TIFTON — Spring is in the air tonight — and on the ground — with Tift County traveling to Fitzgerald for a spring scrimmage. Game action gets underway at 6:30 p.m. with the rising freshmen. Junior varsity and varsity will later take the field.

The schools were to have played Thursday, but the scrimmage was moved up a day to not interfere with Fitzgerald’s honors night.

“You stress academics,” said Tift County head coach Ashley Anders. “You don’t want to make them choose [between events].”

Anders will be back on the sidelines for this game. He missed last week’s Water Bowl to join his son, Cade, and other Tift County athletes who qualified for the state track meet (he’s since seen Water Bowl film). Cade Anders, Azaria Smith and J.D. Bengston all missed last week because of that meet. Running back Mike Jones, who is set to graduate, was the other qualifier among football players.

Jones finished his high school career with 30 touchdowns, 29 of them rushing. Both are Tift County school records, going back to when the school opened under that name in 1962. Jones was the primary running back his junior and senior seasons. Finding a replacement for him is going to be a monumental task.

Walter Jackson and Javon Williams had the majority of carries during the Water Bowl. Dashawn Hurley and Zach Carter are other varsity candidates.

“They’re learning,” said Anders. “No one really has the game experience.” Jackson has seen the most time on the field, but all of his experience is at linebacker. Williams had nine carries across three varsity games in 2018.

Tift is similarly on the lookout for a breakout receiver. Anders said he is comfortable with the lineup.

Jeremiah McKinnon is on Anders’ radar. He had four catches for 65 yards and a touchdown a year ago. Though also a candidate for quarterback, Smith is expected to spend more time catching passes. Jarius Johnson and Bryce Stephens each had touchdown catches in the Water Bowl and Ty Hall and Qa Clines are possibilities. Tight ends Anders and Ben Brock expand the receiving corps even more.

“We’re going to throw the ball around,” said Anders.

Thursday’s Water Bowl brought in many donations of cases of water to the program from fans. Tift County High received even more donations Monday, with a pallet of water donated by Planet Fitness.