TIFTON — Tift County’s offense has been rolling lately, but Friday saw the defense step into the spotlight in a narrow 14-7 loss to Valdosta.

The Wildcats, rebounding after their first loss of the season a week earlier, now have a chance at the Region 1-6A title in the Winnersville Classic Nov. 1 at Lowndes.

Should Valdosta prevail, the Wildcats win the title. Should Lowndes win and Colquitt County falls to Richmond Hill, the title belongs to the Vikings. If Valdosta loses and Colquitt wins, the Packers earn the trophy.

While Tift County is out of the postseason, they still have a chance to play spoiler. Camden County has to win over them to make state, along with a Richmond Hill loss. Camden fell in a wild 51-41 battle to Colquitt in their Friday contest.

Tift fans were no doubt worried in the first quarter. Valdosta scored on its first two possessions, a 36-yard pass from Todd Robinson to Eli Lewis at 9:43 and another Robinson scoring throw, this one going 47 yards to Prince Jean.

But then something happened.

Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette
Tift’s Royal Scott ensures Deron Foster isn’t going anywhere on a rush.

The Blue Devils’ defense stiffened. Valdosta did not score for the remaining 40:15.

Tift had two takeaways, an interception by Jaden Nelson and a fumble recovery. They forced a missed field goal from close range in the second quarter. Four times, the Wildcats turned it over on downs and twice had to punt.

Unfortunately, Valdosta’s defense was just as tough, holding the Devils out of the end zone until 6:41 left. And while the ‘Cats couldn’t come up with any points after the first frame, their offense came up with a first down when they needed it most to run out the clock.

Though Robinson had the two passing TDs, it was arguably sophomore running back Marquis Fennell who was the star of the Valdosta offense in the first half.

Fennell had an unofficial 135 rushing yards on 17 carries in the first half, including a 79-yard burst that took the Wildcats from their own 11 to the TCHS 10.

However, that was the turning point for the Blue Devil defense. Fennell got four yards on his next two carries and the visitors tipped a Robinson pass to force fourth-and-goal from 6. There, the field goal attempt went wide left and the Wildcats were unable to add to their lead.

Fennell wouldn’t be as effective after. Nor would back Deron Foster, who made his return to the lineup after missing a few weeks with a leg injury. VHS had a first down at Tift’s 33 when Foster gained nine yards on three carries, but then Fennell was stuffed for no gain running out of the wildcat formation on fourth down.

Tift’s offense started slow in the opening half, but began finding momentum as intermission neared.

Davieon Dixon had a 52-yard run to put the Blue Devils on the Valdosta 29 with under three minutes to go. Damieon Dixon got a first down on a dazzling catch by Dai’jon Hayes that saw him make a juggling catch near the sideline while on his rear end.

They almost had a first-and-goal, but Ahmadre Woods was marked a yard short of the sticks on a 10-yard catch on fourth-and-11.

Valdosta took over at 1:18 at the 7. The ‘Cats bled the clock down to a few seconds, but on fourth down, VHS head coach Shelton Felton had Robinson throw as deep as he could to wipe out the last bit of time, and the pass was picked by Nelson off at the horn.

More close calls followed the Blue Devils into the second half.

Their opening possession featured a nifty run by Damieon Dixon going 22 yards after not letting go on a handoff to Davieon Dixon. Tift got down to the 12, but threw incomplete on fourth down.

The Devils punched the ball out of Foster’s arms on a run for a turnover on the next Valdosta drive, but gave it back on a fumble three plays later.

Momentum finally stayed Tift County’s way in the fourth quarter. A dropped Valdosta punt snap meant they began their drive at midfield.

Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette
Damieon Dixon cuts through the Valdosta defense for a 13-yard Tift touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Hayes caught a nine-yard pass from Damieon Dixon to get the drive started, and the Devils picked up a third at the 23 on an 18-yard catch by Quay Bell.

Pass interference gave them another first down, this time at the 12. Two snaps later, they were at the 13, but weren’t going to be denied this time.

Damieon Dixon was forced to scramble and he initially darted left, then yo-yoed center before cutting right and between Valdosta defenders for a 13-yard rushing score at 6:41. Braylon Samuel kicked the point-after and Valdosta’s lead halved to 14-7.

Lewis caught an 11-yard pass from Robinson on Valdosta’s next drive, but they needed 13 for a first down. The Wildcats punted again and Tift took over deep in their own territory with 5:11 left.

The Blue Devils got one first down on a facemask penalty, but Valdosta didn’t let them get any further. Tift elected to punt and hope for a big stop. Fennell and the Valdosta offense wouldn’t let them have a chance to see the ball again and the Wildcats ran out the clock.