Hixson High School football head coach Jason FitzgeraldHixson's Jason Fitzgerald has been selected as state football coach of the week by the Tennessee Titans.
Fitzgerald's Wildcats upended then-seventh-ranked Tyner in a District 6-AA showdown last Friday.
The former Rhea County coach is in his first season at Hixson. With four games to play, the Wildcats already have equaled the most wins for a Hixson football team since 2006, and they have assured tying the school's best district showing since the 2005 team went 5-2.
"Our celebration at Red Bank was just pure jubilation. The other night they were happy, but it was more like 'We knew all along we had a chance to win,'" Fitzgerald said Monday. "We were focused today in practice. The kids continue to do what we ask, and we just want them to keep playing hard these last four games and see where it gets us."
The Wildcats play defending district champion and co-leader East Hamilton on Friday.
Fitzgerald's selection is worth $1,000 from the Titans Foundation to Hixson's football program. He will be the NFL team's guest at the season finale against Jacksonville on Dec. 30 when the Titans will announce the 2012 coach of the year.
"We can use the money in the program," Fitzgerald said, "but I hate it that my name is associated with it instead of the assistant coaches and the kids, because they have worked so hard."
Lett sets GPS mark
GPS senior Sadie Lett recently registered a "triple-quadruple" for her volleyball career.
One of the digs Lett made during the Bruisers' match Sept. 11 against Baylor was the 1,000th in her career. She already had topped the 1,000 mark in assists and kills.
"She's ideal for a college coach," GPS coach Paul Brock said of Lett, who was honored for her accomplishment last Tuesday at senior night. "They like it because they have limited scholarships and she's throwing up big numbers in all three categories. She can fill so many roles for a team."
Brock said Lett is his first in 19 years as a coach to achieve the milestone, although one from GPS's last graduating class almost did.
"Tory Kemp was close," Brock said of the North Carolina signee in track and field. "She's a super athlete, but she fell short by about 30 assists."
Lett's current career totals stand at 1,863 assists, 1,428 kills and 1,195 digs.
Gordon Central ninth
Gordon Central, which climbed to 5-0 with a 26-6 victory over previously unbeaten Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe last Friday, moved to ninth in Score's Georgia Class AAA football poll. The Warriors have allowed one team to score in double digits (Ringgold with 26) with the remaining four opponents totaling 13.
Calhoun, which had been relying heavily on its offense, turned in a second solid defensive showing in the Yellow Jackets' 35-0 win over Coosa and remained atop the Class AA poll. They held Dade County to two touchdowns on Sept. 21.