TIFTON — During Jay Walls’ two years as head coach of the Tift County Blue Devils football team, Tift has dressed out over 100 players each season.

This year has proven it has not been for show as Tift has improved depth.

The depth was evidenced last week as center Thom Roberson and safety Jay Gaskins missed most of Tift’s 17-10 win over the Warner Robins Demons due to injuries.

Roberson was replaced by Andrew Grimes for the entire game, while Gaskins came in late to intercept a last-second Warner Robins pass.

Before his late entry though, cornerback Blake Reddick had moved to Gaskins’ spot, while Ricky Pierce had moved into Reddick’s position.

Even with two key players missing the Devils rolled as the offense averaged 5.4 yards per carry and the defense limited Warner Robins to 147 combined yards and no offensive touchdowns.

Roberson and Gaskins are both expected back tonight when the Blue Devils host the Lowndes High Vikings in an 8 p.m. game at Brodie Field. Even though those players are back, Walls is happy with his team’s increased depth.

“That was one thing that was good in the Warner Robins game,” said Walls. “Andrew Grimes came in and did a great job. We could have played Thom if we had absolutely had to, but Andrew did a great job for us.

“It was the same thing in our secondary. We could have played Jay the whole game, but Blake Reddick did a good job when we moved him to free safety, and Ricky Pierce did a good job at corner. So we were able to get those guys a little bit of rest and get them healed up for Lowndes.”

Besides the work of Grimes and Pierce, the Devils also got a boost along the defensive line as Bryan Brown returned after suffering a knee injury in a game last season.

“We have got really good depth along the defensive line,” said Walls. “We are strong, no question, with Lanarius (McKinley) and Larry (Bryant) and Corey (Maddox).

“But we have got some really good backups with Jarvis Jones, Shayon Green, Tobias Walker, and now with Bryan Brown back, (defensive line) coach (Don) Jarrett has got it pretty easy as far as talent. But he does a good job and he works those guys very hard, and they are ready to play on Friday, I guarantee you.”

Besides the improved depth, Tift will also go into the Lowndes game tonight off what could have been the Devils’ best performance of the year against Warner Robins, especially in the first half. Tift jumped out to a 17-7 lead, a 223 to 50 advantage in total yardage and a 9-to-1 lead in total first downs.

Warner Robins’ only touchdown came when the Demons returned an interception for a touchdown.

“We came out and moved the football and kept our defense off the field,” Walls said. “We were able to throw the football and throw well. When we did turn the ball over and give up a touchdown, we had some poise and put together a drive and scored.

“I don’t know if I could have said we would have done that earlier in the year, like against Coffee (Tift’s one loss this season). We didn’t play well against them, and they were good, and there were times we had to have some poise and maybe didn’t get it done.”

Tift controls its own destiny as two wins in the last two games over Lowndes and Colquitt would give the Devils their first region title since 1983. Walls hopes his team is beginning to show what is capable of as the regular season winds down.

“I told the guys if we improve this week, we have got a good chance. If we improve next week, we have got a chance,” said Walls. “That is just because of where we have put ourselves, as far as in this race. We are right in the thick of it.”