By Kyle Dean/Sports Editor
TIFTON — Tift County will need to play a great game to defeat Lowndes High tonight at Martin Stadium.
The 8 p.m. kickoff will continue the heated rivalry between the two teams, as the Devils have given the Vikings the most trouble inside of region play over the past four seasons under head coach Jay Walls.
The Vikings have won three games in the last four seasons over Tift : 16-7 in 2005, 28-17 in 2007 and last season’s 28-14 classic. Tift took the 2006 game by a 13-3 score.
Walls said Randy McPherson’s team is the “same old Lowndes team that we have seen year after year.”
“They execute well and I think they could be a stronger team this season,” Walls said.
Pretty high praise, as the Vikings lost safety Gerald Demps and reigning ACC player of the week Greg Reid to the Florida State Seminoles this fall.
But Bobby Bowden and his staff have also picked up two more Vikings for next fall. Ed Christian, a two-way lineman and linebacker Telvin Smith have each given a verbal commitment to play at FSU next season.
“No. 73, Christian — is a very good player. They play him both ways and he really does the job,” Walls said.
Another player Walls singled out was Khary Franklin, a wingback that played quarterback for the Vikings the past two seasons.
“He can go 0-to-60 (miles per hour) in one step. He hits the hole fast.”
Franklin had 100 yards on 15 carries last week against Colquitt County in a 31-6 win, and the speedy back has verbally committed to Troy University.
Cole Parker has taken over the quarterback duties this season, and McPherson and his offensive staff have opened up the offense to take advantage of Parker’s throwing arm.
Parker finished 7-of-9 for 83 yards and two touchdowns last week and for the season is 16-of-21 for 268 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.
The Blue Devils have had a good week of practice according to Walls, and the Tift coach said that his team is very healthy for the 8 p.m. encounter tonight with the Vikings.
