TIFTON — To get an idea of the conditions Saturday when the Tift County Blue Devils took on the Brooks County Trojans in the 2007 season opener for both teams, you would have to imagine going into a sauna in a full football uniform and doing jumping jacks for nearly three hours.
With the heavy rains that helped play a role in the game being delayed from its original starting time of Friday night, the field in Quitman was soaked and muddy. On top of that there was a bright sun throughout the game which created very steamy conditions.
While it was not prime football conditions, the Tift County Blue Devils managed to pull out a 16-7 victory over the Trojans.
To go along with the hot, muggy weather, the fact it was the first game for both sides led to mistakes.
That happened early for the Devils.
On Tift’s first drive, the Devils drove steadily down field and had the ball for a 2nd and 6 at the 10 of Brooks County. Tift quarterback Nick Prostko threw to Jared Davis in the endzone. The ball was tipped and intercepted by the Trojans’ Jeremy Cody.
Cody brought the ball out of the endzone, but Brooks was called for an illegal block in the back. That put the ball at the two.
Two plays later, Tift’s Blake Reddick tackled Demetrice Ray in the endzone for a safety. That made the score 2-0 with 4:32 left in the first quarter.
Tift would go on to dominate the game statistically in the first half, leading in total yardage, 146 to 35. But, Tift County would continue to have problems to score as Kaream Hess fumbled and a 35-yard field goal attempt by Jordan West was no good.
While Tift was having trouble, Brooks was avoiding making turnovers. But, that was until late in the half.
Tymon Brown caught a punt on Brooks’ 11-yard line and immediately fumbled the ball. The Devils’ Ricky Pierce recovered to give Tift excellent field position.
Brooks held steady on defense and forced a 4th and 4 from the five. Tift went for it and Justin Wilson made a nice catch for a touchdown on a pass from Prostko.
West’s point after made the score 9-0 at the half.
“We fought through some adversity all day today,” said Tift head coach Jay Walls. “We had to battle through turnovers and penalties.”
After Tift dominated in yardage in the first half, the Devils were outgained by a 83 to 22 advantage.
One of the Brooks big gainers in that quarter was a 23-yard run by Keith Christopher with 5:03 left in the period. Christopher broke up the middle and the ball apparently popped out and was recovered by Tift’s John Tibbetts. However, the officials said Christopher was down and let the Trojans keep the ball.
Nine plays later, Celios Fulton caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Anthony Bryan on the first play of the fourth quarter. The kick was made by Brad Austin and the score was 9-7 with 11:32 left in the game.
Tift responded with a 35-yard kickoff return by Jermaine Watts. That gave the Devils the ball at the 40-yard line of the Trojans.
Hess then took over and the senior quickly got the Devils back the nine-point lead as he ran five times for 40 yards. The last run being a two-yard touchdown run by Hess.
West added the point after and the score was 16-7 with 10:04 left.
“That drive was big. We had to hike up our britches and go,” said Walls. “We had to keep our defense off the field and go out there and run the ball well. We were able to do that.”
Hess ended up with 22 carries with 124 yards rushing. Prostko was 12 for 24 passing for 75 yards.
“(A lot of things went wrong, but) we fought through it all day,” said Walls. “Brooks is a very tough team and they are a good club. It was good for us to get a win.”
Tift will open up their home schedule at 8 p.m. Friday against the South Forsyth War Eagles.
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