Tift County and Tiftarea both return to the field to kick off their 2026 football seasons Friday night. The Blue Devils will host Bainbridge for their scrimmage game, while the Panthers will be at home against Randolph-Clay. The Blue Devils also hosted the Bearcats in the 2025 season, defeating Bainbridge 49-21. Additionally, Bainbridge was Blue Devils head coach Jeff Littleton’s previous coaching stop, adding more fuel to the fire. Both the Blue Devils and the Panthers will be looking to build on uneven performances during their 2025 campaigns.