Mike McIntire scored four touchdowns last Thursday in a 39-35 road loss to the Wildcats of Ninety Six.
Lincoln County twice held 11 point leads, and was ahead 21-18 at the half. The Wildcat running attack proved nearly unstoppable, bringing the home team back twice in the second half.
The game marked the first time in local football history that the Red Devils lost a game when scoring 30 or more points. The 74 total points is the most ever in a Devil loss, and the eleventh most in any Devil game. The 39 points allowed is the fourth most during The Campbell Years, and only the 22nd time ever that 39 or more points were allowed.
McIntire finished the night with 244 yards on 20 carries.
Both teams punted to end their first possessions, but neither would punt again. The Devils picked up a first down on its second drive, but an interception at midfield ended the effort. The interception was returned to the LC 39. One first down led to a 43-yard field goal by Ninety Six with 2:34 left in the first quarter.
Max Ashmore returned the ensuing kickoff 10 yards to the LC 31. McIntire got the pigskin and went down the left wide, outrunning everyone to the endzone. James Spratlin's PAT kick gave the Devils a 7-3 lead with 2:15 left in the opening period.
On the second play of the Wildcats next drive, Lakeith Lockhart recovered a Ninety Six fumble at the LC 28. With runs and a pass by Lockhart, and 8 carries by McIntire, the Devils gained a first down at the NS 28. Jamar Norman took the handoff and exploded into the endzone for the score. With the extra point, Lincoln County led 14-3 with 8:35 left in the half.
The Wildcats drove 80 yards on 13 rushing plays, scoring from the 6 with 2:37 left in the second quarter. The PAT cut the visitors' lead to 14-10.
McIntire again found an opening on the left side. This time the senior back rambled for 78 yards and another touchdown. With 2:22 left in the half, Big Red led 21-10.
Ninety Six scored on a 34-yard half-back pass with 39 seconds left in the half. The two point conversion run was good to cut the Lincoln County halftime lead to 3 points, 21-18.
The Wildcats returned the second-half kickoff 50 yards to the LC 45. Nine plays later a 16-yard run would give the Greenwood County team the lead again. The extra point made it 25-21.
The Devils took the gamble when facing a fourth-and-inches at their own 41, and came up just short. Ninety Six took over, kept the ball on the ground, and scored from the 1 five plays later. The Wildcats led 32-21 with 4:20 left in the third quarter.
The Devils could have folded, but instead came right back. Lockhart passed 8 yards to Ashmore, then ran for 7 yards to the 50. McIntire had runs of 11 and 9 yards to the 30. Lockhart found Jalen Smith open for 25 yards to the 5. McIntire scored wth 2:21 left in the third. Spratlin's kick cut the lead to 32-28.
Ninety Six picked up two first downs on its next drive before fumbling with Jalen Wade recovering for the Devils at the NS 48. A bad officiating call cost the Devils 5 yards when an incomplete pass was called a lateral fumbled out of bounds. Lockhart rushed for 14 yards. McIntire powered for 2 and then 10 to the NS 27. Lockhart-to-Wade gained 21 to the 6 after McIntire threw a great backfield block. McIntire then scored his fourth touchdown of the game with 10:36 left. The Devils led 35-32.
The Devil Defense stopped the Wildcats on downs at the LC 40 with 7:25 left. McIntire rushed for 22 for a first down at the NS 38. After Lockhart gained 8, three running plays failed to gain the first down, giving Ninety Six another chance with 4:35 left. Helped by an improperly administered measurement, the Wildcats moved down the field and scored on a 10-yard run with 1:13 left. The PAT gave the home team a 39-35 lead.
A sack and three incomplete passes ended the Devils' last minutre comeback effort. Ninety Six improves to 3-1 while the Devils fall to 1-2 going into region play.
Earlier reports that Ninety Six High had inadvertently scheduled two games for the same date were determined to be incorrect.
This week the Devils will host First Presbyterian. Last year Lincoln County had to come from behind in their first meeting with the Macon private school to win 49-27. Last Friday FPD handed Pace Academy its first loss, 28-18. Get out to the Bud this Friday and support the Red Devils!