Copeland keys win over Jackets

Pre-game festivities Friday night in Fitzgerald included a special presentation to Purple Hurricane senior running back Vic Copeland. Copeland was awarded a state championship ring for being the 2025 Georgia High School Association Class A, Div. I 100-yd. dash champion.
And once the game began, Copeland’s superior speed proved to be the difference in the game as the Hurricanes came from behind to take a 35-21 win over Jeff Davis High.
Copeland finished the night with 206 yards rushing as Fitz broke away from a 21-21, 3rd-quarter tie to the two touchdown victory.
The win secured 2nd place in the region standings for Fitzgerald while the Yellow Jackets finished 4th. Both teams ended the regular season with 7-3 overall records.
The Yellow Jackets ate up most of the 1st quarter clock on their first possession of the game as they put together a 15-play, 91-yd. drive to take a 7-0 lead.
Quarterback Mark Durden ran the ball on 3 of the first 4 plays of the drive, including a 21-yd. pickup to the Fitzgerald 48 yard line. Kobe Hill had an 11-yd. run in the drive which almost stalled at the Hurricane 39 when the JD offense faced a 4th-and-4. That’s when Durden delivered an option pitch to Ian Griffin who rambled 17 yards to the Fitzgerald 22.
The Jackets faced another 4th down situation at the 15 when Durden tried his only pass of the march, which drew a pass interference flag giving Jeff Davis a 1st-and-goal at 8. Two plays later Griffin went into the end zone standing up. Fabian Valdelamar kicked the P.A.T. and the Jackets had a 7-0 lead with just under 57 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Three plays after the kickoff, Copeland took a direct snap from center, went around the right side, cut back to the center of the field and raced 54 yards for the score. The P.A.T. kick made it 7-7.
The Jackets wasted little time retaking the lead. On the 1st play after the kickoff, Hill took a handoff up the middle, broke into the open and darted 39 yards to the Hurricane 34. On the next play, Durden hit a wide open Jacob Laney at the 15 and the sophomore running back waltz untouched into the end zone. Valdelamar booted the extra point and the visitors led 14-7.
Copeland then took Valdelamar’s ensuing kickoff, waited briefly for his blocking to form and then streaked down the home sidelines all the way to the JD 42. It took the ‘Canes 5 plays to score to tie the game 14-14.
Two plays after the kickoff, Griffin had a 20-yd. scamper but the offense stalled and Valdelamar punted the ball away.
Neither team was able to mount scoring threats for the remainder the half as the score at intermission was 14-14.
The Jackets took the second half kickoff at their 29 and, after a 22-yd. Hill run, the offense caught fire. Griffin took an option pitch to his right and raced 25 yards to the Hurricane 44. Laney then took a pitch to his left and weaved his way 39 yards to the Fitzgerald 5. After a penalty moved the ball back to the 10, Griffin picked up 5 and R.J. Sims bulled his way into the end zone from 5 yards out. Valdelamar’s toe made it 21-14.
The Hurricanes came right back with an 8-play, 55-yd. drive with Copeland scoring from 17 yards out, and the score was tied 21-21.
The Hurricanes took the lead for good on their next possession, with Copeland scoring on a 25-yd. run to give the ‘Canes a 28-21 lead, early in the final quarter.
A 37-yd. Durden keeper pushed the Yellow Jackets into Hurricane territory, giving Jeff Davis a chance to tie the game. But a 4th-and-7 Durden run came up short and Fitzgerald took over at their own 17.
Copeland sealed the Fitzgerald win with a 65-yd. scoring jaunt to give the Hurricanes a 2 touchdown lead at 35-21.
The Jackets continued to battle, and moved the ball inside the Fitzgerald 20 but a fumble ended the threat and the Hurricanes were able to run out the remainder of the time on the clock.
Score by quarters:
JDHS 7 7 7 0 -21
FHS 0 14 7 14 -35