Chucky (fourth from left) appeared with Tift County before the Lee County scrimmage. His appearance and future with the team are questions head coach Ashley Anders can’t answer.

TIFTON — Blue Devils meet Demons tonight in the contest should be a hot one.

The school nicknames suggest a barn-burner and Tift County’s anticipation may be off the charts when they visit McConnell-Talbert stadium for a 7:30 p.m. contest at Warner Robins.

Tift had its scrimmage ended early last week and the Devils are anxious to continue the momentum from their 11-2 run last year that ended in the state Class AAAAAAA quarterfinals.

Head coach Ashley Anders joked the film review of the Lee County scrimmage might have been the shortest ever. The contest ended at 6:27 in the first quarter because of lightning. Each team had one series of downs before the stoppage.

“It was kind of a bummer,” he said. “The kids were jacked up.”

Tift has a full game ahead of them tonight and against a team with a chip on its shoulder.

Warner Robins went the first 14 games of the 2017 campaign without a loss, outscoring opponents by an average of 37-19. Then the Demons hit the finals and the group of human chainsaws known as Rome. The Wolves feasted, 38-0.

The history between Tift and Warner Robins is limited to 12 previous game. The Devils hold a 9-3 record in these, including a 51-10 blowout in the 1979 state semifinals.

Friday’s shortened scrimmage saw Lee drive from its own 20 to Tift’s 1 in its lone possession. The Trojans had first and goal at the 1, but a penalty, a run for a loss and an Antonio Howard sack meant Lee had to settle for a field goal. Anders said he was “disappointed in how they got there,” but pleased with the defensive stand.

The nasty weather did prevent the Devils from fully exploring their offense. Three of the team’s quarterbacks, Weston Clamp, Mac Turner and Patrick Felton were slated to see action (the fourth, Jacob Beach, had been dinged up at the Soap Bowl). Only Clamp played last Friday.

Anders said all would have the opportunity to play against Warner Robins. There is not a set rotation, however, as Tift will make decisions based on who has the hot hand.

“If he’s hot, he’s staying in,” said Anders.

Felton started for three years at Crisp County before transferring to Tift during the summer. Beach is the only other quarterback with varsity game experience.

Warner Robins outscored Archer, 19-16, in its scrimmage. Since Tift’s game ended so quickly, the teams did not trade scrimmage film.

Though the Demons and Devils have not played one another since 2009, there are a handful of familiar names on the Warner Robins roster and not just because the Demons were state runners-up in 2017.

Two players are last named Fromm, the younger brothers of current University of Georgia quarterback, Jake Fromm (who attended Houston County). Senior quarterback and Mercer University commit Dylan Fromm threw for 3,505 yards and 35 touchdowns last year

Tyler Fromm, a junior tight end, is pledged to Auburn. However, the Blue Devils won’t be seeing the youngest Fromm as he is out with an injury.

Even with only half of the Fromm family, the Demons are dangerous. Marcayll Jones had 350 receiving yards in 2017 in a very crowded corps of wide receivers. Markel Locke brings experience to the running back position. On the other side of the ball, Warner Robins’ defense recorded 29.5 sacks last year.

Though many of Tift County’s questions will be answered tonight, there is one thing Anders is content to let remain a mystery.

After exiting the tunnel last Friday, Blue Devils players rushed on the field with a pair of dolls of Chucky, the knife-wielding main character in the “Child’s Play” series of horror films. Anders said he didn’t ask the inspiration and did not know if Chucky (or Chuckys) would make any future appearances.

Tift shoots for its second straight win over Valdosta next Friday at Brodie Field. Valdosta is hosting Atlanta-based Maynard Jackson tonight.