By Steve Carter
TIFTON — For the first time since 1997, the Tift County Blue Devils are in the second round of the state Class AAAAA football playoffs.
For a chance to get to the third round, Tift must defeat a hot Union Grove Wolverines squad Friday at 8 p.m. at Brodie Field.
After beginning the season with a 1-3 mark, the Wolverines will come into Brodie Field having won six of their last seven games.
“They started out real shaky, but you put the film on, and you realize they are a good team,” Tift head coach Jay Walls said.
During that seven-game span, the Union Grove defense has been impressive while giving up only 49 points and putting up two shutouts, including a 10-0 win over Windsor Forest in the first round of the state playoffs.
“Defensively they run to the ball real well,” Walls said. “I think their linebackers are their strength.”
Walls is high on the linebackers, even though Union Grove linebacker Kyle Jackson, who verbally committed to Georgia Tech, will miss the game due to an injury he suffered in practice last week.
“They have still got No. 34 (Steven Sylvester.) He is a specimen. He is a big kid that can run, and he is going to be physical,” Walls said. “One of their outside backers, No. 5 (Jamar Priestly), looks like a heckuva player. You see him beating blocks, making tackles. He is a good player.
“Jackson is a heckuva player, but I am sure they have got somebody that can get in there and take up that slack.”
Union Grove defensive back Owen High accounted for the only touchdown in the Windsor Forest victory when he intercepted a pass late in the game and took it back 55 yards for a touchdown.
“No. 4 (High) on defense and on offense, he is a wide receiver/defensive back. He is a great player,” Walls said. “He has speed, plays hard and comes up with big plays.”
The Union Grove offense is led by quarterback Reid Moss. The junior has passed for nearly 1,000 yards this season in the Wolverines’ spread offense.
“The quarterback is a good athlete. He runs their offense very well,” said Walls.
Sylvester also sees time on the offense and is the team’s leading rusher. The last available team statistics for the Wolverines had Sylvester with over 700 yards rushing on the year.
“No. 34 (Sylvester) is one of their starting running backs, and I tell you he is a man,” Walls said. “He is definitely a good player.”
One of the main weapons for the Union Grove offense is place-kicker Macklin Hayes, who also serves as the team’s punter.
“They have got a very good kicker,” said Walls.
Game time Friday is 8 p.m. The winner will face the North Gwinnett-Etowah victor in the third round. If Tift wins, the Devils should host the third round contest.
