TIFTON, Ga. — A coin flip has spared the Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane a five-hour bus ride tonight to Rabun County. It has not spared them from having to play an undefeated squad at 7:30 p.m.

“We’re playing a really good football team,” said Fitzgerald head coach Jason Strickland.

Rabun has been a juggernaut this season, racking up an 11-0 record and leaving everyone in its wake. That includes Vidalia, that fell to the Wildcats 42-7 in the second round last Friday.

Leading the charge is quarterback Bailey Fisher, a player Strickland said the rest of the team feeds off. “The Fisher kid is a difference-maker,” he said. “Hopefully, we can slow him down.”

Vidalia couldn’t last week. Fisher threw for 248 yards and ran for 123. For the season, his yardage totals are 2,442 and 917, respectively. A more remarkable number, however, may be his completion rate. Fisher has completed 151 of 208 passes, 73 percent.

A year ago, the Wildcats were arguably led by Charlie Woerner at receiver, now catching passes for the University of Georgia. Without him as a target, Fisher has had to diversify. Seven receivers have 15 or more receptions. Nine have receiving touchdowns.

“What this season has done,” said Strickland, “is making them unpredictable.”

Rabun’s offense has changed considerably. In 2015, the squad’s leading rusher had 702 yards. Cal Drummond topped that in six games and now has 1,501 yards.

Offense has been the Wildcats’ calling card, but Strickland may be more in awe of the defense. Rabin allows but eight points per contest.

He has declared them “The best tackling team we’ve seen.” Only one opponent has scored more than 14 points; it still lost by 35, 55-20. “People don’t get yardage on them, you don’t get a whole lot of opportunity.” Strickland is hopeful that Fitzgerald can just put some drives together.

The 11-1 Hurricane are surrendering 15 points per game, but of the 185 scored against them, one-third came in the first two games of the year to teams still active in the state Class A tournament — Irwin County and Macon County. With the exception of a loss to Tift County, no team has come within two touchdowns. There was nearly a close call last week, though.

Before being dispatched, 48-21, Rockmart ran the opening play from scrimmage for a long touchdown.

Strickland said he told his crew to “settle down, settle into the scheme of what we’re doing.” Rockmart did not score again until Fitzgerald had racked up 34 points.

“Fortunately, we were able to get a fast start ourselves,” he said. “We quickly got things in our favor.”

J.D. King ran for 166 yards on 15 tries with one score. James Graham was shut down through the air, but made up for it with two touchdowns and 116 yards on the ground.

Defense and special teams carried the rest of the load.

Willie Ross had a long runback of an interception into Rockmart territory, one of three for the team. Another big runback came in an unexpected way. Rockmart attempted an onside kick, but it was fielded by Brooks Royal, who ran it down to the 5. Royal had missed some time because of a finger injury and has been long snapping since coming back. Strickland said he had talked himself onto the kickoff team just before that play.

Rabun is making its first trip to the deep south. Twenty years ago, it made its first and only venture south of Macon, to Crawford County. Rabun did play at Monticello earlier this season.

Even with the great distance between the schools, some 215 miles, Strickland expects to see a large contingent of fans wearing red and white. A school of Wildcats, Rabun is perhaps strangely located for Tigers. The nickname predates the location. Rabun County High was originally located in Clayton. Football began in 1949 under the nickname of Mountaineers before quickly switching to Wildcats.

Rabun has never been beyond the quarterfinals. Fitzgerald is looking for a second consecutive trip to the state finals.

The semifinals awaits the winner, that will either play Hapeville Charter or Chattooga. The former would involve another coin flip, Chattooga would be a home game for either Rabun or Fitzgerald.