAD STATE TESTS GOING O WE WERE TRYING TO PREPARE FOR THE GAME.

HAD A COMMUNITY PEP RALLY THURSDAY NIGHT.

TEAM LEFT THURSDAY MORNING.

A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, PARENTS, FANS AND A LOT OF EXCITEMENT IN THE SCHOOL.

>> IT'S THE WAY IT'S BEEN.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORT BACKWARDS, FORWARDS ALL THE WAY THROUGH 24/7 THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE GOT GREAT FANS AND WE TRAVEL WELL TO GAMES.

AS YOU SEE TODAY.

BUT JUST ANYTHING WE HAVE GOING ON AT THE SCHOOL.

WHETHER IT'S FOOTBALL OR ANY OTHER EXTRA CURRICULAR, THEY DO.

WE ARE OPENING A NEW SCHOOL NEXT SEMESTER SO WE ARE GETTING CLOSER TO IRWIN COUNTY.

SO IT MAY INCREASE.

>> EXACTLY, RIGHT ON THE BOARDER AND IT WILL BE AN AWESOME SCHOOL.

OUR KIDS ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

OUR TEACHERS ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

IT WILL BE SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF.

>> THANKS FOR HANGING OUT WITH US AND GOOD TO SEE YOU, >> ONE PRINCIPAL DOWN, AND ONE TO GO.

COMING UP, IT'S RYAN BEATY AROUND THE CORNER.

>> THAT IS SERIOUS MULTI-TASKING.

STATE TESTING INTEREST AND ALL WHILE GETTING PREPARED AND THE EXCITEMENT THAT COMES WITH TRYING TO TWIN FIRST STATE TITLE SINCE 1948.

THANKS SO MUCH, SEE YOU GUYS AND WE WILL SEE YOU BACK IN A MOMENT.

STICK WITH US.

>>> JOHN.

>> IT IS PRINCIPAL NUMBER TWO.

RYAN BATIE, PRINCIPAL OF THOMASVILLE HIGH.

OBVIOUSLY, FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP GAME APPEARANCE CHASING AFTER A TITLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A VERY LONG TIME.

WHAT'S THE WEEK BEEN LIKE?

>> IT'S BEEN CRAZY.

WE WERE SO EXCITED TO BE HERE.

WE HAVE BROUGHT, I BELIEVE WE BROUGHT THE WHOLE CITY OF THOMASVILLE TO WATCH IT HERE TONIGHT.

OUR STUDENT ATHLETES HAVE JUST WORKED SO HARD ALL YEAR.

THEY HAVE TRUE GRIT, INTEGRITY.

AND THEY, THEY ARE JUST A SPECIAL GROUP.

I CANNOT IMAGINE A BETTER GROUP BEING HERE.

OUR BAND, OUR CHEER LEADERS.

THE DANCE LINE.

EVERYBODY JUST SUPPORTS US IN THE COMMUNITY AND EVERYBODY.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, THE COMMUNITY OF THOMAS DIDVILLE, WHILE YOU ARE EITHER YELLOW JACKET OR BULLDOG.

YOU DO SUPPORT YOUR SIDE ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE IN A GREAT FOOTBALL TOWN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON, ON THE ACADEMIC SIDE, WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON THAT FOLKS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT?

>> WE ARE KNOWN FOR IF FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP DANCE LINE WHERE WE ARE STRONG IN DRAMA AND OUR ACADEMICS ARE THE TOP IN THE STATE, AND OUR S.A.T.

SCORES AND A.C.T SCORES ARE THE HIGHEST IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA.

PRETTY MUCH EVERY WITH WHERE SOUTH OF A@, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST TEST SCORES.

>> FIVE YEARS DOWN THE LINE, HOW ON DO YOU LIKE TO SEE THOMASVILLE GROW AND BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY?

>> WE HAVE ROOM TO GROW.

WE WANT TO INCREASE OUR ENROLLMENT, WE WANT TO INCREASE OUR NUMBER OF STUDENTS GOING TO THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS COLLEGES.

>> THE PRINCIPAL OF THOMASVILLE HIGH, IT'S THE PRINCIPAL AND IT IS THE POINTS OF VIEW FROM FITZGERALD AND THE BULLDOGS.

>> QUICKLY, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE 2-A FINAL GAME.

WILL THE PURPLE HURRICANES FINALLY TAKE HOME A STATE TITLE, IT'S BEEN SINCE 1948, E.J.

LITZIE AND GOODWIN ARE MAKING A CASE.

>> THAT THEY ARE AND WHAT I THINK YOU HAVE SEEN WITH THOMASVILLE, THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANYTHING GOING OFFENSIVELY AND I THINK WHEN LAIR AND I SAM COME BACK.

YOU WILL SEE TIME OF POSSESSION IN THE FIRST HALF.

DEFINITELY IN THE FIRST QUARTER, IT WAS ALL FITZGERALD, KEEPING THE BALL AWAY FROM THOMASVILLE LASS BEEN BIG IN THE FIRST 24 MINUTES.

>> THANKS SO, JOHN, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CHECKING IN WITH YOU ALL DAY FOR DAY TWO.

WELL, THERE WAS SOME HEARTBREAKING NEWS THIS MORNING AS WE LEARNED THE PASSING OF WEST LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL GEORGIA TECH GRADUATE.

AND NFL RECEIVER PLAYING FOR THE BRONCOS.

DEMARYIUS THOMAS, HEARTBREAKING TO HEAR OF HIS PASSING.

HE WAS RESIDING IN ROSWELL.

HIS SENIOR SEASON, HE WAS 2-A ALL REGION AND ALL STATE.

HAULED IN 82 RECEPTIONS AND OVER 1200 YARDS AND TEN TOUCHDOWNS.

HE HAD A WONDERFUL CAREER OVER AT GEORGIA TECH.

113 RECEPTIONS OVER 2,000 YARDS, 13 TOUCHDOWNS.

HE WAS THE 2009 FIRST TEAM ALL ACC AND THIRD TEAM ALL AMERICAN, A TWO-TIME ACC CHAMPION.

WE HAVE TO MENTION HIS LUCRATIVE NFL CAREER.

HE PLAYED TEN SEASONS.

724 YARDS.

9,763 YARDS WITH 63 TOUCHDOWNS.

HE WENT TO FIVE PRO BOWLS.

HE ALSO HELPED DENVER WIN A SUPER BOWL AND HE RETIRED FROM THE NFL IN JUNE OF 2021.

THERE ARE SO MANY CONDOLENCES THAT ARE COMING IN ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALL THEY ARE SAYING RIGHT NOW IS HOW DT AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS BAY-BAY, WHAT A GREAT PERSONALITY HE HAD.

AND OUR SYMPATHIES GO AROUND TO HIS FAMILY AROUND AND FANS AROUND THE LEAGUE.

WE ARE THINKING OF THEM, WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>>> OVERCAST DAY, AND 21-0 OVER THE REGION RIVALS THE THOMAS THOMASVILLE BULLDOGS.

LET'S GO TO THE THIRD MEMBER OF OUR TEAM HERE, RILEY BALLARD, TALKED TO THE COACH A FEW MINUTES AGO AND LET'S GO DOWN AND HEAR WHAT WILEY HEARD FROM THE COACH.

>> YES, COACH, THERE'S NO SURPRISE, COACH DISAPPOINTED WITH THE FIRST HALF.

I ASKED HIM WHAT WAS THE MESSAGE FOR YOUR TEAM IN THE LOCKER ROOM?

AND HE SAID, WE HAVE TO COME OUT AND BEAT THOMASVILLE.

WE GOT WHIPPED FOR TWO QUARTERS AND WE HAVE TO COME OUT AND PLAY OUR BRAND OF FOOTBALL.

ARE THERE TEAM CAPTAINS, YOU ARE GOING TO SET THE TONE.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT, WE WERE TALKING AT HALFTIME, YOU DID NOT EXPECT THIS KIND OF PERFORMANCE WITH THE TEAMS THAT PLAYED CLOSELY TOGETHER IN WEEK NINE TO SEE THIS LOPSIDED AFFAIR A.

>> IT'S A LOW SCORING GAME.

AND WE HAVE SEEN FITZGERALD SHOW YOU WHY THEY HAVE GOT IT HERE.

AND HE HAS BEEN STARTING WITH THE FIRST POSSESSION.

AND THEY HELD ON TO THE FOOTBALL AND THEY HAVE NOT SEEN THE FOOTBALL.

MAYBE THEY WILL SEE SOME IN THE SECOND HALF.

LET'S CHECK IN WITH THE HIGHLIGHTS.

IN CASE YOU ARE JOINING US.

2-A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, ALL FITZGERALD.

THEY WANT TO PARTY LIKE IT'S 1988 FOR THE THOMASVILLE BULL WITH DOGS.

THE HURRICANES COMING OUT, THEY WERE FANTASTIC.

LITZIE SHOWING WHAT HE CAN DO.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT HE CAN DO OFFENSIVELY AND VERY DETERMINED WHEN HE IS IN THE DIRECT SNAP.

>> AND THAT CAPPED OFF THE FIRST DRIVE OF THE GAME.

OFF, AFTER THE OPENING KICKOFF AND THEY GOT THE BALL A BIT LATER AND TOOK IT DOWN, GOODWIN WITH THE GREAT SECOND EFFORT AND AGAIN, YARDS AFTER THE FIRST IMPACT HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING FORFEITS GERALD.

>> ESPECIALLY AND GOODWIN, HE FOUND ANOTHER GEAR.

THE HOLE OPENED UP WIDE AND HE WALKS IN WITH THE SCORE.

THE HOLE OPENS UP FOR HIM.

HE KNOWS WHAT TO DO.

HE IS A FINISHER.

>> HE HAS BEEN FANTASTIC, AS HAS THE ENTIRE OFFENSE FOR FITZGERALD AND THESE NUMBERS, LISTEN, IT'S NOT A TYPO.

THIS IS HOW LOPSIDED IT'S BEEN.

>> JUST, WOW.

>> TIME OF POSSESSION, ALMOST 20 OF THE 24 MINUTES, FITZGERALD THAT BALL.

TO YOUR POINT, HIDING IT FROM THOMASVILLE.

>> IT WAS LIKE THEY DID NOT SEE IT AT ALL.

ONLY NINE PLAYS FOR THOMASVILLE.

>> NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP FOR THE BULLDOGS.

14 FIRST DOWNS TO NONE.

21-0 IN THE CLASS 2-A CHAMPIONSHIP.

GETTING READY FOR THE SECOND HALF KICKOFF.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY BUCKLE GEORGIA.

SEAT BELTS SAVE LIVES.

THEY WON THE KICKOFF.

THEY DEFER AND SEE IF THEY CAN GET A BETTER START TO THE SECOND HALF.

SECOND HALF.

A WHISTLE.

GOING TO RESUME HOITY -- HOSTILITIES.

THE OPENING KICK FROM THE 30 YARD LINE.

A GOOD RETURN THERE AND PRETTY GOOD FIELD POSITION AS ANDERSON TOOK THE BALL.

DOWN TO ABOUT THE 42.

IT'S WHERE IT WILL START.

>> HARD HITTING LINEBACKER.

HE HAD IT THE LAST TIME HE HAD A RETURN.

IT.

AND HIS TEAM, LET'S SEE IF IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

NEXT SECTION OF THE FIELD, CAN COMING OUT OF THE LOCKER ROOM.

SHANNON WHITE AND THE OFFENSE HAS TO START THE SECOND HALF.

WE SAW THE NUMBERS THAT JUST, HOW LOPSIDED THEY WERE IN THE FIRST HALF.

THE BEST THOMASVILLE PLAYER, FULTON, ONE RUSH FOR 36 BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT -- 36 YARDS.

HAS A MAN, CANNOT CONNECT WITH HIM.

LIKE TODAY PLAY CALL.

TRYING TO GET IT TO HIM.

ENDS UP SECOND DOWN.

>> LIKED THE IDEA, YOU HAVE TO SHAKE IT AND UP DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND YOUR LINE HAS TO DO TIME.

AND YOUR LINE GAVE YOU TIME THAT TIME.

HE DID NOT MAKE THE CONNECTION.

>> I LIKE THE PLAY CALL.

SHAKE IT UP.

THE THINGS YOU DID IN THE FIRST HALF DID NOT WORK FOUR.

NINE PLAYS IN THE FIRST HALF.

WE WILL SEE WHAT THEY DO HERE IN THE THIRD QUARTER.

>> FIRST DOWN AND SECOND DOWN NOW.

GETS A RUN AND GETS A BIT OF AN OPENING THERE BY FULTON, HE HAS SIX YARDS AND THE ONE CARRY.

QUALITY YARDS THERE.

EIGHT YARDS AND THAT BRINGS UP THIRD AND TWO.

>> NICE RUN, NICE PICK UP ON SECOND DOWN AND NOW, COMING UP TO THIRD DOWN.

YOU HAVE A PLAYER DOWN HERE.

SEE WHO THAT IS.

IT WILL BE COOPER.

THE OTHER NUMBERS.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

THOSE ARE 48.

>> YEAH, CURRY.

>> GETTING HIM BACK UP ON HIS FEET HERE.

>> CURRY, A SENIOR.

CERTAINLY WISH HIM WELL.

>> WE DO.

>> HE CAN DO ALL THE WORK TO PLAY IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

YOU HEAR, YOUR TEAM IS DOING WELL.

AND EVERYTHING IS GOING GOOD FOR YOU.

AND END UP WITH AN INJURY.

GOING TO THE SIDELINE.

GOOD POSITION.

AND ALL THE BEST HERE.

>> THIRD DOWN.

THOMASVILLE, HAS YET TO GET A FIRST DOWN.

0 FOR 3 IN THE ATTEMPT.

THIS IS THE BEST EFFORT, THE BEST CHANCE AT IT, THIRD AND TWO.

WHITE TAKES IT HIMSELF AND THERE'S THE FIRST DOWN.

AND ENDED FITZGERALD TERRITORY.

FIRST DOWN, FIRST, FIRST DOWN FOR THOMASVILLE.

>> THAT'S BETTER.

>> AND HE SAID, THAT'S I DIDN'T WANTED IT.

I CALL MY OWN NUMBER, I WILL DO IT MYSELF.

HE IS BLOCKED HERE.

PICKS UP A YARD AND FIGHTING FOR MORE AFTERWARDS.

>> JUAN ANDERSON, THE SENIOR, OPENING THAT HOLE FOR HIM.

QUICK THROW, AND THAT WAS A GOOD CATCH THERE.

FOR THE PICK UP AND JOE, MADE IT BY JORDAN WILLIAMS, THE JUNIOR.

POSITIVE YARDS AND IT'S SECOND DOWN.

>> IT'S A LONG THROW, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE GOING TO SEE IT ANYMORE IN THE GAME.

>> TOOK A WHILE FOR IT TO GET THERE.

GIVING WHITE CREDIT FOR HAVING THE HARM TO GET IT OUT THERE.

KIND OF LOW.

DON'T GET ON THE GROUND.

PICKS IT UP.

LONG FOR HIM.

>> THAT IS.

>> SECOND AND FIVE.

HAND OFF UP THE MIDDLE.

THAT'S FULTON.

TRYING TO GET IT CLOSE TO A FIRST DOWN.

OFF THE BALL.

>> ELECTRICITY, THIRD AND SHORT.

AND I DON'T THINK, THEY ARE, THAT IS BOLTED AGAIN ON THE CARRY.

IT'S GOING TO GO BACK TO RANGE.

>> I THINK, I MEAN, YOU COME OUT, YOU HAVE GOOD FIELD POSITION.

IT'S A FIRST DOWN.

YOU HAVE SEEN POSITIVE THINGS HAPPEN.

AND NOW, IT'S DALLAS, I THINK YOU HAVE A BIG JUMBO PACKAGE AND YOU HAVE TO GET THE YARDS.

>> YOU HAVE NOT TALKED TO FITZGERALD'S RUNNING GAME, THEY WILL CHEW IT UP WHEN THEY GET THE BALL BACK.

FOURTH AND A FOOT, YOU CAN SEE, HAND OFF AND HE DID NOT GET IT.

THAT'S FITZGERALD DEFENSE STOPPING FULTON SHORT.

>> LOOKING AT 42, BRANDON BROWN.

THE WHITE JERSEY GOING DOWN QUICKLY.

MAKING A BIG STOP.

UP FRONT.

BOTTLED HIM UP AND COMING IN AND DOING HIS PART.

SO, FITZGERALD, ANOTHER DEFENSIVE STOP.

AND ON DOWNS.

FIRST DOWN, GOODWIN ON THE CARRY.

HE GETS A COUPLE.

BRINGS UP SECOND DOWN.

WHAT A FIRST HALF FOR HIM.

20th CARRY ON THE DAY.

120 YARDS IN THE FIRST HALF.

AND THREE RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS.

>> THE PURPLE HURRICANES GO BACK TO WHAT THEY HAVE DONE ALL THE TIME.

WE ARE GOING TO DO IT UNTIL YOU MAKE A SPLIT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WHAT'S THE SAYING IF IT'S AIN'T BROKE?

MORE OF THE SAME.

WHAT ABOUT COOPER UNDER CENTER NOW, FOR THE PURPLE HURRICANES.

SECOND AND SEVEN.

HANDOFF TO WILCOX.

AND INITIAL HIT DOES NOT GET HIM.

LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF RED SHIRTS THERE TO MEET HIM AFTER THAT.

EVAN WYNN LEADING THE WAY TO KEEP HIM TO A NO GAME, THIRD AND LONG FOR FITZGERALD.

>> JOE WILLIAMS, THERE TOGETHER TO CONVERGE ON HIM, AND THEY KNOW WHAT WILCOX CAN DO.

HE IS BOUNCING TO THE OUTSIDE.

NOT THIS TIME.

>> BEEN A FRUSTRATION THERE BY WYNN.

I TOLD YOU TO GET DOWN.

WHY DON'T YOU GO DOWN?

KEEP THEIR LEGS MOVING.

CLOCK IS MOVING NOW.

HERE IN THE 8:00 MARK, THIRD QUARTER.

CLASS 2-A GAME, FIRST OF THREE GAMES TODAY.

HERE ON GPB, WE ARE BACK AT IT AGAIN TOMORROW.

LIKE A SHOT OUT OF THE CANNON.

HERE'S NUMBER TEN.

HE ALMOST BEAT THE BALL THERE.

>> HE DID.

HE KNOWS, THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, THEY TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE LOCKER ROOM AT HALFTIME.

YOU HAVE TO DO THINGS THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE AND GET THEIR OFFENSE OFF THE FIELD.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

>> FITZGERALD, GETTING IT AWAY.

FUMBLED ON THE RETURN AND HE FALLS ON IT THERE.

AND NICE JOB.

46 YARD KICK AND NO RETURN.

THAT'S WHERE THOMASVILLE WILL PICK UP AFTER THEY HOLD ON DEFENSE.

DOWNTOWN ATLANTA, WHEREVER THEY WANT TO BE AND THESE TWO ARE HERE NOW.

>>> THOMASVILLE, ON THE SECOND OFFENSIVE SERIES.

EIGHTH PLAY ALREADY ON THE SECOND HALF IN OFFENSE.

TO HARPER.

HARPER, NOT MUCH GOING THERE BY THE DEFENSE FROM FITZGERALD, BRINGS UP THIRD AND LONG.

FOR THE BULLDOGS.

THERE'S REALLY NOTHING THERE.

>> WILCOX COMES IN AND THEY MAKE A BIG PLAY.

>> THIRD AND FIVE.

WHITE TO PASS.

GOT A MAN THERE, HIGH, GOES UP AND GETS IT FOR THE FIRST DOWN.

HOLDING TO IT.

THE FORMER PROGRESS, OFF OF THE 35.

GREAT JOB TO GO UP AND GET THE PASS.

NICE JOB.

I -- OUT THERE, DIVES AND MAKES THE CATCH.

NICE PLAY BY WILLIAMS, AND THE WHITE JERSEYS ARE PUSHING BACK.

GETS YOU THE FIRST DOWN.

THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT.

>> JORDAN WILLIAMS, I HAVE THURMON, NUMBER 7 AS THE OTHER OPTION.

WILLIAMS WITH THE GREAT CATCH.

IT'S JOE WILLIAMS, COMING OUT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN.

WE HAVE A TIME-OUT.

COACH PRUITT DID NOT LIKE WHAT HE SEES FROM FITZGERALD.

HE CALLS THE TIMEOUT.

>> Referee: THIRD TIME-OUT OF THE SECOND HALF.

>> PEST MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN SERVICING GEORGIA SINCE 1975.

THEY ARE PROUD SPONSORS OF GPB HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL AND CONGRATULATE ALL OF THE STUDENT ATHLETES.

THEY HAVE TWO HERE.

IF THEY CAN BREAK THROUGH, THEY GET A COUPLE OF FIRST DOWNS.

NOW, IF YOU CAN GET A SCORE, YOU ARE NOT GOING WIN THE GAME UNTIL YOU SCORE THE FIRST TIME.

LET'S GET THAT ONE DONE.

>> AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE SPECIAL TEAMS DEFENSIVELY.

SHUTTING IT DOWN OFF THE FIELD.

WE ARE ALREADY HALF WAY THROUGH THE QUARTER.

SNUFFED OUT RIGHT THERE, AND THURMON ON THE CATCH.

15, BROWN, STEPPING UP TO MAKE PLAY.

SCORED 22 TOUCHDOWNS.

IT'S BEEN A ROUGH DAY SO FAR.

BIG THIRD DOWN PLAY.

>> 4:45 AND COUNTING.

HAVE TO GET TO THE 45, KEEP THE DRIVE ALIVE.

WHITE, LOOKING UP TOP.

HE HAS OUT IT AND HE CATCHES IT, THERE ON HIS FEET, TOUCHDOWN, THOMAS VILLE.

KICK IS UP AND GOOD, THEY HAD 13 RECEPTIONS AND KNOWS THE WAY TO THE GOAL LINE WHEN HE MAKES IT.

A DIG STEP, IS HE FIRED UP AFTERWARDS?

YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.

NINE PLAYS IN THE HALF.

GREAT JOB BY THOMAS VILLE TO ANSWER THE BELL AND COME OUT SWINGING IN THE SECOND HALF.

>> LOOK AT THE SMILE.

LOOK AT THE SMILE ON THE FACE.

THEY ARE PLAYING, BABY, GAME ON.

GAME ON.

.

>> GUESS WHO IS THERE?

WYNN, WHO HAS BEEN THE TERMINATOR.

>> HERE I AM.

LOOKING FOR ME?

>> JOSEPH ON THE RETURN TO GET YARDS ON MR. WYNN, AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES A SPARK.

YOU THINK OF WHAT HE DID ON DEFENSE IN THE THIRD DOWN PLAY.

JUST SNUFFED OUT GOODWIN AND FORCED THE PUNT AND THAT SEEPED TO MOTIVATE THE TEAM AND LET'S SEE IF THEY CAN KEEP IT GOING.

>> THIS OFFENSE COMES BACK ON AND LET'S SEE WHO'S THERE.

WE HAVE THE QUARTERBACK.

THE DIRECT SNAP.

WILLOX, LITZIE.

>> HE HAS BEEN IN THE GAME.

BEEN THE WORKHORSE.

TAKES IT FROM THERE AND HANDS OFF INSTEAD.

HAWK.

THEY KNOW THE WAY THEY HAVE DONE IT, IS THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE HARDWARE ONCE THEY GOT HERE.

TRYING TO CHANGE IT TODAY.

SECOND DOWN.

T.J. LITZIE IN THE GAME AND THEY ARE GOING TO CALL FALSE START.

A FIVE-YARD PENALTY AGAINST FITZGERALD.

AND A LITTLE SOMETHING AT HALFTIME.

>> AFTER THE FOUL.

FALSE START.

OFFENSE.

STILL SECOND DOWN.

>> WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE GAME SO FAR?

>> AGAIN, WE GO BACK TO WHAT THE COACH SAID HE HAS TO DO.

WE TALKED TO HIM ON THE PHONE.

TALKED ABOUT THE MISTAKE, MADE MISTAKES LAST TIME.

GOING TO CLEAN UP THE MISTAKES.

IF WE DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKES AND EXECUTE, THINGS WILL TURN OUT DIFFERENTLY IN THE GAME.

IT'S THE SECOND PENALTY ON FITZGERALD.

>> THREE OVERALL IN THE GAME.

AND LIKE YOU SAID, ONE WAS SO QUIET IT WAS AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER.

WE MISSED THE TIME IN THE TIME-OUT BREAK WHILE THEY WERE CHANGING FIELDS.

A FIVE YARD PENALTY AGAINST FITZGERALD.

SECOND DOWN AND 13 NOW.

AND GOODWIN IS STOPPED FOR MINIMAL GAIN, SO, YOU CAN FEEL THE MOMENTUM STARTING TO TURN A BIT.

>> BUT, SOMETHING IS GOING ON.

OFF THE FIELD.

>> IT'S SEEING A BOUNCE IN HIS STEP.

IT'S 4-2.

AND TY ANDERSON, WHAT HE DOES USUALLY FOR THE TEAM.

SEEING THE THOMASVILLE DEFENSE, FEELING IT RIGHT NOW, THIRD AND 13 AND IT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

FORCE TEAM IN TO THIRD AND LONG SITUATIONS.

THEY DON'T LIKE TO THROW THE FOOTBALL.

LET'S SEE IF THEY CAN GET THEM OFF THE FIELD AGAIN.

>> FITZGERALD, WANTED IT IN THE FIRST HALF, IT'S BEEN TOUGH GOING IN THE ON OFFENSE IN THE SECOND HALF.

>> FAKED IT TO GOODWIN, THEY HAND OFF AND GO UP THE MIDDLE AND THERE'S NOTHING GOING THERE.

FOURTH DOWN COMING UP ON THE PURPOSE HE WILL HURRICANES OFF TO PUNT AGAIN.

>> HOW ABOUT THAT?

THOMASVILLE DEFENSE.

SHOWING UP.

SECOND HALF OF THIS GAME.

A LITTLE BIT OF CLOCK.

SHORT PUNT, TAKES A FITZGERALD BOUNCE, HOWEVER.

AND OUT OF BOUNDS ON THE RETURN.

39 YARDS AND A PUNT AND A SIX-YARD RETURN BY NICHOLSON.

LET'S GO DOWN TO WILEY.

>> LARRY, LET ME TELL YOU HERE AT CENTER PARK, THE ENTIRE DYNAMIC HAS CHANGED.

EVERYONE ON THE THOMAS VILLE SIDELINE, IT FEELS LIKE THEY ARE STANDING 2 OR 3 FEET TALLER.

IN FACT THE FANS IN THE STANDS HAVE NOT SAT DOWN SINCE THE TOUCHDOWN CATCH BY SHAW.

IT'S UNREAL THE LEVEL OF ENERGY THAT WAS ABSENT IN THE FIRST 2-1/2 QUARTERS IS ALL OF A SUDDEN HERE.

>> YOU CAN SEE THEM, THEY ARE FIRED AND UP THEY ARE ON CAMERA TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION TOO.

>> EVERYONE BACK HOME.

NOBODY IS BACK HOME.

EVERYONE IS HERE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> NOBODY IN THOMASVILLE TODAY.

>> AND THERE'S THE BIG JUMBOTRON IN CENTER PARK, SEEING THE REACTION OF THE FANS WHEN THEY SEE THEMSELVES ON CAM ARE.

SOME OF THE GREAT MOMENTS.

LOVE SEEING IT.

WHILE WE WERE AWAY, IT LOOKS LIKE A PENALTY AGAINST THOMASVILLE, THERE ON THE KICK.

AND YOU CAN SEE AGAIN, THE FIRST DOWN, WE TALKED ABOUT IT 14-0 IN THE FAVOR OF FITZGERALD IN THE FIRST HALF.

IT'S NOW 3-0 THE OTHER WAY.

IT'S THE FAVORITE OF THOMASVILLE, UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS PENALTY.

THEY HAD THE 15 YARD WALK-OFF AGAINST THOMAS VILLE AND INSTEAD, START THE FIRST AND TEN FROM THEIR OWN 31.

QUICK HANDOFF AND A GREAT JOB BY RICKY FULTON TO GET ABOUT EIGHT.

AND SECOND AND TWO.

>> JUST A CHANGE OF PACE BACK.

GOT IT IN.

>> FULLTON, AGAIN, FIGHTING FOR AND IF HE HAS FORWARD PROGRESS, HE MAY HAVE THE FIRST DOWN.

LET'S SEE WHERE THEY MARK IT.

GET IT AND THEY HAVE CHANGED IT AND CHAINS ARE MOVING.

>> FOURTH FIRST DOWN OF THE HALF AND OF THE GAME.

AND THE THING WITH THE BULLDOGS, THEY LIKE TO GO VERTICAL MORE THAN FITZGERALD DOES.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT ALREADY HERE.

>> AND HANDOFF TO DUNCAN.

GETS HIS FIRST CARRY OF THE GAME.

THEY ARE, SORRY, THAT IS BACK TO FULTON.

>> FULTON.

>> LITZIE COMING IN AND MAKING THE STOP ON THE PLAY.

LESS THAN A MINUTE TO GO HERE IN THE THIRD.

IT'S BEEN QUITE A THIRD QUARTER FOR THOMASVILLE.

FITZGERALD, 21-0 LEAD AT HALFTIME A.

AND THEY HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN HERE IN THE SECOND HALF.

SECOND DOWN PLAY.

TRYING TO GO UP TOP.

AND CHASED OUT OF THE POCKET.

HAVE A MAN DEEP AND PICKED OFF.

JULIAN DEAN ON THE INTERCEPTION.

AND THE FITZGERALD DEFENSE HOLDS.

STOPPED THE DRIVE.

>> TALKED ABOUT THE MOMENTUM CHANGE THE WAY THINGS WERE GOING.

YOU NEED THINGS TO SWING IT BACK IN YOUR DIRECTION AND NOTHING DOES IT BETTER THAN A BIG INTERCEPTION.

WHITE ROLLS OUT OF THE POCKET.

HE IS GETTING PRESSURE FROM WALKER.

HE THROWS IT OUT THERE.

AND TOO FAR FOR HIS INTENDED RECEIVER FROM THURMON.

>> GREAT JOB BY JULIAN DANES, FITZGERALD HOLDS THERE.

AND THE FINAL PLAY COMING OF THE THIRD QUARTER.

GOODWIN ON THE DIRECT SNAP.

GOOD LOOK THERE.

COOPER BACK IN THE GAME.

THAT WILL END THE THIRD QUARTER.

THOMASVILLE AND THE BULLDOGS AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IN THE QUARTER.

IT'S AN ALL RAGING BATTLE FOR A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

CAN THOMASVILLE CONTINUE THE COMEBACK.

SHAW, THE TOUCHDOWN, ON THE BOARD.

MORE TO COME.

>>> FOURTH QUARTER ABOUT TO GET STARTED HERE, AND GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY.

FITZGERALD ON TOP, 21- 7 HERE IN THE CLASS 2-A.

A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER IN ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.

MORE THAN 80 UNDER GRADUATE MAJORS AND MASTERS, IN MANY AREAS, DETAILS AT GO.UNG.EDU/LEARN MORE.

>> BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS UP THERE.

>> HM-MM .

>> OH, MAN.

BEAUTIFUL DAY, SUN IS NOT OUT ON, BUT WE WILL TAKE IT.

WE HAVE HAD WORSE, HAVEN'T WE?

>> WE HAVE.

LOOK AT THIS, LOOK AT THIS.

>> IT'S AMAZING.

CONSIDERING IT'S A COMPLETE REVERSAL FROM THE FIRST HALF.

ON TOP, 21-7, SHUTOUT THERE AND NOW, SHUT DOWN TO EIGHT YARDS.

AND AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN STARTING IT HERE IN THE FOURTH.

THIRD AND THREE PLAY, GOODWIN, TAKES IT.

>> NO, SIR, NO, SIR.

HERE'S THE BIG DIFFERENCE, WHEN, IN THE SECOND HALF, THOMASVILLE HITS THE FITZGERALD PLAYERS THEY STAY WITH IT.

IT'S NOT A HIT AND THEN LET THEM KEEP THEIR FEET MOVING.

>> YO, IT'S BEEN TOTALLY DIFFERENT, OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT AT HALFTIME AND THEY HAVE COME IN WITH A DIFFERENT ATTITUDE.

IT'S FOURTH AND TWO.

AND LET'S SEE NOW, THEY ARE GOING TO ARGUE.

YEAH.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

HOW ABOUT DENORRIS GOODWIN, 120 YARDS ON THE GROUND, IN THE FIRST HALF, ONLY SEVEN IN THIS HALF.

ACTUALLY, IT'S ONLY FIVE IN THE HALF.

HAD A PUCK UP OF ONE RIGHT THERE.

STO SO THEY HAVE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN THE WORKHORSE FITZGERALD.

FOURTH DOWN HUNT UNDER WAY.

AND FITZGERALD, AND HE ABOUT HAD IT THERE.

NICHOLSON.

COVERS IT UP THERE.

QUICK TIME-OUT AGAIN, AND HERE IN ATLANTA, CLASS 2-5 CHAMPIONSHIP.

THOMAS VILLE IS, BEEN A GOOD HALF SO FAR, CAN THEY KEEP IT GOING?

FITZGERALD ON TOP.

21-7, THOMASVILLE, SHUT DOWN THE FIRST HALF.

BROKE THROUGH WITH THE LONG TOUCHDOWN PASS.

THE THIRD QUARTER AND HERE WE GO AFTER THE PUNT, DIRECT SNAP TO FULTON, AND HE HAD YARDS BEFORE HE IS STOPPED AND BRINGS UP SECOND DOWN.

>> DIFFERENT THAN DOING THE DIRECT SNAP.

WE HAVE SEEN IT DONE SO MUCH BY FITZGERALD TODAY.

TAKES A SNAP, AND NOW YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO.

THEY HAVE THE INTERCEPTION AND THE DEFENSE GOT THEM THE BALL BACK.

THIS IS WHAT THE THOMASVILLE OFFENSE WILL DO.

>> RUN ON SECOND DOWN.

THAT'S TO HARPER.

>> AND HORSE COLLAR THEREAFTER A GAIN OF ONE.

AND THAT BRINGS UP THIRD DOWN.

AND ABOUT SIX.

>>.

>> NUMBER ONE, HIELD, CAME IN FROM THE BACK SIDE ON THAT ONE.

MADE THE PLAY.

HERE HE COMES WITH.

MAKES THAT STOP.

FOURTH DOWN AND WHAT A BIG SERIES FOR THE FITZGERALD DEFENSE.

YOU START TO SEE THINGS TIGHTEN UP A BIT ON BOTH SIDES.

THE DEFENSES ARE TAKING OVER IN THE FOOTBALL GAME.

>> THIS IS WHAT WE ARE SEEING.

LET US SEE MORE FROM THOMAS VILLE, VERTICAL.

GOOD THINGS HAVE HAPPENED FOR THEM.

YOU SEE MORE OF IT HERE, THE TIME WINDS DOWN.

PUNT IS AWAY, AND WHAT A GREAT ROLE FOR THE BULLDOGS.

AGAIN, NO RETURN MAN BACK.

THEY CAN LET IT ROLL AS LONG AS THEY WANT AND THEY ARE DOWN AT THE 19 YARD LINE.

47 YARDS.

THAT WAS A GREAT PUNT.

YOU PUT THE FIELD AND IT'S FITZGERALD TAKING OVER FIRST.

AND DEAD AT THE OWN 19.

WORKED FORFEITS GERALD ALL SEASON LONG.

YOU DO THE THING THAT GOT YOU HEAR AND YOU WANT TO DO IT BETTER TODAY.

AT YOUR BEST, YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S ON THE LINE.

YOU WANT TO SEE, LET'S GET A COUPLE OF FIRST DOWNS GOING.

THE RUNNING GAME.

SHUT DOWN HERE IN THE SECOND HALF.

YOU WANT TO REESTABLISH THINGS THAT YOU DID SUCCESSFUL UNTIL THE SECOND HALF.

DRAIN THE CLOCK.

LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THEY HELD THE BALL FOR MORE THAN 19 MINUTES OUT OF THE 24 IN THE FIRST HALF.

GOODWIN GOT THE DIRECT SNAP AND CARRY, AND HE GETS ABOUT TWO.

BEFORE HE SHUT DOWN.

YOU COULD SEE A DIFFERENCE IN THE THOMASVILLE DEFENSE IN THE SECOND HALF.

WE KNOW WHAT HE DOES.

WEEK IN, WEEK OUT.

HE IS THE RING LEADER THAT HAS COME TO LIGHT FOR THE SECOND HALF.

EACH TRYING TO WIN THEIR FIRST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN A NUMBER OF YEARS.

DECADES.

127 YARDS ON 25 CARRIES.

HERE IS NUMBER 26 FOR HIM.

HE IS BOTTLED UP AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE.

OF COURSE, LEADING THE WAY, A WHOLE HOST OF RED JERSEYS.

PURSUIT WAS THERE.

WE SAW YOU DO IT IN THE FIRST HALF.

WE TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOU, YOU HAVE TO THINK OF SOMETHING ELSE.

>> HE DOT THAT ONE, NOT TIME.

>> IT'S BEEN DIFFERENT AS YOU SAID, TIME TICKING.

ON FITZGERALD SIDE.

WHAT A GREAT JOB THERE.

HE MADE THINGS HAPPEN, AND HE GETS THE FIRST DOWN.

>> L WILL ITZIE GETTING IT DONE.

TALKED BEFORE, SAM, HE IS A JACK OF ALL TRADES.

HE FINDS WAYS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

SCORE THE FIRST RUSHING TOUCHDOWN OF THE GAME, EARLY IN THE FIRST QUARTER.

COMING ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS ON THIRD DOWN TO GET A ENOUGH YARDS ON A RUN TO KEEP DRIVES ALIVE.

THE HEAD OF STEM, A BIG PLAYER ON DEFENSE.

THAT'S IMPORTANT NOW WITH THE CLOCK WINDING DOWN AND THOMASVILLE DOWN BY TWO TOUCHDOWNS.

UNDER CENTER.

TO GOODWIN.

HE IS UP OFF THE GROUND.

>> HE JUST WON'T GO DOWN.

TRYING TO PUSH, PUSH, PUSH IT FORWARD.

WOW.

GOOD LOOK AT TY ANDERSON.

DEFENSIVE STAR FOR THE BULLDOGS.

WHAT CAREER HE HAD.

>> 22 TACKLES FOR LOSSES THIS SEASON.

15 SACKS.

THOMAS VILLE DEFENSIVE FRONT HAS BEEN IMPRESSED ALL SEASONS.

BEEN OUTSTANDING.

FOUR YARDS AND THE CARRY.

A WORK HORSE, FITZGERALD OFFENSE.

FIRST DOWN AND MORE IN TO THOMASVILLE TERRITORY.

INSIDE THE 45 FOR GOOD WIN.

BACK-TO-BACK FIRST DOWNS.

20 YARDS ON THE PICK UP.

>> COMING TO THE SIDELINE FOR A MOMENT.

THE COACH WANTED TO SAY, HEY, STAY IN BOUNDS, STAY IN BOUNDS.

GET THE FURS DOWN, KEEP THE CLOCK MOVING.

GETTING CLOSE TO 30 CARRIES.

HE DESERVES TO BE WORN OUT, IF THAT'S THE CASE.

>> CAN'T BLAME HIM.

HE HAS BEEN OUT STANDING FOR THIS DAY.

28 CARRIES.

152 YARDS AND THE TWO TOUCHDOWNS.

NORRIS GOOD WIN.

YOU MENTIONED THE CLOCK.

HALF WAY THROUGH THE FIRST QUARTER.

HE GETS THE SIX YARD PICK UP.

AND THE CLOCK BEGINNING TO CONTINUE TO WIND DOWN AND THAT BECOMES A FACTOR AGAIN.

IT WILL BE A BIG FACTOR IF THEY PICK UP ANOTHER ONE OR TWO FIRST DOWNS.

THE CLOCK BECOMES AN ENEMY OF THOMASVILLE.

FITZGERALD RESTORED ORDER IN WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IN THE FIRST HALF.

>> YOU SAID, THEY DON'T PASS SHE AND THEY WON'T PASS MUCH IN THE SITUATION.

SECOND AND FOUR.

TAKING THEIR TIME.

COOPER UNDER CENTER.

GOOD WIN IN HE HAS THE BALL, RIGHT SIDE, AND FIRST DOWN AND MORE.

PUSHED DOWN BY ANDERSON.

MOVING THE CHAINS AGAIN.

THAT'S THE KEY, THAT WAS THE BIG PART OF THE FIRST HALF, AGAIN, WAS KEEPING THE BALL OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE THOMAS VILLE OFFENSE.

GOT BY HIM.

HE WAS IN POSITION TO TRY TO MAKE A STOP ON HIM.

GETTING TO THE OUTSIDE AND PICKED UP A YARD.

>> 160 YARDS RUSHING IN THE DAY.

CLASS 2-A CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE LINE.

5:25 AWAY FROM MAKING IT HAPPEN.

UM THE MIDDLE.

GOOD FIRST DOWN RUN FOR ABOUT FIVE.

AND WE HAVE A TIME-OUT ON THE FIELD.

>> TIME-OUT.

FIRST START COMING OUT.

SECOND HALF.

GREAT JOB THERE, SO ON, THOMASVILLE GOING TO STOP THE CLOCK AND TRY TO CONSERVE THE TIME.

5:15 TO GO.

THOMASVILLE, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT IN RECENT HISTORY AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.

IT'S THE LAST FEW YEARS, THEY HAVE GOTTEN SO CLOSE.

THEY HAVE LOST TO CALLOWAY, THE LAST TWO YEARS.

INCLUDING LAST YEAR IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME HERE AT CENTER PARK STADIUM.

22-17 WAS THE FINAL.

GOT HERE SO MANY TIMES.

FOURTH TRIP HERE IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS AS YOU CAN SEE.

PACE ACADEMY GETTING IT DONE.

2016, THEY KEEP GETTING HERE.

TRYING TO FINALLY GET THE FINAL PUSH AND GET THE STATE TITLE.

>> YEAH, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S THE, IT'S LIKE THEY ARE THE HEARTBREAK KID.

THEY ARE ALWAYS IN THE CONVERSATION.

YOU ALSO ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEASON AND THEIR FAVORITES.

YOU HAVE TO INCLUDE FITZGERALD, THEY ARE ALWAYS IN THE CONVERSATION.

TODAY IS THE DAY, THEY COME IN HERE, STARTING OUT 21-0, AND THE DEAL IS CAN THEY FINISH IT?

SECOND AND FIFTH.

CROSSED THE MARKER THAT HE NEEDS IN THE FIRST DOWN.

SO MANY TIMES THEY ARE RIGHT IN THE CONVERSATION.

AND YOU NEVER GET QUITE OVER THE FINAL HUMP.

RITZ BEEN A METHODICAL STEP BY STEP SERIES.

HIS FIRST YEAR IN 2017, THEY WENT 4-7, AND THE NEXT YEAR, THEY REACHED THE SEMIFINALS AND A SLIGHT STEP BACK IN 1984 AND GOT TO THE FINALS THIS YEAR.

THEY CONTINUE TO MILK THE CLOCK AND WORK IT DOWN THE FIELD.

THE SNAP BACK TO LITZIE BACK IN THE GAME.

THE CLOCK IS THE THING TO WATCH RIGHT NOW.

RILEY WAS SAYING THEY LOST SO MANY, NOT LOST 22 SENIORS, 9 OF 11 THE STARTERS ON OFFENSE ON.

THIS WAS A COMPLETE REBUILDING.

WHEN YOU BUILT THE KIND OF PROGRAM AND GOING DOWN TO THE GRASSROOTS.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU CAN BEGIN TO PLUG KIDS IN AND THEY KNOW WHAT TO ACCOMPLISH AND THAT HELPS TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING.

>> IT'S WHAT WE ARE SEEING ACTED OUT HERE.

WILCOX ON THE CARRY, AND NOTHING GOING THERE.

OFFENSIVE LINE THAT HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING.

JUST COULD NOT WITHSTAND THE DEFENSE THERE.

>> TIME-OUT.

>> TIME-OUT ON THE FIELD, THE THOMASVILLE, WILL TAKE ONE HERE AS WELL.

FITZGERALD TRYING TO FINISH IT OFF AND THOMASVILLE, TRYING TO STOP THEM.

>>> A LOT OF ANTICIPATION IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW.

>> IF THE CLASS 2-A KICKING OFF COVERAGE, THREE GAMES ON FRIDAY.

THREE MORE TO FOLLOW, ON TOP, 21-7, PEST MANAGEMENT STARTED HERE LOCALLY AND NOW HAS 125 TECHNICIANS AND 95 VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.

IT'S AED PROUD SPONSOR OF GPB HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

SEE MORE AT GPBA -- >> THEY BEGAN AS A YOUNG TEAM.

THIRD AND EIGHT HERE, AND IT WILL BE 6 OF 12, GOOD WIN, GETTING A YARD BEFORE HE WAS BROUGHT DOWN.

>> GREAT JOB BY THE THOMASVILLE DEFENSE TO HOLD.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY BRING ON THE KICK TEAM TO MAKE IT A THREE-SCORE GAME.

DEFENSE SHOWS UP IN HOLES AND THEY STILL TOOK A LOT OF TIME OFF THE CLOCK.

FITZGERALD, NO DRIVE OFF THE GAME.

KICK IS UP AND IT'S SHORT.

THAT IS NO GOOD.

SO, GIVE MINIMUM CREDIT TO THE THOMASVILLE DEFENSE FOR A HOLDING AND MAKING IT STILL ONLY A TWO-SCORE GAME.

AGAIN, TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR THEM.

FITZGERALD GOT FIRST DOWNS, SUSTAINING A DRIVE.

AND CONTROLLING THE PACE OF THE GAME.

KEEPING THAT OFFENSIVE UNIT ON THE SIDELINE.

MICHAEL MARTINEZ ON THE MISS THERE.

THOMASVILLE.

THAT TEAM, TAKING OVER NOW.

FIRST AND TEN.

AFTER DEFENSE STALLED THAT DRIVE.

6:07 TAKEN OFF THE CLOCK.

IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE DRIVE.

SCORE OR NOT.

>> FIRST DOWN.

UNDER PRESSURE.

DUMP OFF, HE HAS A BLOCKER IN FRONT OF HIM.

STILL, GOING, AND RICKY FULTON, THE GREAT SECOND EFFORT TO GET IT OUT, CLOSE TO THE 40 YARD LINE AND A FIRST DOWN.

19 YARDS ON THE PICK UP.

>> GREAT SECOND EFFORT ON THAT ONE.

WATCH THAT PLAY DEVELOP AND THE PASS IS LOW.

>> PERSONAL FOUL, ROUGHING THE PASSER.

DEFENSE.

15 YARD PENALTY, ADDED TO THE END OF THE RUN.

AUTOMATIC FIRST DOWN.

>> YOU KNOW THE COACH DID NOT WANT TO HEAR THAT.

THEY EXECUTE THE PLAY AND GET HELP FROM THE PENALTY HERE.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT, AND COACH PRUIT TALKED ABOUT, LIMIT THE MISTAKES AND THE WORSE THING THAT CAN HAPPEN IS HAVE UP TO 20 YARDS FOR A 19 YARD GAIN ON THE PASS PLAY AND TAP OUT AT THE 15 YARD ON THE PENALTY FOR A TEAM THAT HAS NOT BEEN PENALIZED MUCH THIS GAME.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU HAVE THE OPPONENT WITH THE REGIONAL CHAMP, THAT BEAT YOU BACK IN WEEK NINE, MOMENTUM AND AN INITIAL 15 YARDS.

WHITE ON FIRST DOWN.

HE IS GOING DEEP, IT'S PICKED OFF INSTEAD.

AND INTERCEPTION.

JOSEPH, THE SECOND PICK OF THE DAY BY THE HURRICANE, PURPLE HURRICANE DEFENSE.

HE IS IN POSITION.

YOU WANT TO SEE IF HE CHANGES ROLLS AND BECOMES A DEFENDER AND KNOCKS HIM DOWN.

HE COULD NOT GET TO HIM.

JOSEPH COMING THROUGH WITH THE BIG PICK.

MAKES THE BIG PLAY, PROBABLE HELPS TO SEAL THE VICTORY AND THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

THIS TEAM, A LITTLE SMILE ON THE FACE.

LOOK AT HIM.

BEEN A GAME OF MOMENTUM SWINGS.

NO QUESTION.

FITZGERALD NOW TAKES OVER.

GOOD WIN, STOPPED.

AND HE DID GET OUT OF THE END ZONE, THEY WANT TO SAVE.

BUT THEY WILL GET HIM FORWARD PROGRESS, OUT TO THE HALF YARD LINE.

HE DID LOSE A BIT.

AND WE HAVE A TIME-OUT, THIS MAY BE THOMASVILLE'S THIRD AND FINAL TIME-OUT.

>> Referee: TIME-OUT.

THOMASVILLE, THIRD AND FINAL TIME-OUT OF THE HALF.

>> THOMASVILLE, THE LAST TIME THEY STOPPED THE CLOCK, LET'S LOOK AT THE LAST FIVE PLAYOFF APPEARANCES.

WE TALK ABOUT AGAIN, THAT THEY HAVE REACHED THE QUARTERFINALS, 4 OF THE PAST 5 YEARS.

DUBLIN GETTING IN THEIR WAY.

DUBLIN THE STATE CHAMP TWO YEARS AGO AND SO, QUALITY LOSSES.

LET'S GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR THAT.

>> GREAT PROGRAMS THEY WERE FACING AND BLOCKED THE PATH GETTING TO THIS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AND HAVING A CHANCE TO PLAY FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP TODAY.

THIS TIME AROUND, THEY MADE IT.

IT'S A GAME.

>> SURE DID.

>> AND WHAT A RUN IT HAS BEEN THROUGHOUT THE PLAYOFF RUN.

41 POINTS PER GAME IN THE FOUR GAMES TO GET HERE.

BUT THEY RUN IN TO A QUANDARY HERE WITH THE DEFENSE AND A ONE-TOUCHDOWN BEYOND THE THIRD QUARTER.

>> THOMASVILLE, THE IMPRESSIVE WIN IN THE QUARTERFINAL ROUND.

SACKED SEVEN TIMES.

>> THE COACH, TALKING ABOUT TAKING THE TEAM ON THE ROAD EVERY YEAR TO GET THEM USED TO PAYING IN HOTELS AND THAT KIND OF THING.

WENT UP TO CODY COUNTY, LOST THE GAME, BROUGHT THE SENIORS ON THE FIELD AFTER THE GAME.

AND SAID, HOW DO YOU FEEL RIGHT NOW?

LET'S NOT FEEL THAT WAY AGAIN.

>> THE MOMENTUM, WHAT HE WANTED TO DO WITH THE TEAM.

AND THE MIND-SET THAT IT PUT THE TEAM IN TO.

THIRD DOWN NOW.

AND RUN BACK IN THE GAME.

>> CLOCK RUNNING UNDER 2:00 TO PLAY HERE.

>> STOPPED, NEEDED IT HERE FOR THOMASVILLE.

THE PUSH FORWARD.

LOSES THE HELMET IN THE PROCESS.

BRINGS UP FOURTH DOWN.

AND AGAIN, THE TIME IS THE BIGGER FACTOR.

PLAY STOPPED FOR A MOMENT, AND COOPER'S HELMET CAME OFF.

WE DID NOT SEE GOODMAN ON THE FINAL TWO PLAYS, WHAT A DAY HE HAS HAD, 54 IN THE SECOND HALF.

CAME LATE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, SHUT DOWN IN THE THIRD QUARTER.

AND HE HAS MADE PLAYS TO KEEP DRIVES ALIVE AND KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING FORFEITS GERALD.

>> HE CAME UP WITH BIG RUNS WHEN IT WAS NEEDED.

ESPECIALLY IN THE LONG POSSESSION IS THAT WAS JUST HAD.

ALMOST SEVEN MINUTES THEY TOOK OFF THE CLOCK.

DIDN'T GET POINTS AND KEPT THOMASVILLE AWAY.

>> EVEN AFTER THE INTERCEPTION IS.

GETS THE PUNT AWAY FOR FITZGERALD.

TAKING THE CLOCK DOWN NOW TO ALMOST A MINUTE AND THOMASVILLE NEEDING TWO TOUCHDOWNS.

>> TOUGH, TOUGH.

CHECKING OUT THE PLAY OF THE GAME.

COMES UP WHEN THE TEAM NEEDS IT, BIG TIME, WITH AN INTERCEPTION THAT HAS A SCORING THREAT AND HELPS TO SECURE IT WITH A PURPLE HURRICANE.

NOW, JUST A MINUTE AWAY.

>> 63 SECONDS LEFT AND THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE PLAY THAT DECIDED THE FATE OF THIS.

AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FINAL MOMENTS.

WHITE, THAT BALL SAILS OUT OF BOUNDS.

TRYING GET TO CODY ON THE LINE.

50 SECONDS TO GO.

JOSEPH'S INTERCEPTION.

THE SECOND PICK OF THE AFTERNOON.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT, AGAIN, COACH PRUITT TELLING US THAT LIMITING THE MISTAKES THEY MADE IN THE LOSS BACK TO WEEK NINE WAS BIG.

NO TURN OVERS AND IT CAME IN AT THE WORSE TIME EVER FOR THE BULLDOGS.

>> A PASS, OUT IN TO THE FLAT.

WHO WAS MAKING THE CATCH.

AND GOING IN BOUNDS AND THOUGH TIME-OUTS TO STOP THE CLOCK FOR THOMASVILLE.

YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

THE COACH WAS GETTING ENOUGH TO GET THEM A CHANCE TO WIN IT THE FIRST TIME.

AND THEY WENT TO GET AN OPPORTUNITY.

THIRD AND FIVE.

PASS TO CODY, FIRST PASS, SLIDING IT DOWN.

HE DOES NOT.

CLOCK WILL STOP WITH THE CHANGE MOVING AND IT WILL START QUICKLY.

A CHANCE FOR THOMAS VILLE TO GET BACK IN POSITION QUICKLY.

TIME WINDING DOWN.

THOMASVILLE, THE REGION, CAN'T BE BEAT, TO WIN THE REGION.

CHAMPIONSHIP BACK IN WEEK NINE.

WHITE.

SPIKES THE BALL.

32 YARDS AND THAT WAS THE LAST PICK UP.

WHITE, TRYING TO FIND AN OPENING AND TRYING TO GET IT TO THURMON, BUT IT'S HIGH OFF THE HAND THERE AND BRINGS UP SECOND DOWN AND FITZGERALD, TUCKER PRUITT, HE WAS THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR, AND THEY WON THE STATE TITLE IN 2016.

AND TOOK OVER THE PROGRAM.

CLOSING IN.

WHITE.

UNDER DURESS AND BROUGHT DOWN.

AND THAT WILL END IT.

FITZGERALD, TAKE THE STATE TITLE.

GOOD JOB, COACH.

NOT DOING ANYTHING BETTER.

>> NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING.

>> TO SEE IT AND REGARDLESS OF WHO WINS.

AND ESPECIALLY A STORY LIKE THIS TEAM.

AND THIS PROGRAM.

WE TALK ABOUT IT, TEARS EVERYWHERE IN THE CROWD.

YEARS AGO.

AND THEY SEE THIS DAY.

THIS IS A PROGRAM AND A COMMUNITY, THEY SAID HEY LOOK, 4 OF THE 5 OFFENSE LINEMEN WERE SOPHOMORES.

WE HAD GUYS WITH NO VARSITY EXPERIENCE.

HE IS DESERVING TO MAKE PLAYER OF THE GAME.

WHAT A DAY FOR HIM.

175 YARDS AND 32 CARRIES AND A TOUCHDOWN.

>> YOU KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO GO HIM, THEY GUARDED HIM, THINK HAD TO.

AND A SECOND TOUCHDOWN LATER IN THE GAME.

21-0 AT THAT POINT.

HAD A TOUCHDOWN.

>> WILLOX, 42 YARDS, SEVEN CARRIES.

>> 21-7 THE FINAL.

LET'S GO TO JOHN NELSON.

WHO HAS THE HARDWARE.

>> THANK YOU SEVEN, LARRY SMITH.

IT IS THAT TIME.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, BEFORE WE PRESENT THE CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY, SHOUT OUT TO EVERYONE IN THOMASVILLE.

TREMENDOUS SEASON.

>> NOW IT'S TIME TO PRESENT THE CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY IN CLASS DOUBLE-A.

>> WHAT A GREAT GAME, AND I WANT TO GET MY CONGRATULATIONS TO THOMASVILLE, AS WELL.

AND CONGRATULATIONS TO TOWN THAT CAME OUT AND SUPPORTED THEIR TEAM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE WOULD LIKE TO REMEMBER BE MY TEAMMATE, GREAT LINEBACKER ON THE TEAMS IN THE 70s.

I TODAY IT BELONGS TO FITZGERALD.

SGL THANK YOU TO THE FITZGERALD COMMUNITY THAT SHOWED UP TODAY.

COACH, YOU GO IT DONE.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU THIS CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

COACH.

MOVE THAT WAY.

THEY TALKED ABOUT 1948, THEY TALKED ABOUT CLASS C ALL OF THE TIMES WHEN YOU MADE IT TO THE LAST GAME OF THE YEAR.

A PLAYER, A COACH, NOW, AS THE HEAD COACH.

PRAISE GOD, THIS IS A VERY AWESOME THING TO BE A PART OF.

WE WERE IN THE SAME STADIUM, AND THAT WAS A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW OH.

IN THE GAME OF FOOTBALL.

IT'S NOT WHETHER YOU GET KNOCKED DOWN, IT'S WHETHER YOU GET BACK UP.

OUR KIDS DUSTED THEMSELVES OFF.

WE HAD HOLES TO FILL.

AND THEY KEPT BELIEVING IN THEIR STANDARD AND YOU LOOK UP HERE AND WE DID IT.

>> PHYSICAL FOOTBALL ALL DAY LONG.

IT WAS BETWEEN THE TACKLES.

AND GETTING TO THE EDGE.

A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THE OFFENSIVE LINE.

JUST MASHING FOLKS ALL DAY LONG AND CLEARING HOLES FOR FOLKS.

>> IT'S INCREDIBLE TO THINK WHERE WE STARTED AND CAME OUT.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR PLAYERS NOR BELIEVING IN OUR VISION.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR ASSISTANT COACHES AND OUR ADMINISTRATION FORGETTING US THE SPORT THAT WE NEED TO WIN.

AND OUR BOOSTER CLUB THAT DOES SO MUCH FOR US AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, OUR FANS.

THIS IS A HUGE DAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND ALL OF OUR FUTURE, CURRENT AND FORMER HURRICANES.

WE FINALLY DID IT.

>> FIRST TITLE SINCE 1948.

LET THE CELEBRATION BEGIN AND LARRY, SMITH, WE WILL CATCH UP WITH YOU IN A BIT.

>> WITH ON OUR PLAYER OF THE GAME.

>> AND HE WILL WITH DO.

THAT AND WHAT A MOMENT HERE, THEY GET EVERYONE TOGETHER FOR A PICTURE THAT THEY WILL NEVER, EVER FORGET.

>> WHERE WILL THIS PHOTO END UP?

>> WHERE WILL THIS PHOTO END UP?

>> YOU KNOW, IN HOW MANY PLACES.

>> IT WILL BE IN THE DRUG STORE.

YOU KNOW, THE RESTAURANT, THE PLACE THAT PEOPLE GO TO GET BREAKFASTS.

THE PICTURES WILL SHOW UP IN THAT TOWN AND EVERY HOME.

AND WHOEVER HAS BEEN CONNECT WITH THE SCHOOL WILL WANT THIS PHOTOGRAPH.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW.

IT'S THAT KIND OF MOMENT.

AND IT MEANS TO THE SCHOOLS TO THE PLAYERS AND COACHES AND COMMUNITY.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

AND IT WAS WORTH THE DRIVE.

TO COME UP HERE AND BE A PART OF IT.

I THINK MOST OF THEM CAME UP HERE.

>> YOU ARE TRYING TO BUY A BURGER.

MID AFTERNOON, GOOD LUCK .

EVERYONE IS UP HERE IN ATLANTA.

>> EVERYONE IS HERE IN ATLANTA.

>> YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THE, THE BLOG THAT I WROTE.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE GAME BEING PLAYED AND THE HISTORY AND THE TEAMS THAT PLAYED HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE THE CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY BOOK.

AND WHAT A CHAPTER THEY GET TO WRITE.

THE FIRST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE SCHOOL SINCE 1948.

WE APPRECIATE THAT WE HAD A CHANCE TO WITNESS IT TODAY.

>> ALONG AGO NOT ONLY WERE THE COACHES NOT BORN.

THE PLAYERS WERE NOT BORN.

>> LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT IT.

>> THAT PHOTOGRAPH, AND I HOPE IT ENDS UP SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY HAD IT IN 1948.

LINE THE PHOTOS UP TOGETHER.

TROPHY CASES SOMEWHERE IN TOWN.

IT WILL BE BIG FOR THE TEAM.

>> AND WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW YOUNG THEY WERE.

THE ADVERSITY THEY WENT IN.

NEW QUARTERBACK IN COOPER.

HE HAS BEEN INJURED IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE FIRST GAME.

HE COULD NOT PLAY.

MOMENTUM IS THWARTED THEN.

YOU GET GOOD WIN, PLAYER OF THE GAME AS A RUNNING BACK.

TWO TOUCHDOWNS.

HE COMES IN AND PLAYS QUARTERBACK.

GOES 4-1. COOPER COMES BACK IN.

ALL THE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN ARE TRYING TO START AND A PROGRAM, BY THE WAY, THAT THEY DON'T DO SPRING FOOTBALL.

IT'S A SMALL SCHOOL.

>> YOU HAVE GUYS PLAYING EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> HE HAS TO BE PLAYING BASEBALL.

THOROUGHLY RUNNING TRACK AND PLAYING SOCCER AND, SPRING FOOTBALL IS A TOUGH EFFORT.

WE THINK ABOUT WITH IT BE AS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE DOES.

BUT THEY DON'T DO IT AND THEY WIN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

21, BACK DOWN TO JOHN NELSON.

HE IS WITH OUR PLAYER OF THE GAME.

JOHN.

>> TIME TO CATCH UP WITH THE NORTH GOODWIN.

OUR GEORGIA COMMISSION PLAYER OF THE GAME.

YOU HAD A BIT OF A DAY, DIDN'T?

>> WHAT WAS IT LIKE OUT THERE?

>> YOU ARE REGION RIFLES.

YOU KNOW IT'S 1VERSUS2.

LET'S GO BACK, IT WAS A GRINDER.

WE KNEW IT WAS A GRINDER.

59-8 FINAL, WHAT WAS IT LIKE IN THE REGULAR SEASON?

>> IT WAS STILL A CHAMPIONSHIP ENVIRONMENT.

BUT I BELIEVE, A LOT OF MY GUYS FELT THAT WE HAD IT BEFORE WE PLAYED THEM.

>> WE KNEW WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO.

YOU CAME OUT AND DID IT FROM TACKLE TO TACKLE.

IT WAS A LOT OF LARGE BODIES IN A SMALL AMOUNT OF SPACE CLEARING HOLES.

YOU GOT TO THE EDGE AND I THINK THAT WAS AS IMPORTANT.

THE SECOND YOU GOT TO THE EDGE.

EVERYONE KEPT CONTAINED AND YOU GOT SOME BIG GAMES THERE.

>> WHAT WAS IT LIKE WITH THE OFFENSIVE LINE LOOKING IN THE HUDDLE AND JUST LIKE, ALL RIGHT, YOU ARE GOING TO DO THIS.

WHEN YOUR NUMBER IS CALLED.

WHAT IS IT LIKE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, I ACCEPT THE MOMENT AND I KNOW, MY GUY HAS ME, MY GUYS TRUST ME.

SO I TRY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

DO WHATEVER I CAN DO TO HELP MY GUYS.

>> WHAT WAS THE WEEK OF PREPARATION LIKE?

>> INTENSE, INTENSE.

>> A LOT OF INTENSITY.

A LOT OF PHYSICAL, PHYSICAL, BECAUSE, YOU KNEW, 2A IS ONE OF THE MOST TOUGH REGIONS IN GEORGIA.

WE KNEW IT WOULD BE A SLUG FEST.

WE WERE PREPARED FOR IT.

>> HAS IT SUNK IN THAT IT'S THE FIRST STATE TITLE SINCE 1948?

>> IT HAS.

IT HAS.

AT THE END OF THE GAME, I HAD TEARS.

WE JUST MADE HISTORY.

IT'S BEEN 70 SOMETHING YEARS.

THAT ALWAYS FEELS GREAT.

>> 48-52, 73 YEARS.

CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING THE GEORGIA COMMISSION PLAYER OF THE GAME.

CONGRATS ON YOUR BIG GAME AND THE TEAM HAD, AND THE STATE TITLE.

HANG WITH US FOR A SECOND.

AND LARRY, BACK TO YOU.

THAT'S OUR PLAYER OF THE GAME WITH A BIG DAY FOR A TITLE.

>> I THINK WE MAY GIVE YOU PLAYER OF THE GAME FOR NELSON.

>> ISN'T THAT GREAT?

>> GREAT JOB.

>> WAY TO GO.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> HAD A BIG DAY.

SOMEWHAT.

THAT'S THE QUOTE OF THE DAY.

>> I LOVE IT.

>> SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> CREDIT FOR HIM, CAME HERE A YEAR AGO AND LOST IN THE TITLE GAME AND CAME BACK THE NEXT YEAR.

IT'S A NEW LINEUP, AND THEY GET THE WIN AND THE FIRST STATE TITLE AGAIN.

IT'S THE OFFICIAL MASK FROM JOHN NELSON.

>> IT IS BIGGING -- HERE.

AND WHEN A DAY IT HAS BEEN ALREADY.

WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED.

THE CLASS 2-A CHAMPION.

FITZGERALD, DID NOT LET THE LOSS IN WEEK NINE DETER THEM AT ALL.

THEY CAME BACK AND PUT THEM IN THE TEAM THAT GOT THEM IN THE REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND THEY CAME BACK AND HAD THE STATE TITLE.

IT WAS AN ENTIRE PURPLE HURRICANE TEAM.

WHAT A DAY AND WHAT A WAY TO BEGIN OUR DAY HERE ON GPB, MUCH MORE FOOTBALL TO COME FOR OUR REPORTER ON THE SIGHT LOOIPDS, WILEY BALLARD.

FOR OUR PRODUCER, RUSH AARON AND SAM CRENSHAW, I'M LARRY SMITH.

MUCH MORE FOOTBALL TO COME HERE ON GPB.

>>> WELCOME IN TO THE TAILGATE PARTY.

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, WE ARE REMINDING YOU TO BUCKLE UP, GEORGIA.

WE ARE LIVE FROM YOUR MID TOWN STUDIOS.

WE WITNESSED THE 2-A CHAMPIONSHIP BETWEEN FITZGERALD AND THOMASVILLE.

THE PURPLE HURRICANES ARE CROWNED CHAMPIONS.

THEY WON 21-7, CONGRATULATIONS TO COACH PRUITT, 73 YEARS OF TITLE DROUGHT NO MORE.

BIG, BIG VICTORY FOR THEIR PROGRAM.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM, AGAIN, AND LIKE I SAID, THIS IS DAY TWO OF OUR CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND.

WE JUST WITNESSED GAME ONE AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE GOT THERE.

AND GO THROUGH THE GEORGIA EMC SCOREBOARD.

GEORGIA EMC, SO MUCH MORE THAN ELECTRICITY.

>> WE CLOSED OUT THE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A DIVISION 3 MATCH UP.

THAT WAS CLASS A CLASSIFICATION.

AND WENT FOR THE RIVAL, MARIETTA.

THAT WAS A FINAL OF 26.

THEY WON BIG.

THAT GAME, 55-28.

THEY REMAINED UNDEFEATED FOR THEIR SEASON.

WE CLOSED OUT, BROOKS COUNTY GOT IT DONE AND HAD IT BIG, THEY BROUGHT THE HAMMER.

AND THEN WE BRING YOU FRIDAY.

TODAY'S GAME.

THOMASVILLE.

LOOKING FOR THE FIRST TITLE SINCE 1948.

THE QUAD-A MATCH UP.

THIS IS THE FIRST MEETING OF THE TEAMS AND WE WILL SEE HOW IT GOES.

WE WILL WRAP UP THE GAME WITH HUGHES AND BUFORD, IT KICKS OFF AT 7:00 P.M.

TOMORROW IS OUR LAST GAY OF OUR CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

WE WILL KICK IT OFF WITH THE, I'M SORRY, THE 3-A CHAMPIONSHIP.

THEN WE WILL HAVE WARNER ROBBINS.

AND THE DEFENDING STATE CHAMPS AND WE WILL WRAP UP THE CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND WITH A TITLE GAME.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT FOOTBALL COMING UP.

AND WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A FEW STAND OUT PLAYERS THAT HAD AN EXCEPTIONAL SEASON AND EVERY YEAR, GPB GETS TO VOTE ON THE ALL-STATE TEAM.

AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT TO JOHN NELSON WHO WILL CATCH US UP ON THE ALL-STARS ON THE OFFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL.

>> LET'S LOOK AT THE ALL-STARS ON OFFENSE.

A LOT OF OFFENSE AROUND THE STATE WAS ON DISPLAY IN 2021.

TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF QUARTERBACKS.

WE WILL GIVE YOU A PICK SIX HERE.

PRO STYLE QUARTERBACK.

SAM HORN FROM -- HILL.

THE RUNNING BACK.

ANTONIO MARTIN FROM HUGHES, AND CEDAR GROVE.

>> COLE SPEAR FROM CALHOUN.

CATCHING PASSES FROM HIS BROTHER.

ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE, PRITCHETT FROM CARVER, AND ADDISON NICKEL, AND LEE COUNTY.

LANGSTON HUGHES.

AND STRONG FROM GRAYSON AND LOCKET FROM -- IT SHOULD BE FUN TO WATCH.

>> NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, AND THE NUMBERS THAT THEY HAVE PUT UP A ON OFFENSE THIS SEASON.

STAGGERING.

AND THE FOLKS ARE EXCITED ABOUT HAVING HIM GOING THAT WAY.

IT WAS INTERESTING PUTTING THE LIST TOGETHER.

WE HAD TO DIVIDE THE LIST.

AND SO, 3 OF EACH, SO, TRYING TO BE FAIR TO PUT THE BEST SIX OUT THERE, THERE WAS SOME THAT DID NOT MAKE THE LIST BECAUSE THEY ARE UNDER CLASSMAN.

A LOT OF THEM, LET'S FOCUS ON THE DEFENSIVE ALL-STARS.

TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE GPB ALL-STARS ON DEFENSE FOR 2021.

WE WILL START AT THE DEFENSIVE LINE AND TRY TO GET THROUGH THEM.

CHRISTIAN MILLER.

AND DEREK SMITH.

TWO JUNIORS MAKE THE LIST.

ADD TO THIS WAUCHBLT DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH.

LINEBACKER.

WASHINGTON FROM CEDAR TOWN.

MARTIN, AND CREEK SIDE.

AND HARRIS FROM COLUMBIA.

AND McGOWAN FROM VOLDOSTA, AND STARTING WITH GUEY FROM BAINBRIDGE.

AND RIM FROM VALDOSTA, MARCUS ALLEN FROM WALTON.

HARDY FROM GAC, YOUR PUNTER IN 2021.

NPIANG FROM RIVERDALE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE RETURNERS FROM THE DEFENSE.

AND DIGGS FROM BROOKLYN.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

THAT'S YOUR GPB ALL-STARS ON DEFENSE IN 2021.

THERE WERE TWO JUNIORS THAT WERE MENTIONED, THEY ARE BOTH PLAYING IN STATE TITLE GAMES.

HOW GOOD ARE THEY?

>>.

>> GOOD ENOUGH TO BE ON THE LIST AS JUNIORS.

I KNOW IT'S A LOADED QUESTION.

YOU SEE THE GUYS ON THE LIST, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT THE WIDE RANGING GEOGRAPHY THAT IS ATTACHED.

YOU LOOK AT THE DEFENSE.

AND THERE'S FOLKS FROM GWINNETT COUNTY.

C.J.

WASHINGTON FROM CEDAR TOWN ON.

LEE COUNTY IS ART OF IT.

TWO FROM VALDOSTA, THERE'S A LOT, A GREAT CROSS SECTION ON THE DEFENSIVE LIST OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

>> IT SHOULD BE A TREMENDOUS FINISH OF WATCHING THIS BUNCH.

WHAT A GREAT BUNCH OF STUDENT ATHLETES.

AND IT WILL BE A LOT OF FUN WATCHING THEM.

AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND SEND IT BACK TO JOHN.

ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST FOR US?

WE DO AND IT'S COMING UP IN A BIT.

AS WE DO A LITTLE JUGGLING HERE FOR LIVE TELEVISION.

>> HANGING OUT WITH US WILL BE WALKER FROM THE DIVISION DIRECTOR FOR THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE DIVISION OF THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND SHE WILL LET US KNOW ABOUT IMPORTANT PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVE DOING ON.

FIRST OFF, THANK YOU FOR HANGING OUT WITH US ON THE HALFTIME AND FOOTBALL FRIDAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS MAY NOT NECESSARILY KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE DIVISION WITH COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT WHAT IS IT THAT YOU DO?

>> WE DEFINITELY WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THE GEORGIA RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

WE KNOW THAT HERE IN THE GAME, THERE'S PROBABLY ONE PLAYER WHO'S FAMILY IS FACING EVICTION BECAUSE THEY CANNOT PAY THE RENT OR UTILITIES.

WE CAN PAY RENT AND UTILITIES FOR THOSE IN NEED FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY COVID-19, OR DURING THE PANDEMIC HAVE HAD FINANCIAL STEP BACKS.

>> THERE'S STEPS TO DO IT.

WHAT ARE THE STEPS?

>> WHAT WE NEED PEOPLE TO DO, GO TO OUR WEBSITE, IT'S PAY MY RENT.GA.GOV.

AND ONCE YOU GO IN THE WEBSITE, IT WILL DETERMINE YOUR ELIGIBILITY.

WE LOOK AT VERY FEW CRITERIA.

YOUR INCOME AND IF YOU ARE BEHIND IN RENT AND IF YOU ARE PAST DUE AND WANT YOUR LANDLORD TO BE PAID.

AND IF YOU ARE BEHIND IN UTILITIES.

LIKE ANY OTHER UTILITY IN THE STATE.

YOU CAN GO IN AND PROVIDE THE INFORMATION AND WE HAVE MONEY READY AND AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED SINCE MARCH OF 2020.

>> AND ONE OF THE OTHER ASPECTS IN ALL OF IT THAT IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S NOT JUST A STOPGAP.

IT COULD BE ONE OR TWO MONTHS.

THIS COULD BE SOMETHING THAT HELPS THEM OUT FOR MOSS, IF NOT YEAR AND YEAR AND A HALF OR SO.

THERE'S NO CAP ON THE AMOUNT WE CAN PAY EACH MONTH AND IT'S UP TO 18 MONTHS OF ASSISTANCE.

SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT IF YOU ARE OUT THERE AND YOU KNOW YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, GO TO OUR WEBSITE, PAY MY RENT.GA.GOV, GO AHEAD AND APPLY, IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE, WE CAN PAY UP TO 18 MONTHS OF RENT AND UTILITIES THAT YOU NEED.

>> WHAT IS IT LIKE TO SEE THAT KIND OF INTERACTION FOR YOU GUYS WHEN YOU GET PEOPLE WHAT THEY NEED?

>> WE LOVE IT.

WE KNOW THE PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED PEOPLE UNEXPECTED AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO COME OUT AND THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES LIKE THIS, WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER THEIR RENT OR UTILITIES HAVE BEEN PAID.

IF THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE LIGHTS AND A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE.

NOT ONLY IS IT A PROGRAM THAT WE ARE DOING IT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY OF AFFAIRS.

WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE IT STATEWIDE AND IT ENSURES THAT PEOPLE HAVE SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> WEBSITE ONE MORE TIME?

>> PAY MY RENT.GA.GOV.

>> THANK YOU FOR HANGING OUT WITH US ON THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES HERE AT CENTER PARK.

>> THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK TO THE TEAMS.

>> STAY THERE, NICKY, AGAIN, WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT FOLKS HELPING ANYONE WHEN NEEDS IT HERE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT.

>> THANK YOU, WE WILL HAVE MORE FOOTBALL AND MORE GUESTS COMING UP AFTER THIS MESSAGE.

>>> WE ARE HANGING OUT IN THE GPB STUDIOS HERE IN ATLANTA.

WE ARE GETTING READY FOR THE QUAD-A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BETWEEN CARVER COLUMBUS AND BENEDICTINE, LET'S CHECK IN WITH JOHN NELSON.

HE HAS A SPECIAL MESSAGE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, NICKY.

SEAT BELTS SAVE LIVES.

PLAIN AND SIMPLE AND DESPITE IT BEING A PIECE OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE, PEOPLE STILL USE THEM.

THE NEXT SEGMENT IS HOW IMPORTANT SEAT BELTS ARE IN KEEPING YOU SAFE.

>> I AM FROM AN HOUR AWAY FROM MANCHESTER IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND.

I'M HERE ON A LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP.

WE PLAYED ON THE 23rd OF MARCH IN 2019.

AFTER THAT, WE DECIDED TO GO AND WE GOT IN THE CAR AND WENT BACK, AND IT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES IN MY LIFE I DID NOT PUT A SEAT BELT ON.

HE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND FLIPPED.

SO, I WAS THROWN OUT OF THE CAR AND I THINK MAYBE THE WINDSHIELD OR SIDE WINDOW.

I WAS IN A MEDICALLY INDUCED COMA FOR FOUR OR FIVE DAYS.

I HAD A BLOOD TRANSFUSION.

LIVER, SPLEEN, SPINAL, LUNG SURGERY.

I WAS PRETTY DEPRESSED ABOUT THE WHOLE SITUATION.

AND THEY WERE SAYING OH, YOU CAN DO IT, YOU CAN DO IT.

I WENT BACK TO SEE THE NEUROLOGIST AGAIN IN AUGUST OF 2020 AND HE DROPPED THE SCAN.

EVERY TIME A DRIVE A CAR.

I KNOW IT'S STRAIGHT AWAY MUSCLE MEMORY NOW.

ONE SILLY MISTAKE AND THIS, THIS WHOLE STORY COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.

IT'S ONE SECOND IN YOUR DAY.

JUST CLICK IT.

IT'S NOT WORTH RISKING.

>>> THE STORY ABOUT AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY, IN BLUE RIDGE AND WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT A PARTICULAR STORY, THAT YOU HAVE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT, AND YOU ARE ABLE TO DO IT, YOU GET TO MEET A LOT OF REALLY COOL PEOPLE AND GET TO FIND OUT STORIES ABOUT ADVERSITY AND WORKING YOUR WAY THROUGH IT AND HOW A COMMUNITY WRAPS ITSELF AROUND ONE ANOTHER TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE.

HERE'S THE STORY.

ABOUT JUST ONE SUCH CASE.

THEY HAVE TO STAY WARM IN PRACTICE, SO LIKE EVERY OTHER QB, IT'S A SIMPLE TRIANGLE, THROW, CATCH, TOSS, RETURN.

ONE PARTNER IS A BROTHER, IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.

SHARED IN TRIBUTE BECAUSE SETH WAS PLAYING FOR TWO.

>> THEY PUT HIM IN.

THAT ALMOST DIDN'T HAPPEN.

THE PROMISING FINAL YEAR WAS PUT ON HOLD AFTER HE COLLAPSED AT HOME.

>> WHEN I GOT ON DOWN TO HIS ROOM IN THE BASEMENT, HE WAS NONRESPONSIVE.

ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS HIM DYING IN FRONT OF ME.

AND I WENT IN TO PANIC MODE.

DOING EVERYTHING THAT I KNEW TO DO.

IT WAS BASICALLY JUST, YOU KNOW, I WAS PRAYING.

ANYTHING THAT COULD RUN THROUGH YOUR HEAD TO SAVE YOUR CHILD.

IT WAS JUST TOTAL PANIC.

>> LAST SEASON, HE GOT SCOUT TEAM RUNNING BACK.

AND BEST PLAYER ALL AROUND, AND ALL THOSE AWARDS AND COACH WAS ALL SPRING SAYING, HAVE JACKSON READY, HAVE JACKSON READY, HE WILL BE A BIG PART THIS YEAR.

WE ARE GOING BACK.

SO WHEN JACKSON HEARD THAT NEWS, IT JUST CRUSHED HIM.

>> THE DIAGNOSIS, A BRAIN TUMOR, BENIGN BUT HE HAS HAD TO FIGHT BACK AFTER MULTIPLE HOSPITAL VISITS, SEIZURES, IT RUNS UP AND IT GOES, AND THERE'S, THEY DID THE CUT THROUGH HERE.

>> THE 2021 SPOKE VOLUMES.

>> HE IS FAMILY, HE IS BLOOD, NO HATTER WHAT.

AND I KNOW HE WOULD DO IT FOR ME.

SO, IT WAS THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK TO DO.

>> THE WAY HE PLAYS AND RUNS.

AND JUST PLAYS HARD FOR ME, AND STUFF, IT'S JUST, I CAN'T.

I CAN'T PUT KNIT TO PERSPECTIVE HOW GOOD IT MAKES ME FEEL INSIDE AND I PROMISED HIM I WOULD TAKE HIM FISHING AND HUNTING.

SO -- >> I SAID I HEARD YOU CANNOT PLAY THIS YEAR, SO I WILL WEAR YOUR NUMBER.

>> BY HIM WEARING 23, IT MEANS SOMETHING.

SETH IS AN AWESOME PLAYER.

HIS NUMBER IS CALLED OUT A LOT.

FOR THE LONGEST TIME, THEY CALLED OUT JACKSON DAVIS ON THE FIELD.

SO, FOR A COUPLE OF GAMES I GOT TO HEAR HIS NAME CALLED ON THE FIELD.

WHICH WAS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A BITTER SWEET, BUT IT WAS NICE.

>> THE REGION TITLE, EVERYTHING RODE ON SENIOR NIGHT IN BLUE RIDGE AND SETH MADE SURE EVERYONE KNEW WHAT WAS IN HIS HEART.

>> AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK JACKSON DAVIS FOR BEING HIS BIGGEST INSPIRATION.

>> IT WAS SPECIAL.

ESPECIALLY WALKING ACROSS AND HEARING SETH, WHO HIS HERO GOES.

IT HIT MY HEART.

I ALMOST TEARED YOU UP THAT NIGHT.

>> I WAS SPEECHLESS.

I WAS JUST IN AWE, I WAS LIKE, WO WITH W, BECAUSE, THAT WAS SOMETHING TO WATCH THE TW OF THEM.

THAT WAS THE BEST PART.

HUMBLE, JACKSON THINKS OF HIM.

IN RETURN.

HE IS THE SAME WITH JACKSON.

>> DID YOU NOTICE SOMETHING IN THE HEAD COACH MADE SURE IN THE LAST REGULAR SEASON GAME, SETH WENT BACK TO FIVE AND JACKSON WAS HEALTHY ENOUGH TO WEAR HIS NUMBER AT THE COIN TOSS.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN IN THEIR IN THE AMBULANCE AND THE HELICOPTER AND WATCH HIM.

IT'S WORTH IT.

>> HE GOT TO GO A STEP FURTHER.

>> NO WAY, NO WAY, NO WAY, THEY ARE PUTTING HIM IN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S IS AWESOME.

>> STRESS TEST ON JACKSON ALL CAME BACK POSITIVE.

THE LAST SERIES WAS ONE OF HIS TO TAKE PART.

>> IT WAS A COOL EXPERIENCE TO TAKE.

28 YEARS OF DOING THIS.

IT WAS SO SPECIAL.

AND TO SEE HIM ON THE FIELD.

AND TO BE RIGHT THERE, SO INTENT.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF JACKSON WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF ON HIS OWN AND GO IN AND WEAR SOMEBODY OUT.

I WAS READY TO GRAB HIM AND THE KIDS TALKED ABOUT NUMBER TWO, ABSOLUTELY AMAZING THAT THEY RECOGNIZED THE SITUATION AND THEY MADE AN AWESOME RUN.

>> THE LAST FEW PLAYS.

PUT HIM ON THE SIDELINES.

LETS HIM RUN.

THREE TIMES.

HE PLAYED AND THAT WAS HIS, IT WAS AMAZING.

AND WONDERFUL MOMENT.

AND HE WILL REMEMBER THAT, FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE THAT, EXPERIENCE, THAT HE HAD TO GET THAT ONE LAST TIME.

>> IT WAS SOMETHING TO SEE.

I DON'T THINK, I DON'T THINK NO ONE HERE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE SEEN THAT.

BUT SEEING HIM IT'S GREAT.

>> I COULD NOT PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE.

>> I MEAN, WHEN I USED TO GET OUT THERE, AND I JUST GREAT.

>> TWO YOUNG MEN BEING THERE FOR EACH OTHER AND THE COMMUNITY RALLYING AROUND THE FAMILY IN NEED.

>>.

>> MY CHILDREN.

MY BOYS.

SHOUT OUT TO MIKE THOMASS AND WES NICHOLS WHO WERE INTEGRAL IN PUTTING THE PIECE TOGETHER AND A BIG SHOUT OUT TO EVERYONE IN THE HIGH SCHOOL IN BLUE RIDGE THAT WERE OPEN AND HONEST AND TELLING US THE STORY AND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GO ON THE ROAD LIKE THAT AND COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE, AND A GREAT STORY ABOUT BROTHERS AS WELL, A TREMENDOUS STORY IN BLUE RIDGE.

>> TREMENDOUS STORY, INDEED, IF YOU DON'T HAVE TEARS IN YOUR EYES RIGHT NOW, I WONDER ABOUT YOU.

JOHN, THAT WAS FANTASTIC.

>> WE HAVE MORE GUESTS, ALL THE THINGS COMING UP IN OUR TAILGATE PARTY.

STICK WITH US, WE WILL BE BACK IN A MINUTE.

>>> WELCOME BACK, EARLY SIGNING DAY IS COMING UP AND WE WILL BREAK DOWN THE TOP TALENT IN THE STATE.

>> WELCOME IN TO GPB SPORTS RECRUITING 2021.

BROUGHT TO US ABOUT OUR FRIENDS AT FARM'S BUREAU INSURANCE.

IT'S THE CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION WHERE WE TAKE A LOOK AT EVERYTHING.

THE TOP TEN, THE BEST OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY IS NEXT WEEK.

LAST YEAR IT WAS COOL.

>> YEP.

>> EVERYONE WAS IN THE BARN.

AND WE COULD ANALYZE THE ONLY THING THAT WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAS WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO JAKE GARCIA.

PLAYERS WERE SIGNING FOR THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CAREERS, I REMEMBER IN PARTICULAR.

IN THE BUFORD 6-A FINAL GENTLY COUNTY, THEIR RUNNING BACK GABE IRVIN DECIDED WITH NEBRASKA, IN TWO DAYS HE WAS GETTING READY TO HOP ON THE PLANE WITH LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, BACK TO NORMAL, IF YOU WILL THIS YEAR WITH NATIONAL SIGNING DAY COMING UP NEXT WEEK.

BUT HERE IN THE SHOW, JOHN, WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE TOP TEN PROSPECTS IN THE STATE AS WE STAND.

>> AS WE STAND A WEEK ACCOUNT OUT.

>> NUMBER ONE ON THE BOARD IS SOMEONE THAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF SEASONS ON FOOTBALL FRIDAY.

SAW HIM IN THE SEMIFINAL.

SAW HIM LAST YEAR IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

AND I JUST ASKED THE PUBLIC SERVICE FOR THE ALUMS HERE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, TRAVIS HUNTER.

>> TALKING ABOUT TRAVIS HUNTER.

>> PERHAPS YOU HAVE HEARD OF HIM.

>> I HAVE HEARD OF HIM.

FIVE STAR, NUMBER ONE RATED PROSPECT IN THE COUNTRY.

NUMBER ONE RATED CORNERBACK IN THE COUNTRY AND EQUALLY DANGEROUS AND LETHAL WIDE RECEIVER FROM THE COLLINSVILLE EAGLES.

FLORIDA STATE IN MARCH 2020, WHEN HE WAS STILL JUST A SOPHOMORE.

COMMITTED 15 OTHER OFFERS AND THERE'S BEEN SPECULATION THAT HE IS GOING TO FLIP AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE PROGRAM BEING DOWN AND ACCURATE AND THE HUNTER HAS BEEN STEAD FAST THAT HE IS GOING TO SIGN WITH FSU AND NOW, WE ARE A WEEK AWAY, FLORIDA, AND HE HAS CALLED FLORIDA STATE HIS DREAM SCHOOL.

WHY, SIR, WHY, WHY, WHY, A THOUSAND TIMES WHY.

WOULD YOU BE HEADING TO TALLAHASSEE?

>> WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO TAKE YOUR TALENTS TO FSU?

>> I AM FIXING TO GO AHEAD AND REBUILD THE PROGRAM.

I'M GOING ON GO AND MAKE A STATEMENT AND SHOW EVERYONE THAT WE CAN GO ANYWHERE AND PLAY ANY FOOTBALL.

ALL WE ARE GOING TO DO IS PLAY FOR FLORIDA STATE.

>> WHAT HE SAID.

EVOKING THE NAME OF PRIME TIME.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> PRIME TIME, 2.0 WITH TRAVIS.

>> AND I, I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE AND IF IT'S HEAD COACH, LEN WILLY GREGORY.

WANTS TO COACH, AND HE HAS COACHED A LOT OF GUYS IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, AND THEY BELIEVE THAT TRAVIS HUNTER WILL DO JUST THAT.

HE WILL BE THE GUY THAT PUTS FLORIDA STATE BACK ON THE MAP.

COLLINS HILL, ALL DO RESPECT ARE, MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, AVERAGE FOOTBALL PROGRAM.

WITH A FEW SPIKES IN THEIR HISTORY OF SUCCESS.

AND PRIMARILY JUST AN AVERAGE PROGRAM, AND YOU BROUGHT TRAVIS HUNTER N OR HE ENROLLED, THEY DIDN'T BRING HIM IN.

HE ENROLLED AND MOVED HERE FROM FLORIDA.

AND SAM HORN IS IN THE MIX AND PRESS TOE, THEY CAN TAKE THE EAGLES TO HEIGHTS THEY HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE.

AND LENNY GREGORY SAID HE FEELS LIKE HE CAN DO THE SAME THING.

>> GREAT YOUR LIPS, LENNY, GREGORY, THAT'S ALL THE ALUMS CAN ASK COME SIGNING DAY.

>> HIGHEST RATED PROSPECT IN THE BULLDOGS 24/7, HAD HIM CLASSIFIED AS A LINER BACKER.

HE SAID THAT HE WILL NOT PLAY THE POSITION IN GEORGIA.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT HIM AS AN ATHLETE.

THAT IS WHAT HE IS.

IF HE WAS AN ATHLETE, HE RATED ATHLETE IN THE COUNTRY.

MIGHT PLAY FREE SAFETY AND STRONG SAFETY, WON'T BE A QUARTERBACK.

HE COULD LINE UP AND BE A RUNNING BACK.

HE IS SO VERSATILE.

HE CAN SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.

EXCITED TO SEE WHAT KIRBY SMART AND THE BULLDOG STAFF DOES WITH HIM.

BACK IN OCTOBER.

GEORGIA RUNNING BACK COACHES, McGEE, DEEP TIES TO COLUMBUS.

PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN WILLIAMS RECRUITMENT.

FINISHED HIS CAREER WITH 207 TOTAL TACKLES AND 57.5 TACKLES FOR LOSS.

COMMITTED AFTER FLIPPING TO SOUTHERN CAL.

>> WHY ELSE DID YOU CHOOSE TO TAKE YOUR TALENTS TO THE DOGS?

>> BECAUSE THEY ARE THE HOME TEAM AND I CHOSE THEM.

>> YOU WENT TO VISITS ON FLORIDA AND AUBURN THOUGH.

WHAT WAS IT ABOUT ATHENS THAT FIT YOU SO RIGHT?

>> THE FANS, STADIUM AND LIKE THE FEELING OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA.

I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.

>> SO IT'S THE HOME TEAM, FANS AND EVERYTHING THAT WE KNOW ABOUT ATHENS ON A FOOTBALL SATURDAY IN THE SOUTH.

IT'S WHY HE ENDED UP GOING HOME.

>> IT'S AN ATTRACTIVE THING AND HARD THING TO OVER COME.

YOU GROW UP IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND YOU WANT GO AND PLAY FOR THE GEORGIA BULLDOGS.

IT'S AN UNSCIENTIFIC QUOTE, BUT KIDS GROW UP IN GEORGIA AND WATCH THE RED AND BLACK, SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, THEY WANT TO PLAY THERE.

AND ULTIMATELY HE DECIDED TO GO THERE.

>> NOT A SURPRISE.

SO, IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME, WON'T BE THE LAST.

NEXT ON THE LIST, WE GO TO THE QUARTERBACK AND IT'S A RECORD BREAKER AND IT WAS FUN TO SEE HIM LIGHT IT UP AS A QUARTERBACK HERE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

>> IT WAS, INDEED.

GUNNER STOCKTON, THE NUMBER SIX QUARTERBACK IN THE COUNTRY.

I THINK, YEAH, NUMBER SIX IN THE COUNTRY.

FOUR STAR.

UNFORTUNATELY, HIS BID TO WIN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP CAME UP SHORT HERE IN THE SENIOR YEAR.

STOPPED HIM YOU IN THE QUARTERFINALS.

BUT PUTTING TOGETHER ONE OF THE GREATEST QUARTERBACK HISTORIES IN STATE BOOKS.

HE BROKE TREVOR LAWRENCE'S PAST RECORD, HE CAME UP 300 YARDS SHORT OF TREVOR'S ALL-TIME PASSING RECORD.

HE IS A TRUE DUAL THREAT QUARTERBACK.

THIS YEAR, HE HAD 39 TOUCHDOWNS AND ONE INTERCEPTION.

KNOWS ON HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THE FOOTBALL.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HIS INSERTION IN TO THE TEAM LOOKS LIKE.

>> WHAT IS OUT LIKE TO SEE THE GUY IN CHARGE.

?

>> WHAT WAS IT ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH KIRBY SMART THAT KEPT YOU THERE WITH GEORGIA?

>> YES, MA'AM, HE KIND OF NEVER SHUT THE DOOR.

ASKED ME, ASKING ME AND WAS STRAIGHT WITH ME.

SO HE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT IS TO COME.

>> AND GEORGIA FANS WERE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WAS TO COME.

REMEMBER, HE WAS NOT ORIGINALLY COMMITTED TO GEORGIA, HE WAS COMMITTED TO SOUTH CAROLINA.

HE WAS FROM NOTRE DAME AND THE HEAD COACH.

WHEN MIKE BOBO WAS LET GO.

THAT OPENED THE DOOR FOR GEORGIA TO GET IN THERE AND GET GUNNER STOCKTON.

>> THINK ABOUT THE LOG JAM WITH GEORGIA.

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

>> YOU HAVE GUNNER STOCKTON HEADING IN.

AND VANDERGRIFT, GEORGIA IS TAKING A ALL OF THE ASSETS THEY CAN AND MATT, THEY ARE PUTTING THEM ALL IN SO NO ONE CAN TOUCH THEM.

>> YOU HAVE FIVE-STAR CARSON BECK, IS HIS TIME EVER GOING TO COME?

HAS HIS TIME PASSED AND WE DIDN'T KNOW IT?

AND OF COURSE, YOU HAVE J.T.

DANIELS, WHAT HAPPENS WITH HIM.

IS HE GOING TO BE BACK?

>> EXACTLY.

>> THE QUARTERBACK SITUATION IS GEORGIA S INTERESTING ALREADY.

EVEN MORE INTERESTING WHEN YOU ADD GUNNER STOCKTON.

HE IS A GOOD OLD BOY.

>> HM-MM.

>> AND WHEN HANNAH GOT THE YES MA'AM.

>> A GOOD OLD BOY.

>> VERY, VERY PLIGHT YOUNG MAN.

>> NEXT STOP IS A TRIP TO BAINBRIDGE AND WE HAVE SEEN HIM SINCE OUR FRESHMAN YEARS AND GPB, AND WE SAW IT IN THE 2018 FINAL.

BAINBRIDGE HAD THE SEASON.

BEAT ROBINS IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

AND THE FRESHMAN, THE TIME WAS GOING TO DO SOMETHING.

HE WAS GOING TO DO SOMETHING AND HE DID.

HE IS THE NATION'S NUMBER FOUR RATED SAFETY, HE WAS COMMITTED TO THE GEORGIA BULL DOGS.

EVERYTHING WAS SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF COVID.

ONCE THE NCAA REOPENED THE RECRUITING PROCESS, YOU COULD MAKE IT AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

HE DECOMMITTED FROM GEORGIA, FLIPPED TO TEXAS A&M.

DEFINITELY KICK RETURN WILL BE IN HIS FUTURE.

DEFINITELY, PART OF -- NEXT UP, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT, LINEMEN LIKE TO USE THE WORD BIG IN FRONT OF THEM.

THIS TIME, IT'S BIG PRICH.

CARVER COLUMBUS.

ALABAMA.

COMING IN AND JOKING ABOUT IT.

SIGN OTHER 24 OFFERS.

GEORGIA, SOUTHERN CAL AND GEORGIA STATE.

PLAYOFF RUN IN A DECADE SINCE NOW GEORGIA BULLDOGS, AND THE COACH WAS FITTING THE MOLD.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE THE HEAD COACH THERE WORKING THE SIDELINES, HE IS GOING TO BE AN INFLUENCE.

>> EVERY TIME, ME AND -- IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, HE WOULD TELL ME WHAT I CAN DO TO IMPROVE MYSELF, YOU KNOW, LIKE A HEAD COACH SHOULD.

>> LIKE A HEAD COACH SHOULD.

INTERVIEW WITH THE STARS.

>> YOU NOTICED HE DID NOT CALL HIM NICK, HE CALLED HIM SABAN.

>> FOR ME, IT WOULD BE FIRST NAME COACH AND THEN SABAN.

JUST SIR, IS FINE.

>> BIG PRICH TO ALABAMA.

>> I WONDER IF HE ENTERED THE INNER SANCTUMS, YOU WALK IN SABAN'S OFFICE, YOU WALK IN AND THE DOOR CLOSES BEHIND YOU.

>> HE PUSHES A BUTTON ON THE DESK.

>> I WONDER IF HE WAS THERE, BIG LEATHER CHAIR.

WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE BELOW THE TABLE.

>> UH-HUH, IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE SCENARIO.

I'M SURE BIG PRICH WILL DO WELL.

>> HE WILL BE PROTECTING THE QUARTER IN TUSCALOOSA FOR YEARS TO COME.

NEXT ON THE LIST.

SOMEONE WITH A FAMILIAR LAST NAME AND A FAMILIAR DESTINATION.

JAKE JOHNSON IS ON THE LIST THIS GO AROUND AND MAYBE NOT A SURPRISE WHERE HE IS HEADED.

>> NUMBER ONE RATED TIGHT END IN THE COUNTRY.

IN FACT, WE HAVE TWO NUMBER ONE RATED TIGHT ENDS IN THE COUNTRY.

COMMITTED TO LSU OVER 13 OTHER OFFERS.

>> PLAYED, PRIDE OF BLACK MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA, BRAD JOHNSON, HIS YOU THINK, MARK RIGGS.

PROBABLY HEARD OF HIM.

CAREER 145 CATCHES OVER 2300 YARDS.

AND 33 TOUCHDOWNS.

THE ONLY SURPRISE IS THAT JAKE AND PLEASE, YOUR EXPLANATION WHEN IT COMES TO OSCAR DELL.

>> A 24/7 SPORTS AND A 24/7 SPORTS COMPOSITE.

HE IS NUMBER 21 IN THE 24/7 SPORTS.

HE FINISHES.

AND IT'S A MATCH UP PROBLEM.

>> WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH BIG KYRIE?

>> I DO NOT KNOW.

>> D-LINE.

HE HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO THE BULLDOGS SINCE LAST DECEMBER.

THERE'S BEEN WAVERING THERE BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN TAKING SOME VISITS, FLORIDA STATE A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER THE LAST MONTH, AND SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH BIG KYRIE.

>> WAIT, COMMA, I'M SHOCKED, UVA ON TOP.

>> WHAT STANDS OUT, GEORGIA, BA MA, OHIO STATE, NOTRE DAME.

>> AND IN THE MIDDLE .

>> TEXAS A&M, ALL THE SCHOOLS ARE RIGHT THERE IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS.

NOW, HOW IT ENDS UP SHAKING OUT THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU LOOK AT THE RECRUITING RANKINGS AND IN RECRUITING COUNTY.

BIN BRIDGE.

THE BALANCE, DON'T FORGET OUR NATIONAL SIGNING DAY SPECIAL.

GPB SPORTS IS GOING TO BE, ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE.

COACHES, COLLEGE COACHES AND STATE AND ALL THAT STUFF COMING UP ON WEDNESDAY, NATIONAL SIGNING DAY.

AND THAT'S YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP VERSION.

GPB RECRUITING.

ALWAYS A HOME TEAM, ENJOY YOUR HOME TEAM, WHEN IT COMES TO THE COLLEGE RANKINGS.

>> REAL QUICK, COMING OUT OF THE AA GAME, HEADING IN TO THE QUAD-A GAME, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE STORY THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT ON THE SIDELINES.

I WANT YOU TO GIVE YOUR VERSION ABOUT IT.

TOUGH LOSS FOR THE THOMASVILLE FOOTBALL TEAM.

>> YEAH, IT IS.

MY FRIEND, TEAMMATE, AND GREAT LINEBACKER.

YOU KNOW, LOST THE BATTLE WITH CANCER, A GREAT GUY, HARD NOSE PLAYER.

PART OF THE 73/74 CHAMPIONSHIP.

REALLY PROUD OF OUT.

GREAT GUY, GREAT FAMILY MAN.

AND YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOMASVILLE IS MOURNING FOR HIM AND OUR PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS ARE WITH HIS WIFE, BETH, AND THE FAMILY.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A BIG LOSS FOR US.

>> WHAT'S THE BEST STORY ABOUT IT?

>> ALLEN WOULD HAVE A HABIT WHEN IT'S HOT IN SUMMER CAMP AND I THINK HE THREW UP EVERY DAY.

I DO REMEMBER THAT.

YEAH, YOU KNOW, SUCH A GOOD GUY.

SUCH A GOOD FRIEND AND GOOD TEAMMATE, AND YOU KNOW, HE IS A COUPLE OF YEARS AHEAD OF ME.

HE IS ONE OF THE GUYS THAT JUST MADE ME FEEL A PART OF IT.

YOU WANT TO BE PART OF IT.

AND PLUS, HE WAS A PRETTY GOOD PLAYER TOO.

>> NO DOUBT, WELL, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT STORY, I WANT TO GET IT OUT THERE AGAIN, TOUGH LOSS FOR THE THOMASVILLE COMMUNITY.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> IT WILL BE EAST VERSUS WEST.

>> THEY SAY THEY HOST MEDIA DAY EVERY DAY AND THAT GIVES US A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO THE COACHES AS THEY PREPARE FOR THE BIG GAME.

LET'S CHECK IN AND HERE WHAT HEAD COACH JOINER HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE BIG GAME.

>> 14 YEARS AGO.

COACH McGEE, WE HAD A GREAT OFF-SEASON AND WE ARE HERE.

IT'S ABOUT THE TEAM LEADING IN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE MISHAPS BRINGING THE TEAM TOGETHER.

THE TEAM CAME TOGETHER AND STUCK TOGETHER FOR SO LONG.

IT'S A CREDIT TO WHAT OUR COACHES HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE FIELD.

IT'S A, IT'S A VERY, VERY GRATIFYING SITUATION TO SEE THE YOUNG MEN, THEY HAVE BEEN PLAYING TOGETHER SINCE THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR.

YOU HAVE HAD TO WIN GAMES IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS AND YOU HAD TO WIN GRINDERS.

YOU HAD TO WIN SOME WHERE YOU CAME FROM BEHIND.

IT SPEAKS TO THE RESILIENCE OF YOUR TEAM HAVING TO WIN IN ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS.

>> RIGHT.

WE ARE PLAYING THE EON LEAD COUNTY, FIRST OF THE SEASON.

BIG 16.

FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS AND WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO BE TESTED AND SEE WHAT OUR TEAM CHARACTER WAS AND THAT WAS HELPING THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

THAT'S WHY WE PLAYED LIKE THAT.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT BENEDICTINE, WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> OH, MY GOD.

OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION.

FROM EVERY PLACE OF THE GAME.

CAN RUN THE FOOTBALL.

THROW THE FOOTBALL.

A HIGHLY TOUTED QUARTERBACK.

>> ARE THERE SECRETS THIS TIME OF YEAR WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR TEAM DEFENDING THEIRS.

OR IS IT IS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO?

YOU DON'T WANT TO GET OUT OF CHARACTER AND CHANGE YOUR MIND-SET.

YOU WANT TO DO WHAT YOU DO AND DO YOUR BEST DOING IT.

YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO TRY YOUR BEST TO GET TO THE QUARTERBACK AND DO WHAT WE CAN DO.

AND SO IT'S THE OFFENSE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT WILL BE HARD TO ASK.

>> AND YOU HAVE GOT THE STATES ELEMENT IN ALL THIS TOO.

TWO GUYS FROM GEORGIA SOUTHERN GOING AT EACH OTHER ON THE SIDELINE.

>> THAT WAS A GREAT FEELING.

YOU KNOW, COACH DANNY WAS SEEING IT WHEN HE WAS A FRESHMAN.

AND WE KNOW, IT'S THE EAGLE CREEK WATER -- >> I DON'T WANT TO DRINK THAT WATER.

NOW, IT'S TIME FOR US TO LISTEN IN ON HIS GEORGIA SOUTHERN TEAMMATE, WHO COACHED BENEDICTINE, COACH BRIT.

>> EXCITED TO BE BACK HERE.

EXCITED FOR THE SENIOR CLASS.

VERY EXCITED FOR BENEDICTINE AND THE ENTIRE CLASS.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH AS A TEAM.

DO YOU GET TO STEP BACK A BIT AND DOES IT IMPRESS YOU AT TIMES.

DO YOU GET A CHANCE TO ENJOY IT?

>> I HAVE LEARNED TO ENJOY IT.

YOU KNOW, YOU WILL HEAR THE COACHES SAY, WELL, ENJOY IT FOR 30 MINUTES AND OF ON.

CERTAINLY, I HAVE TAKEN ABOUT 24 HOURS BEFORE I REALIZE THAT WE HAVE DONE A LOT.

AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THEM.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF STAR POWER THAT WAS ATTACHED.

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF STAR POWER?

>> IT'S GREAT.

AND IT'S A BIT OF A PRESSURE ON A COACH BECAUSE I HAVE GOT, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TELLING PEOPLE.

I HAVE THIS MUCH TALENT, I DON'T WANT TO WASTE IT, WE HAVE IT.

SO, IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

A LOT OF FUN TO COACH.

>> AT THE SAME TIME, YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CLAMP DOWN A LOT ON DEFENSE, AND A LOT OF PRIDE THERE AS WELL.

>> DEFINITELY, IT'S WHAT WE TAKE PRIDE IN PLAYING GOOD DEFENSE FOR YEARS AND COACH HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF GETTING THAT DEFENSE READY TO GO.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRACKET, WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> YOU KNOW, I SEE A GREAT ATHLETIC THEME IN CARVER AND COACH WARN HAS DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THAT AS HE HAS WITH SEVERAL.

AND I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A MAJOR CHALLENGE.

>> AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S HISTORY BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU THAT GOES TO YOUR TIME AND ONE OF YOU WAS A SENIOR WHEN THE OTHER WAS A FRESHMAN.

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO HAVE THAT GEORGIA SOUTHERN ON THE SIDELINE?

>> IT'S GREAT.

IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY, YOU PUT UP A LOT OF HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACHES.

IT'S NEAT TO HAVE THAT TYPE OF BOND WITH EVERYONE.

>> JOHN, JOHN, I'M STILL STUCK ON THE EAGLE CREEK WATER SITUATION.

HE SAID THE LOSER WILL HAVE TO DRINK IT ALLEGEDLY.

LOOKING AT THE QUAD-A GAME.

WHO WILL BE THE ONE DRINKING THE EAGLE CREEK WATER, JOHN?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

SEE, THAT'S THE TEST FOR CARVER COLUMBUS , IT'S PICKING YOUR POISON AND MAKING SURE YOU CAN CONTAIN.

WHEN IT CAME TO THE OFFENSE THAT CAME FROM BENEDICTINE, THE MERIT TAPE, I'M SURE THAT GOT OUT WHEN IT CAME TO THE MATCH UP WITH CARVER COLUMBUS.

FOR BENEDICTINE, IT MAY BE TO CATCH UP AND KEEP UP WITH US.

FIRST NIGHT TIME 20 YEARS FOR CARVER COLUMBUS.

I'M GOING TO SAY, THIS WILL BE THE FIRST REAL INSTATE I DON'T KNOW, CHALLENGE, IF YOU WILL FOR THE CADETS.

>> KEEPING THOMASVILLE'S OFFENSE OFF THE FIELD WAS KEY, AND IT COULD BE A KEY FOR CARVER COLUMBUS.

>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO CHECKING IN WITH YOU AGAIN AT HALFTIME.

FRIENDLY REMINDER, YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

YOU CAN FIND US ON TWITTER.

INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, AND YOUTUBE.

WE ARE STREAMING THE GAME LIVE ON FACEBOOK.

JUST BE SURE TO ALWAYS TAG GPB SPORTS, USE THE #GPB SPORTS.

WE WOULD LOVE TO CONNECT WITH YOU AND SAY HELLO.

AND YOU CAN CATCH US STREAMING AT GPB.ORG/SPORTS AND DOWNLOAD OUR WONDERFUL GPB SPORTS APP.

BE SURE TO SHARE IT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY AROUND THE COUNTRY CAN.

THAT WILL DO IT FOR OUR GPB TAILGATE PARTY.

REMIND YOU TO BUCKLE UP GEORGIA.

THE 4-A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IS COMING UP BETWEEN CARVER COLUMBUS AND BENEDICTINE.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, REMINDING YOU TO BUCKLE UP GEORGIA.

AS WE WELCOME YOU BACK TO CENTER PARK STADIUM.

FOGGY DOWNTOWN ATLANTA THIS AFTERNOON.

IT'S THE 4-A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AS THE CARVER COLUMBUS TIGERS TAKE ON THE BENEDICTINE CADETS.

>> RUSTY CARVER GOING FOR THE SECOND STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

THEIR FIRST SINCE 2007 WHEN THEN HEAD COACH DEL McGEE, HOW THE GEORGIA RUNNING BACKS COACH.

AND THE FUTURE STAR LINEBACKER LED WITH A VICTORY TO CAIRO.

THIS IS THE FIRST SINCE BUMPING UP TO 4-A, IT'S A BEEN HERE, DONE THERE ACT A.

GOING FROM 2-A TO 4-A THEY ARE TRYING ESTABLISH THEMSELVES WHERE THEY WERE ROCKING AND ROLLING IN COLUMBUS.

LET'S START WITH THE CADETS.

12-2 IN THE SEASON.

REGULAR SEASON RANKINGS THEY HAVE WON 12 STRAIGHT SINCE LOSING, THEY ARE LED BY THE FOUR STAR QUARTERBACK, HOLDEN GARINER, AND I TALKED TO MIKE BUBBA THIS MORNING.

HE WAS COMMITTED TO AUBURN.

OUT OF BENEDICTINE, HE IS SNEAKY ATHLETIC.

HE THINKS HE HAS A TON OF UP SIDES AND THEY WILL SEE THE FUTURE.

>> HIS TOP WEB ON OFFENSE IS JUSTIN THOMAS.

WHO IS COMMITTED TO GEORGIA BUT TO PLAY CENTER FIELD AND RIGHT HANDED PITCHER FOR THE BULLDOGS BASEBALL TEAM.

THEY WILL GET A CHANCE TOE SEE HIM PLAY ENGINE AGENT LENS AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, HE WILL BE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> OVER ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL THEY ARE LED BY ANOTHER HOLDEN.

HE WAS COMMITTED TO ARMY.

>> AND YOU LOOK AT THE ATHLETE, KIND OF WHAT I CALL PLAY IN SPACE.

THEY USE HIM OFF THE EDGE.

6'2", 215 POUNDS.

PHYSICAL TODAY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE REGULAR SEASON RANKINGS IN 4-A, THEY ARE 13-1.

LOST THEIR REGULAR SEASON TO POWER 6-A, LEAGUE COUNTY.

A LOSS AND THEY RUN THE TABLE FOR THE REF OF THE SEASON IN TO THE PLAYOFFS.

HE IS A THREE STAR, HE IS COMMITTED TO -- >> IT'S A GUY THAT KIND OF GOT BETTER EVERY YEAR.

HE CAN HURT YOU WITH HIS FEET AND ARM.

THEY LOVE TO SPREAD IT OUT AND BE AN ATHLETE.

BENEDICTINE WILL HAVE TO KNOW WHERE HE AND HOW THEY USE HIM.

>> THEY HAD A MASSIVE OFFENSIVE LINE.

HE IS LED BY ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY.

A FOUR-STAR, THE NUMBER SEVEN OFFENSIVE RATED TACK FEDERAL THE COUNTRY AND HE IS COMMITTED TO ALABAMA.

>> OVER GEORGIA AND USC, YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PROTO-TYPICAL TACKLE SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

THEY WILL GO TO SAN ANTONIO, AND PLAY A BIG TIME WIN FOR ALABAMA.

>> 260 POUND DEFENSIVE END.

GEORGIA, FLORIDA STATE, LSU.

YOU NAME IT, HE HAS THE OFFERS AND IF THEY ARE GOING TO CREATE HAVOC, IT WILL BE CARVER COLUMBUS.

>> IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR OFFENSE, WE HAVE IT HERE.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A GREAT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

WE HAVE IT HERE.

AND THERE'S OUR MAN, BRANDON A APPEARS, STANDING BY WITH THE STORY FROM DOWNTOWN ATLANTA.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, FOR BOTH OF THE COACHES HERE, FOR BOTH OF THE COACHES HERE TODAY.

THE EXPECTATION IS AGGRESSIVE DECISION MAKING.

AND FOR INSTANCE, CORY JOYNER THE HEAD COACH OF CARVER, HE HAS A PLACE KICKER.

IT'S NEED-BASED AND IT FITS IN TO A RECENT TREND AROUND THE SPORT RIGHT NOW.

FOR INSTANCE, IN THE NFL, 11% OF PA DRIVES THIS YEAR ARE, I SHOULD SAY, 11% OF SCORERS ARE RESULTING IN TWO POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPTS.

THIRD TIME IN THE LEAGUE IT HAS GONE UP.

THE LONGER P.A.T KICKS HAVE BECOME MORE DIFFICULT TO MAKE.

WHAT CARVER HAS FOUND OUT BY GOING FOR TWO, WITH THE A ATHLETES THEY HAVE, THEY ARE SCORING AS MUCH POINTS AS THEY WOULD IF THEY HAD A TRADITIONAL KICKER.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, FOR BENEDICTINE, THEY HAD FIVE FIELD GOALS ALL SEASON LONG.

IF THEY GET CLOSE, THEY ARE LOOKING TO PUNCH IT IN THE END ZONE.

BIG GAME, HIGH STAKES AND BOTH OF THEM WANT TO TAKE A LOT OF SHOTS.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE OVER UNDER WILL BE HERE TODAY, RUSTY?

>> TWO.

I WILL SAY OVER UNDER ON TOTAL POINTS.

>> I'M THINKING IN THE 90 RANGE ON THE TOTAL POINTS.

>> TAKE A LOOK AT CORY JOYNER, CAME FROM DOHERTY, HE SAID EVERYTHING WAS FIVE MINUTES AWAY.

MY WORK, MY SCHOOL.

MY CHURCH, THE GROCERY STORE.

MADE THE MOVE TO CARVER COLUMBUS AND WITHIN FOUR YEARS WE SHOULD BE PLAYING FOR A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND INDEED, THEY ARE, 42-4 SINCE HE TOOK OVER.

>> MAN, I SAW THEM THIS SPRING, PLAY A SPRING GAME AGAINST HILL GROVE AND THEY CAME OUT AND I WAS LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE, THIS IS THE OLD FORMER COLUMBUS.

AND THEY HAVE GOTTEN AFTER IT ON THE FIELD AND IN THE WEIGHT ROOM AND THEY LOOK DIFFERENT HERE THEY ARE.

IN GAME 15.

THIS HAS BEEN A BUILD TOWARD THIS MOMENT.

AS YOU MENTIONED, HE IS A THREE-YEAR STARTER.

THEY HAVE FOUR YEAR STARTERS ON THE TEAM.

SO, TEEING UP TO TAKE ON BENEDICTINE ON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

THE OPENING KICKOFF IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY BUCKLE UP GEORGIA.