TIFTON — Tift County plays possibly the biggest game of its non-region schedule tonight. The Blue Devils host Parkview at 7:30 p.m. at Brodie Field.

A state quarterfinalist a year ago, Parkview (2-0) has quite a legacy. In 43 seasons, the Panthers’ history includes four state titles and at one time, a winning streak of 46 straight games.

The visitors are expected to create a number of difficulties for the Blue Devils (3-1), which has rolled to three straight victories after dropping their first contest of the season. Included are a 24-10 win over Valdosta, a 46-6 defeat of Worth County and a 42-0 win over Crisp County.

Tift is well aware of Parkview’s history, at the very least from personal experience. The sides have matched up five previous times, the Blue Devils finally earning their first victory in last season’s 50-37 track meet. Tonight’s game has the potential for quick scores as well, but Anders would like to avoid that if he can help it.

“I hope it’s a grind-out game,” he said.

That style would particularly suit Tift’s defense, which held Crisp County scoreless last week with a grand total of 82 yards allowed. Over the past three weeks, they have surrendered just a pair of touchdowns, both coming long after either mattered on the scoreboard.

Parkview is not the same team as a year ago, when it featured a 2,400-yard passer (Fred Payton) and a 1,500-yard rusher (Christian Malloy). Gone, too, are a pair of dynamic receivers.

Not that the Panthers are missing those players at the moment. In two games, junior Jordan Williams has thrown for 432 yards and sophomore Cody Brown has 229 on the ground. Brown will be tough for the Devils to wrest to the ground; he is listed at six feet tall and 210 pounds.

“He’s a big bowling ball,” Anders said. “He’s very talented.” (In comparison, Tift’s Mike Jones, himself a bruiser at running back, is 185 pounds.)

One familiar name does remain in Parkview’s offense: Malik Washington. In last year’s contest, Washington stung Tift for 138 receiving yards. After Payton went down with an injury in the second half, he completed four of five passes.

Anders said Washington was “as good as anybody in the state.”

“He’s dynamic with the ball in his hand.”

Parkview’s offense will vie against a Blue Devils defense which, in addition to the low points output, has recorded 30 tackles for losses this season and 17 sacks.

The visitors will be fresher. A pair of bye weeks has meant the Panthers only have two games under their belts. The second of those called Tift’s staff to attention.

Parkview won 39-27 over Lowndes, shutting down the Vikings after trailing 27-6 during the first half. “Everyone knows how good Lowndes is,” Anders said.

He expects the Devils to be challenged by Parkview’s defensive line, which is big.

Fortunately five weeks into the season, Tift is in good shape. They even had a player return last week against Crisp County in quarterback Patrick Felton.

Felton, who started at Crisp three years before transferring over the summer, was injured in the second quarter of the opening game at Warner Robins. After shaking off a bit of rust against Crisp, Anders said Felton has had a good week of practice. Felton has completed 11 of 18 passes on the season for 195 yards and two touchdowns.

The Tift mentor said Felton’s absence was covered well by quarterbacks Mac Turner, Jacob Beach and Weston Clamp. Including the scrimmage, each has had a start.

The offensive line did its share, too, in not just protecting Tift’s young signal-callers, but by enabling the Blue Devils to run at will, thus keeping pressure to a minimum. Jones currently leads Region 1-AAAAAAA in rushing at 533 yards. Danny Hill, who had never run before in a varsity game, is fourth after running for 133 yards and three touchdowns against Crisp.

“I’m super, super pleased with Danny,” said Anders, adding that Hill is a very hard worker.

Tonight marks the midpoint of the 2018 season. It is also the final game before Tift’s first bye week. The Devils will rest next Friday before returning to action Sept. 28 at Bainbridge. The Bearcats (2-2) are off this evening and host Crisp next week.