By Steve Carter
TIFTON — Two years ago, the Tift County Blue Devils drilled the Valdosta Wildcats 34-2 in a football game at Brodie Field that was never in doubt. The same two schools went at it Friday night in Tifton and the outcome was the same, but unlike two years ago the contest came down to the last play as Tift emerged with a 10-7 double overtime victory.
To begin the second overtime, Tift’s Charlie Edwards kicked a 43-yard field goal to make the score 10-7.
In Valdosta’s portion of the second overtime, quarterback Michael Turner was sacked by Lanarius McKinley for a 6-yard loss. Demetrius James was then tackled for a 4-yard loss by Josh Abbott. A Turner pass into the endzone was then broken up by Randy Parker.
That set up a 43-yard field goal attempt by Brad Barr. The kick fell short and Tift County had the victory.
“Our defense was tremendous tonight,” said Tift head coach Jay Walls. “They kept us in the ball game the entire night.”
Tift had a chance to win at the end of regulation, but Edwards’ 48-yard field goal attempt was wide right with three seconds left in the contest.
Edwards was glad to have the second chance at the game-winning kick.
“I would have felt like a loser if I hadn’t made that field goal,” Edwards said.
In the first overtime, Valdosta had the ball first, but the Tift defense held and Barr came in to attempt a 27-yard field goal. The kick was partially blocked by Parker. It was the second straight season Parker had blocked a Valdosta field goal.
“I knew coming into the game we would have a good chance at blocking their kicks,” said Parker. “I came off the end and just laid out and got it.”
Tift’s first attempt at overtime was ended quickly as Kaream Hess fumbled on the first play from scrimmage and Derrick Sharper recovered for the Wildcats.
With Atlanta Braves outfielder Jeff Francoeur in attendance for the first half, the Devils jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
The touchdown came when Tift quarterback Sean Baxley hit Israel Troupe in stride on a 55-yard touchdown pass with 6:42 left in the first period.
Tift was called for holding on the extra point attempt and Edwards converted a 30-yard point after.
On the ensuing Valdosta drive, the Wildcats ate up almost eight minutes of clock and went 19 plays down the field.
Valdosta attempted a fake field goal on a 4th-and-goal from the 5. Turner’s pass attempt to Thomas Walker was incomplete.
“That was a huge play for our defense,” said Walls. “Keeping them out of the endzone may have been the difference in the ball game.”
Down 7-0 at the half, Valdosta came out and dominated the third quarter, outgaining Tift 153-to-6 in total yardage.
The Wildcats tied the game at 7-7 during that period when Turner hit Marcus Ewings on a 55-yard touchdown pass up the middle of the field. Barr’s point after tied the score with 7:11 left in the third.
Then with approximately 9:55 left in the game, Valdosta drove down to inside the Tift County 10. On a 4th-and-inches, Tift stopped Turner short on a quarterback sneak attempt.
The teams then exchanged possessions, before Tift drove down the field to get in position for Edwards’ late field goal attempt. The big play in that last drive was a 43-yard pass from Baxley to Marqus King when it appeared Baxley was about to be sacked.
Baxley had his best game passing this season as he went 11-for-17 for 166 yards.
Troupe had four catches for 83 yards and also rushed three times for 15 yards.
Tift had 29 carries for 67 yards rushing as a team, and had 233 yards of total offense. Valdosta had 274 yards of total offense.
Turner completed 13-of-20 passes for 191 yards.
Tift is currently tied with idle Warner Robins with 1-0 records at the top of the Region 1-AAAAA standings.
The rest of the region Friday night had Coffee defeating Colquitt 39-37 in triple overtime, while Houston County defeated Lowndes, 31-14.
Coffee, Colquitt, Houston and Lowndes all have 1-1 records in the region, while Valdosta comes in at 0-2.
Tift will be at Coffee Friday night.
