By Becky Taylor

becky.taylor@gaflnews.com

TIFTON — Tift County’s Blue Devils enter crunch time Friday. Two weeks remain in their regular season and Tift potentially has an avenue to the state playoffs.

Region 1-6A’s top four teams have 2-1 records, but the Devils have a shot to slip in past Valdosta, their opponent this week.

The Wildcats went into last week’s game at Richmond Hill with a 7-0 record, 2-0 in 1-6A. When the final horn ended of that game, VHS was smashed, 35-14.

Injuries played their part. Valdosta’s top running back, Deron Foster, has a leg injury. Quarterback Todd Robinson, limited against Colquitt County with an ankle injury two weeks ago, did not play last week.

In Robinson’s absence, Tripp Perry threw for 64 yards for no touchdowns and was intercepted once. The ‘Cats’ rushing game was all sophomore back Marquis Fennell, who had both touchdowns and 151 yards.

Valdosta’s defense gave up five touchdowns. In typical Richmond Hill fashion, all were on the ground.

Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette
Shurrod Rich makes a tackle and Tift County’s defense stops Colquitt short in their Friday game. The Packers came away with no points on the possession following a missed field goal.

The Blue Devils fell to Richmond Hill earlier this year, but gave up less points and less overall yardage in the process. Tift was also much more effective through the air than VHS.

Though they have been on the fortunate side of the scoreboard yet in region, the Devils have begun to sparkle offensively.

Damieon Dixon’s best three passing games of the season have been his last three. He has thrown for 677 yards in that span. Dai’jon Hayes has been excellent as well and his 591 receiving yards leads everyone in the region.

Ahmadre Woods, Quay Bell and Kaden Lawson joined Hayes in catching Dixon’s nearly 330 yards against the Packers. It was the first time a Tift QB went over 300 yards in a contest since Griffin Collier in 2017.

After Valdosta, Tift will finish the regular season at Camden, a team that is also reeling. These Wildcats — three of the six teams in the region are Wildcats — were held to a single touchdown against Lowndes and, worse, leading receiver Elyiss Williams was held without a catch.

Elsewhere locally, Tiftarea Academy currently has the advantage in District 3-3A.

At 2-0, the Panthers are the only undefeated team in the standings. Deerfield-Windsor has more victories, but can’t catch Tiftarea if the Panthers keep winning, as they defeated the Knights two weeks ago.

Deerfield won a 27-6 upset over Valwood last week. Valwood plays winless Brookwood on Friday. Should they win and should the Panthers defeat Terrell, that sets up Nov. 1 for the district championship between Valwood and Tiftarea. The game will be at the Panther Pit.

While the Valiants are 6-2, they’ve been able to keep the lead in the power rankings. Tiftarea is third, behind the only team to defeat them this year, Westfield. Westfield also has two losses. Tiftarea has to finish in the top eight to make state and in the top four for a first round home game.

Before their bye weeks, the Panthers had been scuffling, needing some breaks to win over Southland and posting 36 points combined against Westfield and Frederica. The time away let them refocus and Tiftarea came back with 49 points against Deerfield-Windsor. They had no problems last week against Brookwood.

J.R. Walker is now over 1,000 passing yards for the season, sitting at 1,044 with 13 touchdowns and only one interception.

Tiftarea has been a three-headed monster rushing the ball, with Walker (982 yards, 19 touchdowns), Caden Grier (580, 4) and Kaiden Richardson (249, 3) getting most of the snaps. They are by no means limited to the three with Temond Marcus and Kentorial Wimberly capable of eating up yards as well.

John Jackson remains the top receiver at 637 yards and six touchdowns. Ridley Monk, Jackson Parrish, William Garner and Marcus are options as well.

Defense has grown up tremendously for Tiftarea. The Panthers are giving up 16 points per game this season, half of what they allowed in 2023.

Brody Seagraves and Marcus both have more than 60 tackles.  Marcus has six tackles for losses, with Jack Brand and Grier at five each. Grier and Brand lead with four sacks apiece.

Jackson Parrish has intercepted four passes. Seagraves has two fumbles forced.