(McINTYRE, GA) Senior Semaj Jenkins scored on offense, defense, and special teams as Lincoln County jumped out to a 35-0 lead midway the second quarter in the first round Class A Division II game here against Wilkinson County last Friday night. The 41-0 final was the third shutout this season and ranks the Devil Defense in the top 10 in least points allowed in their class.
The victory earns the Red Devils the opportunity to knock off the top-ranked and undefeated Schley County Wildcats this Friday in Ellaville. The Wildcats were the state runner-ups to Bowdon (39-31 finals) last season. Their closest game this year was a 48-42 win at Bleckley County. They averaged 44.2 points per game in the regular season, while allowing only 13.5. Like LCHS did last year, Schley (pronounced "SLY") received a first round bye last Friday since Region 7 does not have a fourth team playing football. Schley County High is in Ellaville, just north of Americus and about 3.5 hours southwest of Lincolnton.
Jenkins carried seven times for 49 yards including the two scores. He returned a punt 38 yards and returned an interception 57 yards with both for touchdowns.
Mekhi Wade completed his two pass attempts for 64 yards. Both were to CJ Crite. The first catch setup the Devils' first score and the second was a 30-yard TD pass.
The game with Wilkinson County kicked off at 6:00 as has been the standard at that school this year. With a light rain falling at times, Jenkins picked up two first downs on the ground. Wade threw deep to Crite who jumped to catch the pigskin just shy of the goal line. Jenkins scored from the one with 9:36 left in the opening period. Fortson Partridge booted the PAT for a 7-0 lead.
The Warriors faced 4th&2 at their 33 when the punter took off running. The fake punt didn't fool the Devils as they caught the punter for a three-yard loss. On the next play, Crite made another "wow" catch as he jumped up in the end zone to snare the ball with a defender hanging onto him. The PAT kick gave the visitors a 14-point lead just five minutes into the game.
The Devil Defense stood their ground again, forcing a Wilkinson punt from its 24. Jenkins ran for 13 before Wade rambled for 43 in front of the Devil bench. From the 36 after a five-yard flag, Kelby Glaze ran twice to gain 13 yards. Wade gained two before Andrew Beard powered for 12. Jenkins then scored from the eight with ninety seconds left in the opening quarter. Partridge's aim was again good to put the Devils up 21-0.
An 18-yard kickoff return gave the Warriors good field position at their 37. Jenkins intercepted and returned the ball to paydirt 57 yards later. Lincoln County led 28-0 with just over a minute left in the first quarter.
The two teams swapped punts with Wilkinson starting from their 13. A fumble cost four on third down resulting in a punt from the WC 17. Jenkins snared the punt on the run at the WC 38 and made two cuts to go untouched to pay dirt. With the Partridge PAT, LCHS led 35-0 with seven minutes left in the first half.
Another possession ended with another punt by the Warriors. Lincoln started from the WC 40 and earned two first downs on runs by Glaze and Beard. On 2nd-&-goal from the five the pigskin popped loose and a Warrior recovered and returned to the LC 37 before Justin Simmons caught him. The Devil Defense kept the Warriors out of the endzone on seven plays inside the 20. LCHS took a knee to close out the remarkable first half. The Devil Defense had held the Warriors to only 29 yards in the first half.
In the second half, the Warriors threatened on their second possession before being stopped on downs at the LC 28 midway the fourth quarter. GHSA mercy rules ran the clock in the final quarter.
With LCHS playing younger athletes, the Devils drove the field on nine plays with Jonathan Norman scoring on a nine-yard run as time expired. The PAT was not attempted, leaving the final score 41-0.
In other games involving Region 8 Division II teams, Aquinas beat Glascock County 49-28 in Glascock's first playoff game ever. Greene County whipped Hancock Central 42-0. Washington-Wilkes fell 36-22 to Region 5 champion Johnson County.
Region assignments for the next two school years were announced last Thursday. Lincoln's Region 8 in Class A Division II is essentially unchanged for football except that Aquinas was moved to Division I since it is a private school. The Irish, pending appeals, will be in a region with Jefferson County, Washington County, Dublin, East Laurens, and three Bibb County public schools.
YARDSTICK
LC WC
First Downs 17 5
Rushing 40/285 23/31
Passing 2/2/64/0 9/18/58/2
Punting 1/32 4/35
Penalties 5/45 5/25
Fumbles/Lost 1/1 2/0
Returns 4/63 1/20