(AIKEN COUNTY, SC) Lincoln County made its first trip to Aiken County in nearly 80 years a successful one with a 48-14 victory over Silver Bluff.
Lincoln County will welcome Strom Thurmond High this Friday night for its first visit to Lincolnton. The Rebels are ranked fifth in South Carolina's Class AA with a 3-1 record. Two of their wins were similar to our Devils' overwhelming victories over McCormick (55-6) and Silver Bluff (50-0). Their only loss was to powerful North Augusta. Kickoff is set for 7:30 Friday.
The two teams' first scheduled meeting was cancelled last year by Hurricane Helene. The Edgefield County team has won their region 13 times in the past 20 seasons. They are 632-358-30 in their history dating back to 1911 (including predecessor school Edgefield High Bulldogs). Their namesake, the late US Senator and Governor Strom Thurmond, was their coach in 1924-26.
Aiden Jones returned the opening kickoff twenty yards to the LC 46 as the Red Devils adjusted to Silver Bluff's artificial turf. An eight-yard run by Kelby Glaze and three-yard run by Jonathan Norman earned a first down at the SB 43. A sack lost eight yards and setup a 3rd-&-18. Mekhi Wade connected with Walker Thornton for 16 before Glaze rushed for eight on fourth down. Christian Elam powered for four. Wade-to-Thornton moved the first down marker 13 yards to the 11. Norman rushed for two before Glaze scored from the nine. Fortson Partridge booted the PAT with 7:28 for a 7-0 LCHS advantage.
The Devil Defense forced a Bulldog punt. Big Red drove from midfield to the ll before the Devils fumbled at the two. Three Silver Bluff passes gained two yards and a short punt was good for only 13 yards.
From the 17, Glaze gained two but a holding penalty pushed the Devils to the SB 24. Wade found Thomas McWhorter for seven. Glaze ran for eleven. Norman scored from the six with 10:21 left in the second quarter. Partridge made the score 14-0 for the out-of-state visitors.
The Bulldogs completed a 28-yard pass to midfield, but Partridge intercepted the next pass, ran down the Lincoln County sidelines, and scored 65 yards later. He then booted the PAT for a 21-0 lead with 9:25 left before the bands took the field.
Silver Bluff needed only a yard on fourth down at their 29, but the Devil Defense denied their pass attempt and the Devils took over on downs. Norman ran for 11. Wade then called his own number and ran down the left sideline untouched for another Devil score. The 16-yard TD came with 5:43 before the half. The scoreboard read 28-0 in Lincoln's favor.
A great catch by a Bulldog receiver resulted in a 44-yard gain to the LC 20 and then a passing touchdown for the home team. The Bulldogs had cut the lead with just over three minutes left in the half.
Glaze rushed for 13, Jones for 11, Norman for 28, Wade for 10, and Wade for 13 earned a first down at the SB 15. Glaze ran or eight. Jacobe Moss ran the pigskin in from the seven with 46 seconds left. The kick failed, but the Devils led 34-7 at the half.
Three incomplete passes led to a punt on the Bulldogs' first second half possession. Wade returned the punt 45 yards to the end zone, but a penalty put the ball at the SB 25. Travis Franklin gained three before Jones rushed 22 for a touchdown. Partridge's PAT was good for a 41-7 lead with 10:36 left in the third.
After an exchange of punts, the Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs at the LC 39. Moss rushed for ten for a first down at the SB 45. A play later Nasir Gartrell rambled for 43 yards and a touchdown. The PAT was good with 10:32 remaining and the clock running. Big Red led 48-7.
Silver Bluff scored on an eight-yard run on the last play of the game to close the final gap to 48-14. The top-ranked Devils improved to 5-0.
Glaze finished the game with 70 yards on ten carries with one TD. Norman ran six times for 56 yards and one score. Wade ran five times for 40 yards with one TD, and completed three of five pass attempts for 36 yards. Thornton was the leading receiver with two catches for 29 yards.
Lincoln rushed 35 times for 295 yards with 36 yards passing. The Bulldogs completed 13 or 28 pass attempts for 223 yards, and rushed 13 times for 52 yards.
Greene County outlasted Twiggs County 52-34 for the Tigers' first win. Warren County (2-4) whipped Glascock County 40-14. Lake Oconee Academy (2-4) was blasted by Landmark Christian 35-7. Washington-Wilkes (2-4) led 32-31 in the fourth before falling 40-32 to Mt. Paran Christian from Kennesaw. Region 8-A Division II action starts October 10.