TIFTON — Believe it or not, high school football is here. Tift County is scheduled to open its season Friday at Crisp County, a start after a spring and summer of uncertainty.

“It’s a good measuring stick for game one,” said Tift head coach Ashley Anders. Georgia High School Football Daily ranks Crisp the No. 2 in Class AAA entering the season. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

Tift won over the Cougars by a 42-0 score in 2018, but that was not the case last year. Crisp took an early lead en route to a 27-14 victory. It was part of a pretty good 2019, to say the least.

The Cordelians finished 11-4, with the fourth and final loss coming by a touchdown to Cedar Grove in the finals of the Class AAA state tournament. And seemingly all of their skill players are coming back.

“They’re loaded, aren’t they?,” said Anders. “It seems like everybody on both sides of the ball has Division I offers.”

Crisp’s prospects include safety Sirad Bryant (committed to Georgia Tech), linebacker Christopher Paul (Arkansas), linebacker Preston Lavant (Pitt) and defensive end Nick Mercer (Georgia Southern). That’s not counting all-around athlete A.J. Lofton and running back Marquise Palmer, both of whom ran for 1,000 yards last year.

Skill players will be the Cougars’ strong point in this contest, said Anders. “They can really run.” Lofton and Palmer both ran for more than 1,000 yards in 2019. Palmer particularly tortured Tift in last year’s game and Anders describes him as “very explosive.”

For success this time around, “We have to wrap up and gang-tackle,” he said.

After two years of seeing Crisp and what they have to offer, Anders said his players know what is expected of them. He feels good about his team, but admits “You never really know until you play.”

So much of coaches’ evaluation comes with spring football. Because of COVID-19, not only were the spring sessions taken away, but they have also been without 7-on-7s and a scrimmage this summer. This will be the first time they will have seen another team since last November.

The Devils return many players on defense, which Anders said will be a strength. Even without being matched up against others, “You know what those guys are capable of doing.”

Offense will be a question. Anders is returning only one starting offensive lineman. The group up front is not as big as last year, but he said they are more mobile.

“I do feel we’re more athletic,” he said. “We’re going to use that to our advantage.”

Mac Turner is expected to start Friday at quarterback. Turner is a transfer from Fitzgerald, but previously played with Tift County. Turner’s experience with the Blue Devils includes a victory over Valdosta his sophomore year. “He’s a senior,” said Anders. “It’s his time to step in and be the guy.”

Zach Carter, Javon King and Chrishon Stephens will split time at running back. Anders’ strategy is to stick with whoever has the hot hand.

After a week on the road, Tift comes home next week to play Valdosta, a contest that will also serve as an early Senior Night.