(LINCOLNTON) Lincoln County's Red Devils grabbed a 14-point lead less than five minutes into last Friday's game and never looked back as they whipped Augusta Christian 37-0 in the Lions' first visit to Lincolnton.
Junior Mekhi Wade completed three of seven pass attempts for 39 yards with one TD. The speedster returned two punts for 76 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown.
Junior Kelby Glaze led the Devil ground game with 109 yards on only six carries. Sophomore Jonathan Norman ran nine times for 101 yards with 1 TD.
Glaze burst for 15 yards to midfield on Lincoln's second play. Norman scampered for 35 to the AC 17. Wade passed 17 yards to Christian Harris for the touchdown. Fortson Partridge booted the PAT for a 7-0 Devil lead with 10:26 left in the opening quarter.
The Lions gained zero yards on three runs on their first possession, and punted with Norman returning the pigskin 22 yards to the AC 23. QB Wade kept the ball for six yards. Norman then took the handoff, went toward the left sideline, dodged two Lions about the 4 and scored with 7:40 remaining in the first quarter. Partridge was again good on the extra point and a 14-0 advantage.
The visitors earned one first down on their next possession before the Devil Defense held firm and forced a punt from the AC 40. Wade returned the ball forty yards to the AC 30. The drive stymied at the 7. Fortson booted a 24-yard field goal on the second play of the second quarter. LCHS led 17-0.
A fumble on first down put the Lions in a deep hole and they punted from their end zone. Wade snared the football and returned 36 yards for the touchdown. The PAT kick went wide right, but Lincoln County led 23-0 with 9:41 left in the first half.
The two teams twice exchanged punts to close out the first half. The home team led 23-0 as the Red Devil Pride band entertained at the half.
A sack by Christian Harris forced a punt to end the Lions' first second-half possession. Starting from near midfield, Glaze rushed for 18 and Norman for eight. Norman had another big gainer cut short by a holding flag. Glaze got loose for 18 before Christian Elam had runs of eight and five. Nictavious Cain scored from the five with 5:19 left in the third. Partridge booted the PAT for a 30-0 lead.
The Lions finally moved into Devil territory by completing a 40-yard pass. The AC receiver was caught from behind by two Devil defenders. A bad snap led to a costly sack, and Wade intercepted a Lion pass at the LC 2 to end the threat a minute into the final quarter.
With the mercy clock running, Glaze ran for 16 with a flag adding another fifteen to the LC 33. Norman rushed for 14. Glaze rambled for 32. Three plays later freshman Travis Franklin dashed for a dozen to the 2, and then scored from there on the next play. Nick Giovengo booted the PAT for a 37-0 score with 5:17 left.
The Lions punted again. A 23-yard run by Franklin put the Devils at the AC 15 before LCHS took a knee to end the game.
The Devils totaled 300 yards on 28 carries. The Devil Defense pressured the Lions to a 12-yard rushing loss with six punts.
Jenkins County will make its first visit to Lincoln County since the 1990 season. The Red Devils have won the last seven matchups with the team from Millen, dating back to 1950 when admission was only 75 cents. The Region 3-A Division II Eagles are coming off their best season ever at 10-2, and whipped Glascock County 42-8 last Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7:30 at the Bud.