No. 1 Charlton County hosts No. 5 Fitzgerald in region shakeout

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Posted 6:13AM on Thursday, September 30, 2004

FITZGERALD - The Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes began preparations Monday for their contest against the 5-0 Charlton County Indians Friday at ``The Swamp'' in Folkston. However, in a strange twist, the Purple Hurricanes were hurt by the remnants of Hurricane Jeanne. After heavy rains Monday, the team's weight room flooded and the field house was surrounded by water. With no way to get their equipment, the Hurricanes went to the gym and worked out. It was not how Fitzgerald head coach Robby Pruitt wanted his Hurricanes to begin their preparations for the Indians, ranked No. 1 in this week's Class AA Associated Press poll. Even though his team is also 5-0 and will enter the Region 2-AA matchup with the states No. 5 ranking, Pruitt is still wary of the Indians. ``They are the same old Charlton County. They are not any different than they have been in years past. They have a lot of speed, a lot of big kids and a lot of athletes. They deserved to be the top-ranked team in the state,'' Pruitt said. One of the biggest athletes at Charlton this season is Justin Mincey (6-foot-6, 250). Named to numerous all-star teams from around the state and the nation during the preseason, Mincey is being sought out by Division I-A schools from all over the United States. Even though he has been playing with a knee injury in recent games, Mincey has still stood out. The senior was one of the leading tacklers for Charlton in the Indians' 33-7 victory over Appling County last Friday. ``It does not look like on film he has been slowed down any at all. Until the game was decided, he played virtually every down on defense against Appling. He is an unbelievable player,'' said Pruitt. Fitzgerald will line up against the Charlton defense, using Pruitt's Wing-T offense. Leading the attack will be quarterback Josh Battle. ``He is getting better. He has improved each week,'' Pruitt said of Battle. Joining Battle in the backfield will be a trio of backs, Nate Inman, Jonathan Roberts and Fabian Daniels. Inman led the Hurricanes last Friday in a 49-0 win over Pierce County with three touchdowns and 187 yards rushing. Also against Pierce, Daniels carried the ball three times for 120 yards and one score. Meanwhile, Roberts has also averaged almost 10 yards per carry this season for the Hurricanes. ``They are all carrying the ball well,'' said Pruitt. ``But, we will have to throw on Charlton. We will have to move it in the air.'' Darian Austile and Daniels have been among Battles favorite receivers this season. While Mincey and the Charlton defense gets a lot of attention, Pruitt is also impressed with the Indian offense. ``Coach (Rich) McWhorter has always done a great job of adapting to the athletes he has had. When he had great running backs, he lined up in the wishbone and drove it down your throat. But, now he will line up in no-back sets, because he has such great receivers,'' said Pruitt. Even though last season's record-setting quarterback Jeremy Privett graduated, the Indians have not lacked anything this season, according to Pruitt. Besides the throwing of quarterback Dwight Dasher, Charlton also relies on the running of sophomore Lemuel Walker. ``He is the real deal. He has great strength, balance and speed,'' Pruitt said of Walker, who rushed 15 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns against Appling. It will be the first time the Hurricanes and the Indians have played each other. The winner will go to 3-0 in the region standings and will have an upper hand in deciding the league title. (The Associated Press)