TIFTON — The Tift County High Devils fought hard against the fifth-ranked Stephenson High Jaguars the entire way Friday night, but at the end of the night they came up just short, 35-21.

Tift played from behind the entire game but never was out of the game, as the contest was back and forth the entire night.

Stephenson took over with the ball at their own 42-yard ine and marched the ball down the field in 11 plays to take an early 7-0 lead. Mike Davis, who is committed to the University of Florida, scored on a dive play from one yard out. Davis would be making regular stops to the Tift County endzone through the rest of the night.

The teams traded possessions through the rest of the first quarter without scoring any points. The action picked back up when Stephenson’s Kyle Fleetwood picked off a Tadric Jackson pass and returned it to the Tift 32.

The Blue Devil defense appeared to have come up with a big stop deep in their own territory, but the Jaguars were able to gain 11 yards on a fake punt to pick up a first down at the Tift 18. They would make the Devils pay two plays later as Davis would rumble in from 17 yards out for his second score of the night.

With all the momentum appearing to be with Stephenson as their defense held the Blue Devils to a fourth down after just six plays, the Devils needed a big play to get them back in the game.

Tadric Jackson hit a beautiful punt that appeared as if it would be downed inside the five-yard line. At the last second Demarcus Sweat of Stephenson picked up the ball. After dodging a few Tift players trying to make something happen, Jakevin Jackson and O’Ryan Williams brought him down for a safety.

Tift took over the free kick at the Stephenson 47-yard line, and three plays later Rashad Daniels was able to get in the endzone from six yards out to bring the game within 14-8. The point after was missed following the score.

On Stephenson’s next possession they drove down into Tift territory after a few runs by T.J. Moon and Davis. Stephenson then attempted one of their four passes on the game, where Tift’s Joshua Banks went up in the air with a Jaguars’ receiver. The two came down together, and after a few seconds the referee came in and signaled that Banks had intercepted the pass.

Tift was unable to do much after that play, leading to a punt, giving Sweat a chance to redeem himself.

Did he ever.

He took the punt 82 yards down his own sideline for a touchdown with only 47 seconds left in the first half.

Tift was able to string together a few quick plays, and set Josue Perez up with a 28-yard field goal attempt. He split the uprights to send the game into halftime 21-11.

On the first drive of the second half, Stephenson appeared to be on the way to the endzone to extend their lead. The Blue Devil’s defense continued their theme of making big plays this season, and Terrance Felton recovered a fumble to give Tift the ball at their own 33-yard line. After a 16-yard run by Aquervious Wilson the Devils’ defense was unable to get another first down. Tadric Jackson booted another great punt that rolled out of bounds at the Stephenson five-yard line.

After a steady dose of Moon and Davis runs, the Tift defense held them into a punting situation.

Tift would take the ball 83 yards on six plays, thanks to a few big runs by Jakevin Jackson, Daniels and Wilson. Tadric Jackson took the ball in from one yard out to bring the Devils to within a field goal, 21-18.

The scene that followed would be ugly.

Stephenson ran a reverse on their kickoff return returning the ball to their own 44. Something set the teams off, which led to punches being thrown and even helmets being swung. After about 15 minutes of discussing by the referees, Ricky Sutton of Tift was ejected, along with Moon and Carlos Hood of Stephenson.

When play resumed Davis took the game on his back for Stephenson. Despite good play by the Tift defense, he was able to move the ball 56 yards on eight carries, along with his third rushing touchdown.

Ladarius Stewart electrified the Tift crowd with a return to the Tift 42-yard line.

After getting the ball down to Stephenson’s one-yard line, a fumble and penalty forced them into a field goal situation. Perez nailed the 23 yarder to bring the score to 28-21.

It took only three plays, all of them to Davis, for Stephenson to put the game out of reach. It was capped off by a Davis 46-yard touchdown where he danced like a ballerina through the Tift defense before breaking free. He ended the game with 230 yards on 24 carries and four touchdowns.

Tift was led offensively by Tadric Jackson, who passed for 206 yards and one interception. Nick Utley brought in six receptions for 104 yards. Jakevin Jackson, Donnell Tuff, Wilson, Daniels  and Drew Davis also had receptions on the game.

Wilson led the team in rushing with 53 yards.

Tift hits the road for the first time next week, as they take their 3-1 record to Worth County to play the Rams. That kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m. Worth was defeated 28-7 Friday night at Cook.