RICHMOND HILL — Tift County almost pulled a big surprise on the young Region 1-6A part of the 2024 high school football season. Richmond Hill took a 21-17 ballgame Friday night by the skin of their teeth.

Richmond Hill, which entered 5-0 to Tift’s 2-3, needed a fourth quarter stop in their own territory to protect a four-point lead. Then, when the Wildcats thought they had the Blue Devils put away on a Joshua Troupe two-yard touchdown run at 1:15, saw the visitors fly down the field to score again as time expired.

The Wildcats are considered one of Georgia’s best unranked 6A schools. They have been using a multi-headed rushing attack to crush opponents this year. Tift County was much harder to shake.

Two plays into the game, Kirk Scott surprised everyone with a 71-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Easterling. Cannon Kuryla’s kick made it a 7-0 lead 61 seconds into the game. It seemed like a runaway was in progress. That was not the case.

Tift forced two fumbles on the next two Wildcat drives, D.J. Office and Cnardarian Walker each falling on the pigskin. Walker collected the ball at the Richmond Hill 26 with 2:07 left in the quarter, immediately putting the Blue Devils in business.

Damieon Dixon scooted for a first down at the 15. Tift bogged there and, on the first play of the second period, David Olguin kicked a 29-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3.

Neither team could do much in the second, with the highlight being an Olguin punt that pinned Richmond Hill at its own 3 late in the half.

The Blue Devils started the second half with the ball, but went 3-and-out. Richmond Hill, stymied for most of the first 24 minutes, put everything together on the opening march.

Scott had a first down run to get into Tift territory at the 46. Easterling picked up eight, then Scott took the ball again, going untouched for a 38-yard touchdown with 7:24 left in the third. Kuryla’s kick was true, increasing the scoring to 14-3.

The drive woke up Tift, whose offense also began to figure it out on a muddy field.

Davieon Dixon caught a pass for eight yards, then the Devils went into the bag of tricks, Ahmadre Woods darting 20 yards on an end around to reach the 48.

Dai’jon Hayes jumped for a catch at the 25. Tift seemed in trouble when a false start made it 3rd-and-12 at the 28, but Damieon Dixon floated a pass that Woods dove for and got at the 1.

Kamari Holloman needed two tries to burst in from the 1, getting the touchdown at 2:58. Olguin kicked the point to again close the gap to four, 14-10.

Bryan Melton almost picked off Scott to end the third and Tift got the ball back at its own 11 to start the fourth following a punt.

The Devils were deep in their own territory for the final 12 minutes, but began working their way out of it. Holloman got a first down at the 25. Hayes made a leaping catch for 25 yards at the 47. Tift’s line pushed the Wildcats back for Holloman to pick up a fourth down at the 36, but magic began running out.

More than half the quarter was gone and head coach Jeff Littleton teased a punt from the Richmond Hill 34. Olguin faked a bad snap, but the Wildcats weren’t fooled, stopping Tift for no gain at 5:04.

Needing to burn clock, the Wildcats decided not to play around. Instead of usual QB Scott handling snaps, Troupe went under center. He had the ball for seven of the eight plays on the drive, gaining 62 of 66 yards. Scott went over at 1:15 and the lead was up to 21-10.

Tift was in a difficult position, but did not give up on the late touchdown. Littleton went into a 75-second drill, made even more difficult than a starting field position of their own 17.

Dixon found Hayes for 30 yards to reach midfield. Woods picked up 26 on a catch and they were to the 25. Hayes got 11 more to the 14 and Dixon spiked the ball.

With no open receivers, Damieon Dixon made the quick decision to run for it, gaining 13 yards before being pushed out at the 1 with two seconds left. Littleton decided to put in extra muscle for the game’s last play, sending Jaden Nelson in under center. Nelson faked a handoff to Davieon Dixon, then took it himself for a score as time expired.

In contrast to Tift’s game with Houston County, the Blue Devils did attempt the point-after despite the clocking showing zero. Olguin delivered the kick for the 21-17 finish.

Damieon Dixon had an unofficial 172 yards on 11-of-21 passing, with an interception. Hayes had 108 yards on five receptions. Woods caught two for 54.

On the ground, Holloman had 44 yards and a touchdown. Damieon Dixon ran seven times for 41. Nelson, who had the other TD, got a yard in his sole try.

Tift held Richmond Hill to seven first downs.

The Blue Devils will be home next week to face Lowndes. The Vikings were knocked from the list of undefeated teams Friday with a 38-33 loss to Colquitt County.