Fitzgerald’s Justin Reliford looks for an open receiver against Tift County during the 2018 spring game. Reliford, a first-year quarterback, has been a team leader for the Purple Hurricane this year.

TIFTON — Fitzgerald bent, but did not break Friday and the Purple Hurricane got back on the winning track last Friday.

“We didn’t play great,” said head coach Tucker Pruitt, whose team threw an interception and lost three fumbles and nearly squandered a two-touchdown halftime lead.

Still, they came through in the clutch, stopping a Dooly County two-point conversion attempt for a final 27-26 victory. And Pruitt is not about to ague against a 2-1 record over a 1-2.

While Fitzgerald is done with Dooly and the Bobcats’ extremely talented quarterback, Bo Lawson, the Hurricane trade that in Friday for a home game with Upson-Lee, also 2-1, and even more loaded.

After an opening night thumping by undefeated Veterans (31-0), the Knights have struck back for two consecutive wins, one over East Paulding (21-16) and last week’s 33-28 decision over Harris County. The teams play at 7:30 p.m. at Jaycee Stadium.

One of the difficulties of playing Upson-Lee is uncertainty. Many teams have multiple running backs, multiple receivers. The Knights don’t mind switching between three quarterbacks.

Jake Davis, Pruitt said, “Is more of a thrower.” Demeke Colbert is the wildcat quarterback. And then there is Travon Walker, who is not a really a quarterback, but has run out of wildcat as well.

Walker is not only the best player on Upson-Lee’s roster, but a force of nature.

“He’s incredible,” Pruitt said.

Walker is listed as being 6’5”, with a weight ranging from 250 or 272 pounds, depending on the website.

“He moves like’s 150,” Pruitt said, as he began describing Walker’s versatility. Walker can chase down a quarterback, run with a football and has a touchdown reception under his belt this year. ESPN considers him the 51st best player in the nation and the sixth best defensive lineman. If that’s not enough, in basketball, Walker averaged a double-double last year on a team that has not lost its last 63 games.

Walker committed to the University of Georgia to play football in July, but his offers are still stacked high. Alabama wants him, as does Clemson, LSU, Miami and Notre Dame.

The Knights, though, are far from being a one-trick pony.

“They do a lot of stuff,” said Pruitt. Screens and triple-option passes are on the menu. He also likes Yathaddius Webb, a running back.

This will be the first time Fitzgerald and Upson-Lee have met. The Hurricane did face R.E. Lee on four occasions. R.E. Lee combined with Upson to form the school in 1992.

Justin Reliford continued his good work on offense, breaking off several long runs against Dooly, including one for a touchdown. Damien Devine caught four passes for 78 yards, which led the team.

Defensively, Fitzgerald was able to hold Lawson to 124 passing yards. He was able to add three touchdowns and 165 yards on the ground.

“We definitely just contained him,” he said. Lawson rates highly with the Fitzgerald coach. “He may be one of the best players I’ve coached against,” Pruitt said.

In addition, Ethan Gordon and Mario Clark returned to the squad. Both have battled injuries and both looked good against Dooly.

“Ethan’s really good in space,” Pruitt said. Clark, he said, is more of a downhill runner.

Upson-Lee will be the third in a series of four straight weeks of nightmare matchups for Fitzgerald. The Purple Hurricane go to Dodge County next week. Dodge (2-0), ranked in the top 10 in Class AA, hosts Appling County this Friday.