(LINCOLNTON, GA) Lincoln County scored seven touchdowns in the first half enroute to a 55-6 pounding of the Warren County Screaming Devils here last Friday night. The victory essentially earns the Red Devils the Region 8-A Division II football championship and home field advantage when the playoffs start November 14.
Jonathan Norman made a diving catch of a 19-yard pass from Mekhi Wade on the first play from scrimmage in the game. Kelby Glaze rushed for seven to the WC 40, followed by seven by Norman. Wade rushed for seven but LCHS then faced 4th-&-2 at the WC 26. Norman went up the middle for 26 to start the scoring. Fortson Partridge booted the PAT with 8:27 to go in the first. Big Red was up 7-0.
Warren County went backwards on its first possession and punted to the LC 46. Aiden Jones ran for 10 followed by Christian Elam for five. Wade went up the middle for 17 before Glaze scored from the 22. Partridge put the home team up 14-0 midway the first quarter.
The Screaming Devils faced 3rd-&-6 at their 24 when they broke a 51-yard run to the LC 25. For the game, Warren netted only 72 yards rushing. Six plays later Warren barely scored on a seven-yard pass. The PAT run failed leaving LCHS ahead 14-6 with 1:53 left in the first quarter.
Norman returned the kickoff 30 yards to the LC 46. Wade then threw to Norman in the left flat. Norman tipped then caught the pigskin and ran for 23 yards. Glaze then scored on a 31-yard run where he made two cuts and then was gone. On the night, Glaze ran six times for 61 yards and two scores. The PAT was good with a minute remaining in the opening quarter. LC was up 21-6.
A stiff Devil Defense pushed the Screaming Devils back four yards before a penalty cost the visitors five more, to the WC 11. Warren passed, but Partridge intercepted and returned to the WC 3. An illegal block cost the Red Devils fifteen yards to the WC 18. Wade ran for 14 and finished the game with five carries for 48 yards. He then passed five yards to tight end Christian Hopkins for the touchdown. After the PAT, Lincoln County led 28-6 with 9:45 before the half.
Warren tried to punt from their 26 but the snap was mishandled with the ball finding the end zone. Jones recovered for LCHS for another score. Partridge was again good. Big Red was ahead 35-6 with 7:21 left before the bands played.
Another Warren possession led to another punt attempt. The snap was again an issue with LCHS taking over on downs at the WC 16. Wade rushed for nine for a first down at the WC 5. Three plays gained two yards. On fourth down, Wade again found Hopkins in the end zone. For the game, Wade completed four of five pass attempts for 50 yards and two TDs. With the kick, LCHS led 42-6 with 2:40 left in the second quarter.
The Screaming Devils fumbled on first down with Norman recovering at the WC 18. Jacobe Moss went left for 15 yards before then going the final three for another TD. Partridge was again good with just under two minutes left in the half. Lincoln County led 49-6 at the break.
The second half was played with a running clock under GHSA mercy rules. The younger Devils stopped Warren at midfield on their first possession. The Devil offense fumbled at the WC 3 early in the fourth. After a Warren punt to the WC 24, freshman Bryson Elam ran for a dozen before Sims Antonakos scored on a 12-yard run with three minutes left. The PAT kick failed, leaving the final score at 55-6.
Lincoln County is now 48-1-0 against Warren County since 1972. The Devils remain ranked #1 in most polls, and are 9-0 on the season. They have the best winning margin in their class and one of the top averages in all classes.
The victory clinched the 2025 Region 8-A Division II football title for Lincoln County. If they should lose to Greene County, they would be tied with the winner of Warren County and W-W with one region loss. The Devils would own the head-to-head tiebreaker in those situations.
The Red Devils will conclude their regular season next Friday when they visit Greene County. The Tigers are 2-7 after beating Lake Oconee Academy 27-7 last Friday to earn the #4 region seed. Warren County and Washington-Wilkes will decide the #2 and #3 seeds in Region 8-A Division II when they meet this week. The top two seeds from each region will host playoff games on November 14. The third and fourth seeds will travel during the first round. The pigskin will fly at 7:30 in Greensboro.