Big second half carries TCC to win over Tift

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Austin McCant catches a 16-yard touchdown pass from Kris Miller with 1:49 left in the first half Friday night. Photo/Hubby Brooks
Tift County’s Jacori McCoy (7) hauls in a first quarter touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Wedgeworth (10). Photo/Hubby Brooks

September 22, 2012

Big second half carries TCC to win over Tift

Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette CNHI The Tifton Gazette Sat Sep 22, 2012, 01:42 AM EDT

TIFTON — A huge second half propelled the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets over the Tift County Blue Devils 34-14 Friday night at Brodie Field.

Up 14-7 going into the second half, Tift would only manage five offensive plays in the third quarter, as Thomas County Central would respond with 24 unanswered points to win the ball game.

Central would strike first in the contest. After being held on downs after receiving the opening kickoff, the Jackets would rush Shaquille Coleman, who would be stopped after a one-yard gain. The next snap, though, saw quarterback Adam Choice race 65 yards down to the 5-yard line. One play later, Deondre Cooksey scored from five yards out. The kick was good and TCC would lead 7-0.

The Devils would even things up on the next series. Three plays into the drive, Central added 15 yards to a Rashad Daniels run to move the Devils from their side of the field into Jackets’ territory. Four plays later, Ryan Wedgeworth’s first completion of the night found Jacori McCoy for 20 yards and a touchdown with 2:05 remaining in the first. The Frankie Mejia kick was good and Tift would hold Central on downs to end the first quarter with the score tied 7-7.

The Blue Devils and Jackets would exchange punts to begin the second quarter and TCC’s kick saw Tift start at Central’s 42. On the second play of the drive, Rashad Daniels fumbled, but the ball bounced back into his arms and he was able to make it back to the line of scrimmage. This lucky break sustained the Devils’ drive and they were able to capitalize five plays later when quarterback Kris Miller connected with Austin McCant for a 16-yard touchdown. Mejia’s kick again sailed through the uprights and Tift led 14-7 with just under two minutes to go in the half. Central was unable to muster any further offense and Tift went into the lockerroom maintaining their lead.

The second half would see a reversal of fortune for the Devils.

Central’s veer offense began taking hold in the final 24 minutes of play.

The Jackets drove down to Tift’s 22 on their opening second half possession, but a fumble by Central’s Deondre Cooksey was recovered by Tift County’s Devarius Vance.

Tift was forced to punt after three plays and Thomas County Central began driving again. A penalty wiped out a long touchdown run by Choice, but three plays later Coleman raced 19 yards for the score. An extra point kick tied the game at 14 with 16 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

The Yellow Jackets were again in business in the fourth quarter as a 22-yard Cooksey run and extra point kick gave Central its first lead of the night, 21-14. TCC’s next possession saw Choice score from 41 yards out on an option keeper to pad their lead to 28-14 with 3:57 remaining.

Tift quarterback Ryan Wedgeworth was picked off by Jarell Jones deep in Devil territory on their next possession and Choice would score one more time on a 9-yard with 26 seconds remaining, which closed out the game and gave Central a 34-14 victory.

Daniels led Tift with 125 rushing yards on 23 attempts.

The Blue Devils hit the road next week to open their Region 1-AAAAAA schedule next week in Douglas against Coffee. Coach Robby Pruitt’s Trojans defeated Mundy’s Mill Friday, 38-13.

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