TIFTON — The Tift County High Blue Devils coaching staff prepares a game plan for the football team every week.

As the Devils prepare to host the North Gwinnett Bulldogs in the third round of the state Class AAAAA playoffs at 8 tonight at Brodie Field, this week’s game plan includes several keys to the game.

However the coaches are trying to show the importance of one key, because the same three words are listed on every other line — “Rush the Quarterback!”

North Gwinnett quarterback Michael Tamburo has put up 1,946 yards through the air and 414 on the ground. With that, Tift coaches have emphasized the importance of putting pressure on the sophomore in tonight’s game.

With his running and passing, Tamburo is the major cog in the North Gwinnett offensive scheme.

In the Gwinnett Daily Post this week, Bulldogs head coach Bob Sphire talked about his dual-talented quarterback.

“He has that element,” Sphire said. “We want to utilize him as a true run-pass option. I’ve had a lot of quarterbacks in the past that did well in the boot game on throwing the ball, but they weren’t really a running threat. And they knew it.

“But Mikey looks to take it. I try to ingrain that in him that he’s a running threat. I tell him all the time, every time he runs a boot for positive yards I consider it a completion.”

Leading the charge to slow down Tamburo will be the Tift County defensive line.

“I look at it as a challenge, because they feel like he is tougher than the D-lines he has faced,” Tift senior Jarvis Jones said.

Senior Bryan Brown felt the same way as he said, “I don’t think any quarterback is tougher than a Region 1 D-line.”

Tift lineman Shayon Green, like Tamburo, is a sophomore. He said about his fellow 10th grader, “We are looking forward to going against him.”

Defensive end A.J. Brown said of Tamburo, “It is always big to get pressure on a quarterback and we want him to know he has been in there against us and feel it the next day.”

Jones added, “Anytime you can get pressure on the quarterback it has to be good for a defense, especially when you get it upfront and you don’t have to blitz anybody. That’s the ultimate for every defense.”

Larry Bryant also is anxious to get a shot at Tamburo.

“He is not scared to take a lick, because they haven’t played anyone,” Bryant said. “But once our front five hit him, he is going to think twice about it.”

Tift head coach Jay Walls hopes his line gets its shots at Tamburo.

“The defensive line’s play will be crucial as far as our success on defense,” the Tift head coach stated. “We are going to have to defend the run and defend the pass. That can be tough at times, especially on the high school level. But these guys have done a very good job this year. I think the D-line is one of our strengths and I think they will be ready to play.”

Brown has missed most of the season with a knee injury, but has come back to give Tift needed depth along the defensive front.

“It feels pretty good to be back,” Brown said. “I expect my biggest play was probably that first tackle against Warner Robins. It was nice after being out a year to be able to come back and get some playing time.”

Jones is looking forward to tonight’s contest.

“I am always looking forward to a Friday night game or any game, because as a senior every game can be my last and I take it very seriously,” Jones said.

Walls is hoping strong and confident defensive line play will become a tradition with the Blue Devils.

“For the past two years one of our main things has been our defensive line,” Walls said. “This year is no different. Last year we had players like Lanarius McKinley, James Carter, James Carter and Jay Gaskins. Those guys were strong.

“(This season) our defensive line play has continued to be really good. We have done a great job against the run, defending the run and defending the wing-T. The teams we have seen that do throw the football, we have done a good job of getting pressure on the quarterback.”

Walls cites the defensive line coach Don Jarrett and defensive end coach Stacy Duckworth as two key elements in the line’s success.

“Coach Jarrett does a great job coaching those guys,” Walls said. “The mentality of the defensive line is very tough, very intense — those kids work very hard. That’s a direct correlation with what coach Jarrett does with them.

“The same thing with our defensive ends. Our defensive end play has been very good. Coach Duckworth does a great job. Just look at this year, Anthony Woods has had great games and big plays, so has A.J. Brown. They have been very strong this year.”

Walls feels like the D-line has been a big part of the Tift defensive success.

“It all starts on defense upfront,” said Walls.