Wayne Grandy
November 07, 2007 10:45 pm
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MOULTRIE — Tift County needs to win Friday night’s game against Colquitt County to qualify for the state playoffs.
And with the Packers 2-7 overall record and 1-4 record in the Region 1-AAAAA standings, one might not blame the Blue Devils if they peek ahead to see who they might have to face in the first round of the playoffs.
Tift County coach Jay Walls does not sound as if that is happening.
“It’s a big game for us,” Walls said Wednesday. “And we are working as hard as we can.
“But we are certainly aware of Colquitt’s ability. They are better than their record. This is a great rivalry and we expect the kids to play real hard.
“This game will be magnified because of the rivalry.”
Walls said he has been especially impressed with the play of Colquitt County linebacker Terry McDaniel and likes how the defense “flies around.”
He also said that while the Colquitt County backs are not big, “they can fly.”
Moultrie/Colquitt County holds a 29-17 advantage over Tift County in the series, dating back to 1964.
The Packers have won six of the last eight, but the two Tift wins in that span were memorable.
The Blue Devils won 35-28 in the final game of the 2002 regular season to keep the Packers from the playoffs for the first time since 1990.
And last year in Moultrie, the Blue Devils pulled off a 38-35 triple overtime victory that gave them the Region 1-AAAAA championship.
Tift County is 5-4 overall and 2-3 in the region and is coming off a 28-17 loss to Lowndes last Friday that gave the Vikings the region championship.
The Blue Devils have had to deal with youth, injuries and a strong schedule this season, Walls said.
“We were young in spots and when you have that you have some inconsistencies,” Walls said. “I think Colquitt County may be going through some of that.
“And injuries have had an affect. Our top two quarterbacks have been injured and (leading rusher Kaream) Hess had a broken hand.
“It’s just hard to improve when you have to shuffle the deck so much.”
And while Colquitt County and Tift County have had to deal with the loss of a number of outstanding players heading into the 2007 season, Walls points to the resurgence of Lowndes as how quickly a team can rebound from a down year.
The Vikings were 6-4 a year ago and now are 8-1 and ranked No. 4 in Class AAAAA.
Valdosta also has come off the canvas in a big way this season, goinG 8-2 and finishing second in the region after going 1-9 and failing to win a region game last season.
Walls said his team appears to be reasonably healthy for the game that could determine its playoff fate.
Starting quarterback Nick Prostko has suffered two injuries that have caused him to miss games and his backup, Malcom Dixon, also was injured, forcing Walls use Ricky Pierce to quarterback the team against Houston.
But Prostko appears on the mend after completing 25-of-47 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown against Lowndes last week.
Despite playing in less than six games because of injuries, Prostko, a junior, still has managed to complete 95-of-169 passes for 1,016 yards and six touchdowns.
Prostko was on the field for one play against Colquitt County last year.
He went in to spell starter Sean Baxley and completed a 10-yard to Jared Davis in the 60-yard, 15-play drive that allowed the Blue Devils to tie the game with 23.7 seconds left and send it into overtime.
And all-state running back Kaream Hess missed two games with a broken hand, but he has carried the ball 151 times for 803 yards and also is second on the team in receiving with 23 catches for 210 yards. Hess rushed for 129 yards on 26 carries and scored two touchdowns against the Packers last year.
“Those guys are our playmakers and they will have to play well for us,” Walls said.
One starter not 100 percent is All-Region linebacker Josh Abbott, who has been battling a neck strain.
Abbott leads the team with 44 solo tackles, 37 assists and a sack.
He is part of an outstanding defense that also includes defensive end A.J. Brown, defensive tackle Larry Bryant and safety Blake Reddick.
“Those guys will have to step up and come through for us,” Walls said.
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