TIFTON — The Irwin County Indians earned the third spot out of Region 2-A:A Friday night with a 19-12 win over the Turner County Rebels.

With the victory, the Indians also knocked the Rebels out of a shot at the state Class A football playoffs.

Irwin will now play in the Region 2-A playoffs Friday against the Telfair County Trojans, the No. 2 team out of 2-A:B. Even though Irwin defeated Telfair 23-14 earlier this season in a region crossover game, that playoff game will be played at Telfair County High School in McRae.

Turner needed a win over the Indians to earn a region playoff spot. The Rebels will now close out the regular season at home Friday against Montgomery County, the No. 5 team in Region 2-A:B. Turner defeated Montgomery, 35-14, earlier this season.

Senior Terry Ashley was the difference in the game for Irwin.

Irwin only ran 12 offensive plays in the first half against Turner and on three of those plays fumbled. Ashley was also held to minus-6 yards rushing in the first half.

In the second half, Ashley responded with 187 yards as he ended the game with 29 carries for 181 yards rushing. Ashley also scored all three Irwin touchdowns, two on runs of 6 yards and one on a 3-yard run.

“He was huge for us on both sides of the ball,” Irwin coach John Gamble said.

A little farther up the road in Fitzgerald, the Purple Hurricanes defeated the visiting Cook High Hornets by a 43-14 score.

Fitzgerald’s defense came up big for coach Robby Pruitt’s squad in the game as the vaunted Cook rushing attack only had 84 yards rushing on 26 carries. Juwan Alexander also blocked two Cook punts that were returned for touchdowns.

The Fitzgerald offense had 176 yards rushing on 26 carries and quarterback Brad Taylor was 4-of-10 passing for 44 yards.

Trenton Pruitt led the Hurricanes with eight carries for 131 yards, while Nick Williams also had 11 carries for 91 yards.

The Hurricanes will close out the 2007 regular season on the road next week at Brooks County. A Fitzgerald win would give the Hurricanes the second seed out of Region 1-AA in the state playoffs.

Cook will host Mitchell County in Adel. A win by the Hornets should seal up the fourth seed out of 1-AA for the state playoffs.

Over in Albany, the Worth County Rams had four first-half turnovers, but a tough defense had two goal line stands as Worth knocked off Dougherty High, 22-7, in a Region 1-AAA contest.