Syrupmakers edge Tift County in scrimmage

The Cairo Syrupmakers edged the Tift County Blue Devils 3-2 in a preseason football scrimmage Friday night at Brodie Field in Tifton. The teams played three quarters of regular varsity football and used the final quarter as a controlled scrimmage for junior varsity and 9th grade players.
The Syrupmaker offense, with only a few days of practice, got off to a slow start with 18 rushes and 36 yards. Brandon McCrary was 4-10 passing for 42 yards. Miguel Smiley had six carries for 22 yards and LeQuinton Williams had 9 yards on 6 carries. Arthur Robinson had two catches for 17 yards.
The highlight of the night was Mose Willis’ 47-yard field goal to give the Syrupmakers the lead and the win. Both teams showed they were a little rusty due to limited practices. Cairo was penalized 12 times for 75 yards, and Tift County was penalized 10 times for 75 yards. The Syrupmaker defense held the Blue Devils to negative five yards rushing and 102 yards passing, most of that on two plays. The Blue Devils picked up a safety after a downed punt at the Syrupmaker one-yard line.
Tift County plays Fitzgerald this Friday night in the first game of their regular season. Cairo opens the 2010 season next Friday night, Aug. 27, at home against Drew High School.