CORDELE — Tift County reached 10 points in only four of its football games of 2022. They had that number, and plenty more in a spring game road win over Crisp County Friday, May 19.

At the end of the three varsity quarters, the Blue Devils outscored Crisp, 24-14. Both squads posted a touchdown in the junior varsity period.

Tift, which had a high point game of 27 a year ago, needed less than 12 minutes to put 10 on the scoreboard Friday. After an early drive stalled inside the 10, the Devils kicked a short field goal.

Danny Freeman picked off a Cougars pass on the ensuing possession and returned it 30 yards to the house.

Crisp settled in in the 2nd quarter with an interception touchdown of their own, then went ahead 14-10 on a rushing score.

Later in the half, Tift’s defense made a big stand, sacking the Cougars on third down to force a punt. A Christopher Martin pass for 30 yards got the drive started, then the ball went into the hands of Damion Moate.

Moate powered his way to the Crisp 31, then the 23. There, he bolted up the visiting sideline to paydirt with 53 seconds remaining in the half.

The defense force a 3-and-out so quickly that the Devils got the ball back with 25 seconds in the half. They led 17-14 at intermission.

Moate added a touchdown run in the 3rd quarter, converting 4th down at the goal line. Tift’s defense forced a turnover in the 3rd and ended the varsity session with a big sack.

The JV quarter started with a bang. Wide receiver Royal Scott drew the biggest cheer of the night when he turned a Cougars interception into a reception. Crisp had gone up high to pick off a pass, but Scott leapt, too, not only dislodging the ball, but grabbing it for himself before the two hit the ground.

McKenzie Graham polished off the drive with a touchdown catch.

Tift will have another week of practice before the first of two “dead weeks” on the schedule. Summer sessions will carry the squad into its fall scrimmage, then into the regular season, which begins Aug. 18 at Coffee.

This was the Devils’ first return to Crisp since the opening of the 2020 season. The two were scheduled to play in 2021 at Brodie Field, but the Cougars had to cancel, with Tift instead hosting Westover. The next time they play in Cordele, the stadium will have a different look. It was announced that Crisp is switching to artificial turf this summer.