TIFTON - The Valdosta Wildcats took advantage of a huge early interception return for a touchdown and impressive play of quarterback Hunter Holt in a 42-13 victory Friday over the Tift County Blue Devils.
Tift took the opening kickoff and drove 69 yards to the Valdosta 11.
However, that early success was for naught. Because on a 1st-and-10 play, Valdosta's Jacques Berrian intercepted a Griffin Collier pass and raced 98 yards for a touchdown.
Valdosta quickly scored again as Jeremiah Proctor ran in from four yards out. After the extra point Valdosta was up 14-0.
Tift's Brenton Jones took the ensuing kickoff 73 yards to the Valdosta 22.
Josh Patrick scored the Devils' first touchdown two plays later on a 22-yard run.
That made the score 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.
Holt then took over leading the Wildcats to three second quarter scores. From his quarterback position rushed for two touchdowns and threw a 26-yard scoring pass to Damarrias Morrow.
Playing only three quarters, Holt was 8-of-9 passing for 142 yards and ran 17 times for 93 more yards.
Tift also scored once in the second quarter on an 80-yard pass from Collier to Fred Lloyd.
The game's last score was with 1:04 left in third when Holt hit Jayce Rogers on a 17-yard scoring strike.
Collier ended the game going 18-for-34 passing for 225 yards.
Valdosta had 311 yards of offense, while Tift put up 296.
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