TIFTON — The Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane maintained their lead in the Region 1-AA standings Friday night with a 33-14 victory over the visiting Early County Bobcats.

The Hurricane scored on their first drive on a 12 yard Dion Ross touchdown. Victor Ayala’s point after was good and with 10:48 left in the first quarter Fitzgerald was up 7-0.

On their next possession, Fitzgerald’s senior runningback Nick Williams found a seam up the middle and took it 52 yards for the touchdown. A two-point conversion helped the Cane extend their lead to 15-0.

The Bobcats wouldn’t go quietly though. After a long, successful drive down the field, Early quarterback Emmanuel Taylor scored on a 1-yard quarterback draw play. The point after helped Early close the lead to eight with 6:37 left in the second quarter.

Fitzgerald would answer on their next possession with a 25-yard field goal from kAyala making the score 18-7 with just under two minutes left before the half.

After the kickoff, the Bobcats coughed up the ball and Fitzgerald’s Ayala promptly added three more points on a 31-yard field goal with less than five seconds left in the half.

In the second half, Ross found the endzone again, this time from seven yards out, but Ayala missed the point after.

Fitzgerald again capitalized on an Early turnover with Juwan Alexander running in a Bobcat fumble from 11 yards out. A two-point try missed.

The last score of the game would come on a 50-yard pass from Taylor to receiver Elbert Lee. The point after was good, making the final 33-14.

Williams lead the Hurricane offense with 163 yards on 18 carries. Ross was next with 94 yards on 14 carries.

The Hurricane will travel next week to Thomasville to face the other unbeaten team in Region 1-AA, the Thomasville Bulldogs.