Jaylon Jackson (9) and Quin Ewings (back) congratulate Ronald Jackson (right) on Jackson’s interception during an organized team activity against Thomas County Central this summer.

TIFTON — Today, the Tift County Blue Devils clean up.

The annual Soap Bowl kicks off this afternoon at Tift County High’s mini-stadium, giving fans a glimpse of football this year and in seasons to come. Sixth grade through varsity take the field in a set of scrimmages, which begin at 5 p.m.

Since the end of last year’s 11-2 season that saw them make the state Class AAAAAAA quarterfinals, Tift’s high school athletes have been preparing for 2018. They had a pair of scrimmages in May and have steadily worked through the summer.

In contrast, Tift County head coach Ashley Anders said the sixth grade team began practicing Monday. The Soap Bowl will be the sixth graders’ first experience before fans.

“We’ll let them get excited,” said Anders.

The sixth graders will be first on the field, scrimmaging each other from 5-5:30 p.m. After they finish, the seventh and eighth grade teams square off. Thirty minutes later, eighth plays ninth before ninth plays the junior varsity.

The high school varsity Blue Devils are scheduled to face one another at 7 p.m.

Anders said admission to the games is liquid laundry detergent (high efficiency) or white towels. Donations will be used for all Tift school football teams. In addition to 120 in high school, Anders said there were 250 more Blue Devils playing in grades 6-8.

“A lot of detergent,” he said.

He said donations at previous Soap Bowls had been enough to cover each season.

The Blue Devils began fully padded practices Wednesday, as per Georgia High School Association rules. Wednesday was also their first afternoon practice. A summer transfer has boosted Tift’s competing starting quarterbacks to four.

“Competition at a position,” said Anders. “Everybody benefits.”

Following today’s scrimmages, Tift will be getting down and dirty. Their final season warm-up will be a scrimmage at home against Lee County next Friday. The regular season starts at Warner Robins Aug. 17. Lee is the defending Class AAAAAA champion; Warner Robins was runner-up in Class AAAAA.