Mitchell County football hosts Fitzgerald for combined practice

CAMILLA – The Mitchell County Eagles battled the Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes in a combined practice Thursday at Mitchell County High School in Camilla. Eagles’ Head Coach Dondrial Pinkins liked what he saw.

“The team was really excited and showed a lot of energy,” the coach said. “Since our spring scrimmage was canceled, this is the first time these guys have had the chance to compete against somebody with a different jersey since last year.”

Fitzgerald brought a large team to Camilla and the Purple Hurricanes have been ranked among Class AA’s top ten teams each year since 2018. This year Fitzgerald will play in Class A Division I. Mitchell County plays in Class A Division II.

“We don’t have the numbers we usually have,” Pinkins said. “We normally have about 50 players out, but right now we’ve got about 35. But these guys are getting after it and putting in the work.”

“Our offensive line did an excellent jo,” Pinkins said. “We controlled the line of scrimmage on most of the plays and they did that after just a couple of days coming back from the dead week.”

The coach also had positive words for receivers Marcus Vicks, Leonte Thomas, and  quarterback Jonathan Isom, who is starting his second year as the Eagles’ starting quarterback.

“Isom did a really good job today,” the coach said. “He threw the ball well and put people in the right spots. He saw the coverages and adjusted well.”

Next week the Eagles will travel to Thomasville for 7-on-7 competition against Thomas County Central Tuesday and then host Monroe for a combined practice on Thursday.

The Eagles are scheduled to open the season against Lanier County on August 16th in Camilla.

By Joe Whitfield
Sports EditorJoeWhitfield[email protected]