Back in the Day QuickFacts
2010 is the first time our Devils play a home game not in sight of the High School building.In the past 55 years, our Devils have only had 3 losing seasons. Even in those bad years, our Devils won at least two games. Eleven state championship games have been played at Buddy Bufford Field, including THE Game, the 25-0 win over Washington-Wilkes in 2005.Our Red Devils have had only two head coaches in the past 50 years: Thomas Bunch from 1961 to 1971, and Larry Campbell since 1972.Lincoln County is one of only 10 schools that have completed undefeated regular seasons for four consecutive years. Our Devils did the feat from 1976 to 1979.The first night football game in Lincolnton was in 1947.At least 4 men have played for and been the head coach for our Red Devils: Curry Colvin, Eddit Martin, Buddy Bufford, and Thomas Bunch.Lincolnton's first athletic title was the 1921 Atlantic Cup won in a track meet at Crawfordville.A football squad was not the first sports team fielded by Lincolnton High. A track team was formed in 1921, the year before Lincolnton first appeared on a gridiron.The Red Devils have won back-to-back state football titles 6 times.Lincolnton's first coach, W. T. "Tutt" Dunaway, was the Clerk of Court.In 1924, Lincoln County had 24 schools, with three-fourths having only one teacher.Lincoln County was once geographically larger. A section was returned to Wilkes County so that a resident of that area could run for Wilkes County Sheriff. This may explain that "notch" in the northwest corner of the county.Tory Pond, on McCormick Highway, was once called "Devil's Pond".The most points scored in Lincoln County & Lincolnton football history came in 1923 - 76-0 in Louisville. Bud Bussey scored Lincolnton's first touchdown - a 5-yard run against McCormick in 1922.Lincoln County has played in more Georgia Dome playoff games than any other school.Lincoln County won more games, and more playoff games, than any other Georgia high school in the 1990s.The Lincolnton-Washington rivalry was once suspended for 17 years to let tempers cool.The Red Devils (and Coosa) were the last football teams to play under the lights in Sanford Stadium until the Herschel Walker era brought night-time televised games to Athens.Before they were the Red Devils, the Lincolnton football team was known as the Bearcats.Garrison Hearst twice won the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award.Alex Willingham was the first Red Devil named as an All-State player.Buddy Bufford and Thomas Bunch both played as Red Devils before leading the Lincolnton team to state football championships.The Red Devils have played on the same patch of dirt since 1922.The Red Devils have played in 22 state title games since 1960.The Red Devils' last winless season was 1954.Lincoln County's last losing season was 1972.
