A wide open lane for Damieon Dixon to finish the Houston game with a two-yard touchdown run for Tift County.

TIFTON — Tift County’s young squad continues taking steps forward. The Blue Devils hassled Houston County to the end at a muddy Brodie Field Friday. Though the final was 42-19 in favor of the Bears, the game played closer for much of the evening.

The Devils got two touchdowns from Kamari Holloman and the third from Damieon Dixon as time expired.

A.J. Hill, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11 choice, was 23-of-28 passing for three touchdowns, but was held under 200 yards in the air and had one underthrow picked by Tyson Beauford. Beauford also broke up a deep throw by Hill.

A slick snap on the first play of the night gave the ball to Houston. Four runs later, they had their first touchdown at 10:56, a two-yard run by Hill.

Harrison Ludwig had the first of six extra point kicks and it was a quick 7-0 lead for the visitors.

But then the momentum stopped. The second drive gained two yards and the third featured a big hit by Royal Scott, also a three-and-out with a punt.

Tift’s offense began clicking. Davieon Dixon found a seam for 46 yards, bursting all the way to Houston’s 15. Damieon Dixon scrambled for a first down to the two. The next two gives were to Holloman, the second seeing him muscle over a pile into the end zone with 19 seconds to go in the first quarter.

The point-after kick was wide, but the Devils were down a measly one point at 7-6.

Most of the second quarter was quiet, save for Zylan Coley falling on a Houston fumble at the Tift 7. The Blue Devils couldn’t move, but neither could Houston. However, the Bears started driving after a 40-yard David Olguin punt to midfield.

Hill completed all five passes on the drive, with the only the last being longer than nine yards. The scoring pass went 14 yards to Isaiah Mitchell in the end zone at 3:40.

Houston found paydirt again before the end of the half, Austin Stinson rumbling 11 yards with 55 seconds to go. Sentez Johnson picked off a Tift pass as time expired and the Bears were ahead 21-6.

Beauford’s interception began the third, but this was a more productive 12 minutes for Houston, one that saw them tack on two more touchdowns.

M.J. Mathis grabbed a 28-yard pass from Hill at 1:43. Jercorian McCoy picked off a pass on the first play of the ensuing Tift drive, setting up a short field for Houston at the 26. Two plays later, Stinson ran the ball in from 11 yards out for a 35-6 lead at 1:15.

Tift County refused to go away quietly.

Holloman picked up a first down at the Houston 44 on a 13-yard pass from Damieon Dixon to end the third. Holloman bulled his way for six yards and a first down at the 29 to convert a fourth-and-1.

Houston got a sack, but it hurt them on a flag for taunting. Up to the 19 on the penalty, Damieon Dixon threw a swing pass to Holloman that turned into much more when the running back sped his way up the home sideline.

Holloman’s touchdown came at 9:04. Olguin’s kick was good to make it 35-13.

Hill threw a five-yard touchdown pass at 5:19 to Mathis. The teams traded punts one more time and the Blue Devils went into a two-minute drill.

Aided by another big Bears penalty — Houston was flagged for purposefully ripping off Damieon Dixon’s helmet during a run — Tift gained ground quickly. Dai’jon Hayes gained 29 on a pass down to the 32. Mason Montesano made a big catch, gaining 11 more yards. It was first and goal as Hayes picked up 19.

With the clock running off its last precious seconds, Dixon found a hole on the right side of his line and darted in for a touchdown. As time expired on the run, Tift did not attempt the extra point.

Damieon Dixon was 13 of 29 passing for an official 129 yards and a touchdown throw to Holloman. Holloman had 59 yards on the ground and a score to go along with his 35 and a touchdown receiving. Hayes caught four passes for 50 yards.

The Blue Devils, now 2-3, are off next week before beginning their Region 1-6A slate at Richmond Hill.