Fitzgerald pounds Albany High

ALBANY — At this point in Albany High’s season, each game is about salvaging a semblance of pride. After losing five straight, the Indians looked to bounce back against a tough Fitzgerald squad.

The visitors from Ben Hill County were interested in no such renaissance, easily handling the home team to the tune of 48-7 Friday night at Hugh Mills Stadium.

“[Due to] missing four starters, two out to suspension, I’m disappointed but not that disappointed,” said Indians head coach Felton Williams. “There’s a lot of things we could’ve done well, I take my hat off to a very talented, large, and physical Fitzgerald team.”

The Indians were without two wide receivers, their starting tailback and a starting offensive lineman. They would already need all the firepower they could get to muster a chance against the 2015 Class AA state runner-ups.

From the Purple Hurricanes’ perspective, it was the J.D. King show from the first snap of the game. After the Indians went three-and-out on their first possession, the Oklahoma State commit went 72 yards to score on the visitors’ first play from scrimmage.

On their next possession, Ethan Gordon scored on a five-yard touchdown plunge, and after they snagged an interception to kill another Indians drive, King went 38 yards to score again to push the lead to 21-0.

By halftime, the visitors held a 35-point lead. To further extinguish what was left of comeback hopes, junior Montrell Harris returned the second half kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown.

“I just wanted my team to play hard all night, and they did for the most part,” Williams said, maintaining perspective. “We missed some tackles here and there, but we’re just going to keep working.”

Unfortunately for the Hugh Mills studio audience, the King show was on the air for just about 15 minutes this week. There was no reason to risk the loss of future episodes. Ethan Gordon, Damien Devine and Montrell Harris served as quality stand-ins in the meantime.

John Flood provided the Indians’ sole highlight of the night with an 18-yard touchdown catch with just over a minute left in regulation.

The Purple Hurricanes moved to 5-1 overall on the season, while Albany fell to 0-6. Fitzgerald hosts Berrien next Friday, while Albany travels to Brooks County.