(LINCOLNTON, GA) Lincoln County whipped the Lake Oconee Academy Titans 41-3 during Homecoming festivities here last Friday night.
Kelby Glaze returned the opening kickoff 30 yards to the LC 35, than rushed for nine on the first scrimmage play. Christian Elam ran for six before Glaze rushed for 10. Jonathan Norman went left, broke three hand tackles, and rambled for 33 yards to the LOA 12. A holding flag nullified what would have been a 12-yard touchdown run by Norman. QB Mekhi Wade kept the pigskin, stopped, cut, and went untouched to paydirt. The TD came with 9:22 left in the opening period. Fortson Partridge booted the PAT for an early 7-0 LC lead.
The Titans went three-and-out. Wade returned their punt 19 yards to the LOA 38. He then found Glaze wide open deep for a touchdown. Partridge made it 14-0 with his kick with just under seven minutes remaining in the first.
The Devil Defense was tenacious again, forcing another punt. Norman fielded the football then twisted and turned for a 37-yard return. On the next play, Aiden Jones was barely touched as he bolted 23 yards into the end zone. Partridge was again good, and LCHS led 21-0 with 4:53 left in the first.
A 30-yard kickoff return helped the Titans to get closer to midfield, but another punt resulted in a 16-yard Norman punt return to the LOA 49. Wade handed the pigskin to Jones and he was off to the races. The PAT kick put the Devils up 28-0 with two minutes left in the first quarter.
Another three-and-out, another punt, and Wade returned 25 yards to the LOA 33. Glaze ran for 11 before Wade went down the right side for 22 yards and another touchdown on the first play of the second quarter. Big Red led 35-0 with 11:40 before the Homecoming Queen would be crowned.
A sack by Jeremiah Wynn led to another punt. From the 50, Norman ran for two followed by Travis Franklin for nine. Wade then connected with Franklin over the middle for 39 yards. The PAT failed, but LC led 41-0 with 7:27 left in the half.
The Red Devils, playing their substitutes, was threatening inside the LOA 10 when the half ended. LOA managed a 26-yard field goal late in the third quarter in the running-clock-shortened second half.
Jones and Wade each had two rushing touchdowns. Glaze led in rushing yardage with 72 yards on only two carries. Fifteen different Devils ran the ball during the game. Wade also had two passing touchdowns, with Glaze and Franklin snaring the scoring aerials.
Lincoln County did not need a third down in the first half. LOA failed to convert on its six third downs in the first half. Big Red led 302 to eight in first half yards on about the same number of offensive plays. LCHS earned 13 first downs in the opening half compared to none for the visiting team.
Lincoln County improved to 2-0 in Region 8-A Division II to tie with this week's opponent, Warren County. Washington-Wilkes scored late in the game last Friday to defeat Greene County 35-28 and improve to 2-1 in the region. Greene County falls to 0-2 and Lake Oconee Academy is now 0-3.
A victory over Warren County at home this week should lock the Red Devils into the region title and a home playoff seed the first two rounds. The Screaming Devils are 4-4 overall. After falling in their first four games to three larger schools and a Top 10 Class A Division II team, Warren has beat Hancock Central (28-6), Glascock County (40-14), Greene County (48-7), and Lake Oconee Academy (16-7).
In addition to Senior Recognition, this Friday's home game will include recognition of LCHS's 1985, 1995, and 2005 state championship teams. Kickoff is slated for 7:30.
Since 1972, the Red Devils have lost only one Homecoming game. The Devils have clinched their 51st winning season in the past 53 years.