Keshaun Mays spots an open receiver against Ware County. He is expected to serve as the Blue Devils’ backup at quarterback in 2017.

TIFTON — The Tift County Blue Devils hosted a seven-on-seven football exercise Thursday and head coach Ashley Anders liked what he saw.

“We scored a lot,” said Anders. “I’m proud of that.”

Tift split its squad into two teams and faced off against Ware County, Lee County and Valwood. Also playing Thursday were Worth County, Irwin County and Berrien. Splitting teams allowed the Blue Devils to “get about 250 reps” during competition.

Anders couldn’t keep track of every touchdown, but said Rashod Bateman had several scores, and Otis Jackson, Cam Cobb and Caddy Curry all caught touchdown passes.

“Every receiver caught balls,” he said.

Three quarterbacks spent the bulk of the time behind center: Griffin Collier, Keshaun Mays and Mac Turner.

Mays, Anders said, will be Collier’s backup this year. An upcoming senior, Mays played quarterback in one game in 2016, the season finale against Camden County.

Collier will also be a senior. As a junior, he threw for 2,615 yards to break Worth Bowers’ single season record of 2,323, set in 1997. He is nearing the school’s all-time mark of 4,347, also by Bowers. Collier is currently in fourth place at 4,105 with Ken Hobby (4,245) and Tye Cottle (4,164) also ahead of him.

Tift did well defensively, too, in the seven-on-seven match-ups.

“I thought we flew around really well,” said Anders. The Devils snagged several interceptions.

One of the players who pleased him the most was Jeffrey Butler, who Anders described as being “all over the field.”

Of the teams that participated Thursday, Valwood was seemingly the odd one out.

A private school in the Georgia Independent School Association, the Valiants have nevertheless made their mark as a talented program.

“Ashley Henderson does a great job at Valwood,” said Anders, referring to the team’s head coach. “Good quarterback, good receivers. They have a great scheme.”

Henderson has amassed a record of 56-9 over five seasons, with two state championships. Valwood was a semifinalist in 2016.

Worth was participating in one of its first camps since hiring Ben Simmons earlier this year to lead the program. Ware, Worth, Irwin, Berrien and Lee were all state tournament qualifiers in 2016.

Anders said several of the schools will be back this Thursday for another seven-on-seven. Brooks County and possibly Crisp County will be on the field on the well.