By Ross Johnson

Sports Writer

FITZGERALD- Dreams of a Class AA state title have ended for the Callaway Cavaliers.

Facing the Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes in the third round of the playoffs, Callaway fell 35-21, ending its season at 10-3.

The ‘Canes’ potent offense moved the ball in key situations and kept the Callaway offense off the field, but the Cavaliers never gave up.

While Fitzgerald (13-0) never trailed in the game, Callaway made plenty of strides after the Hurricanes jumped out to a 21-0 lead.

Trailing by three touchdowns near the end of the first half, quarterback Quan Bray found senior wide receiver Quantavius Leslie for a 57-yard score with 38 seconds remaining to bring the score to 21-7.

After Fitzgerald scored on its opening possession of the third quarter, Bray scampered for a 65-yard run to bring the team within two touchdowns again.

The ‘Canes scored on a 33-yard run from Nick Williams with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game, but Bray completed a 55-yard pass to Leslie on fourth-and-14 inside the Cavs’ 30-yard line on the ensuing possession.

Bray found D.J. Rutledge for a 6-yard touchdown on fourth-and-goal after that, putting Callaway back in the game.

The Cavaliers recovered an onsides kick on the ensuing kickoff, and the team drove down inside the Fitzgerald 20-yard line before Bray was sacked on fourth down, effectively ending the game.

“They showed how we’re having the success of this season and the season before, because the play with a lot of heart,” said head coach Pete Wiggins. “Those kids, they want to win.”

Added Fitzgerald coach Robby Pruitt: “(Callaway) would not give up.”

The game looked bleak for the Cavaliers in the early-going.

Fitzgerald scored on its first three possessions, and each were the product of time-consuming drives.

The ‘Canes executed nine plays in six minutes to open the game and scored on a 21-yard pass from quarterback Kaleb Nobles to R.J. Davis.

After holding the Cavaliers to a punt, Fitzgerald embarked on a 12-play drive that ended with a 6-yard run from Trenton Pruitt.

The drive was extended after an incomplete pass on fourth down was negated due to a roughing the passer penalty on Callaway.

Callaway was forced to punt again on its next possession, opening the door for the ‘Canes to go on a 13-play drive, which was made possible by three third-and-long conversions.

Nobles found Pruitt for a 13-yard strike in the corner of the end zone to put Fitzgerald ahead 21-0 with 1:10 remaining in the first half.

At that point, the ‘Canes had 34 plays to the Cavaliers’ 13.

Callaway’s offense didn’t stay bottled up for much longer, however.

Bray threw a deep pass on third-and-12 that hit Leslie perfectly in stride, putting the Cavaliers on the board.

Callaway had a chance for more points before half after a successful onside kick, but Ham’s 35-yard field goal try was no good.

Although it allowed a few big plays to the Cavaliers, Fitzgerald’s defense held Callaway’s veer offense largely in check for most of the night.

Bray was constantly harassed in the backfield, and star running back Marquis Terrell had just five carries due to the ‘Canes ability to deny Bray room to pitch the ball during option plays.

Fitzgerald had a good game plan to stop Callaway’s offense, according to Pruitt.

“Everybody we’d seen had let (Bray) get on the corner,” Pruitt said. “Our game plan was for him to make a decision quickly and not get on the edge. We’d seen some teams with similar offenses before. We told them all week that they’re a come-from-behind team and can strike so quickly.”

Fitzgerald moves on to host Buford next week in the semifinals.

While the Cavaliers were denied a semifinal bid, it was still a record-breaking year for Callaway.

The team’s third-round berth was the first in school history, and Callaway won 10 games for the second straight year.