Thomasville defeats Tift, 28-7

Published 9:00 am Saturday, September 17, 2022

THOMASVILLE — Every week, a little closer for the Tift County Blue Devils. Friday, Sept. 16 was their closest game yet, against the Thomasville Bulldogs, falling by a 28-7 score.

Tift held Thomasville scoreless in the 2nd half in Friday’s encounter, but were held scoreless themselves.

After spending the last three games on the road, the Devils come back home Sept. 23 to face Gadsden County, Fla., in the Red, White and Blue Devils game. Gadsden dropped its most recent game to Florida State University High School, 42-0. The Jaguars have scored six points total in their first four contests.

The Bulldogs, state runners-up in Class AA in 2021 and playing their first game against Tift since 1983, put 14 points on the scoreboard in the 1st quarter.

Thomasville was denied on its third drive, which put the wheels in motion for Tift to move 78 yards itself.

The Blue Devils were standing on their own 27 when the period ended, with 3rd down and 5 yards to go. On the first play of the 2nd they picked that up on a 10-yard run by Carlton Brannon, which saw a tremendous push by his offensive line.

Two plays later, Tift was in a similar position, 3rd down with 12 yards to go. This time, Brannon found Tyler Parker for a 12-yard gain, putting them on Thomasville’s 47.

A quick pass to Antavio Pierce gained 18 more to the 28. The drive nearly ended in that area, though, but Thomasville was called for pass interference for an automatic first down at the 12.

The Devils wasted little time. Damion Moate was tackled for a one-yard gain, but then swept around right end for an easy touchdown at 6:08, running over a Bulldog as he stepped into the end zone. Antonio Gomez provided the extra point for Tift to halve the lead to 14-7.

Tift needed a big stop to keep the momentum, but it was Thomasville on the move again. Taking advantage of two big penalties, the Bulldogs rumbled 84 yards in six plays.

D.J. Thurman caught Camren Hill’s 25-yard fling into the east end zone at 3:24. Thomasville was back ahead by two touchdowns.

Thomasville got the ball back quickly and at Tift’s 48 following a punt. With 1:31 left, Jay Randall zoomed for 38 yards, making it 28-7.

The first half saw plenty of movement and 35 combined points. The next 24 minutes had the yards, but few threats by either side.

Tift got to the 40 before running out of downs on its first drive. The Bulldogs punted them down to the 8 after going nowhere, but there Moate had the longest play of the night for the visitors with a 30-yard run.

Thomasville reached Tift’s 8, but were knocked back to the 25 on a hold. A 42-yard field goal attempt fell short.

Ah’majay Bogan recorded an interception near midfield. A penalty on the runback, then more flags kept Thomasville from making any hay.

Tift’s last drive saw them reach midfield. During it, Brannon completed passes to Parker, Moate and Titus Beauford.

Thomasville started with a bang, recovering Tift’s onside attempt on the opening kickoff. They flew down the field and Thurman had a 35-yard reception before Lavonte Cole finished it off with a 2-yard run.

Daniel Belvin kicked the first of his four extra points and the ‘Dogs were up 7-0 at 9:02.

Their second drive also resulted in a touchdown, Thurman again on the spot, scoring on a 43-yard pass from Hill at 6:17.

Moate recorded his first 100-yard game of the year, running 20 times for an unofficial 102 and a touchdown in three quarters.

Brannon completed 9 of 20 passes for 82 yards. Parker had five receptions for 43 yards.