Devils head for Dutchtown

Published 1:00 pm Friday, August 26, 2022

TIFTON — Tift County’s Blue Devils look to return to their winning ways tonight at Dutchtown. The contest will kick off at 7:30 p.m.

This is Tift’s first ever game in Henry County, whose northwest corner is the site of Dutchtown. The Bulldogs enter 1-0, having defeated Stephenson last week, 24-13.

Dutchtown is arguably the more experienced team in this rematch from a year ago. Dean agrees. “It’s going to be a great challenge for us.” Among those scoring against Stephenson was Jamal Bing. Bing had their lone touchdown in last year’s 23-7 Tift victory. Quarterback Josiah Jarrett returns under center as well.

“They have what we will be, with experience,” he said. “We have to show up and play with the right attitude.”

Tonight is a new beginning for the Devils. Their first road game of the year and a chance to bounce back after last week’s Coffee contest. Coffee led 20-0 at halftime, then doubled that in the first five minutes of the 3rd quarter.

Dean said they have mentally moved on from the stinging. “They came back, they went to work,” he said. “They know. We’ve been very honest about what we need to be, where we’re going, who we want to be. We’re all in this for the long haul.”

Ball control and a lack of turnovers will be crucial for a win, Dean said. “Those are all the recipes a young team has to do,” he said. “If we execute like we did against Lowndes, we’ll be alright, but like we did against Coffee, we’ll be in trouble..”

Georgia High School Football Daily rates the Bulldogs as slight favorites Friday. Their gridiron mentor is Niketa Battle, in his first year at Dutchtown after six years, five state tournament appearances and two quarterfinals at Mays.

Damion Moate had a long 3rd quarter run for Tift’s score against Coffee. Kobe Pierce had some carries in the 4th quarter. Dean sees Pierce as a bigger future contributor.

Tift will spend another week on the road after Dutchtown, going to Colquitt County next week. The Packers (1-0) host Stockbridge tonight.