Legends Games participants congratulate one another in the traditional postgame celebration.

TIFTON — Three years into the Tift County Legends Game, the Legends only get more legendary.

Scoring was at an even quicker pace, the plays were more complex and the touchdown celebrations were even more sensational.

The third annual game, played Thursday morning at TCHS’ practice field, features Special Hearts students. Divided into blue and white teams, each student gets to score a touchdown.

Athletic director Chris Martin said it is “super important” to have the Legends Game every year. “We want to do this no matter what.” Some attendees were moved to tears, he said, seeing the love and support for the players.

Amber Gibbs, Matthew Colson and Brian Brown were this year’s big organizers, said Martin.

The Legends get the full game experience, a referee, they run through the banner the Blue Devils use, to cheerleaders, the Blue Devil Brigade, press announcer Andrew Long, and the JROTC presenting the colors.

And, they get teammates.

A group of Blue Devils players line up as offense and defense, then block and make tackle attempts, all of them futile as each Legend makes his way from the 30 to the end zone.

“It’s wonderful to continue the tradition,” said Lady Devils head basketball coach Julie Conner-Johnson, who also teaches adaptive physical education. “Our students love it every year. Not only our special needs students, but all of our students.”

They are celebrated by the Blue Devils and there was extra support this year; The Lady Devils basketball players were on hand to deliver high-fives after the Legends cross the goal line. Most Legends had their own special touchdown dance.

Experience is paying off for Tift’s Legends. While both blue and white were run-heavy teams in years past, this year saw them mix it up. There were toss sweeps and even a trick play. Layton Searcy started by completing a pass to a Blue Devil, who gave it back on a hand-off to complete the score.

This was the first Legends Game for Tift County Schools superintendent Natalie Gore, who was hired in the middle of the 2023-24 school year.

“It really reflects the school spirit that we have,” said Gore, “and the passion that our kids and our teachers have for all of our kids.”

“We get to celebrate each other’s successes,” Gore said.

Gore enjoyed the game so much, she asked Conner-Johnson if the Legends could do the same in basketball. Conner-Johnson is looking for a way to make it happen.

After three years, however, neither squad was able to gain advantage. The game was a tie, meaning that both sides, as well as everyone who participated in the Legends Game, were winners.