Lincoln County welcomes another group of Red Devils as the 2025 GHSA Class A Division II playoffs open this Friday in Lincolnton. The pigskin will fly at 7:30.
Randolph-Clay High, from Cuthbert, has alternated wins with losses this season. Their Red Devils have scored at least 24 points in a game six times, but they have allowed 35 or more four times. They have outscored opponents 250-217 while earning a 4-4-1 record. Coach Charles Truitt is in his fourth year at the school with this being his best season by record.
R-C averages 115 passing yards and 182 rushing yards per game. Jeremiah Starling (#26) leads their rushers with 690 yards on 114 carries for nearly seven yards per carry. Rae'shawn Clyde (#11) has completed 40 of 77 pass attempts for 77 yards and 12 TDs with only one interception. Tyre Smith (#3) leads receivers with 597 yards on 19 catches.
If Lincoln County defeats first-time opponent Randolph-Clay, it will host a school it has played before. Trion, the #3 team in Region 7, plays at Hawkinsville (the #2 team in Region 2) this Friday. Lincoln County controversially lost to Hawkinsville in the 2003 finals but whipped those Red Devils three years later in the well-known free kick field goal game. Trion drew first blood in the 1974 state title game but Lincoln County has won the last three playoff meetings in 2003, 2006, and 2009.
Continuing a look back at the last 50 years, Lincoln County is 308-56-2 at home for a 84.4% winning percentage. While The Bud has been good to the home team, LCHS has been impressive on the road as well with a 80.7% winning percentage (236-56-1) at other schools and the Georgia Dome. Overall, Big Red has won 82.8% of its games since 1976, 544-112-3.
As the 2025 playoffs begin, the Devils have won 89 playoff games at home since 1976: 89-17-0 for 84% winning percentage. On the road, LCHS is 35-20 for 63.6%. Lincoln County has won 77% of its playoff games in the last 50 years: 124-37 including 11 state titles.
Since 1922, the local team has won nearly 80% of its home games: 467-121-13. The Red Devils have won about two-thirds of their away games: 342-174-11. Overall, the Lincolnton team is 809-295-24 for a 72.8% winning percentage. This is one of the best records in Georgia and the nation.
Looking ahead to 2026, Lincoln County looks to remain in the region with Washington-Wilkes, Warren County, Greene County, Lake Oconee Academy, and probably Towns County. Class A Division II will be renamed as Class A. The important change for next year is in the playoff qualification and seeding process for Class A and the three largest classes. All classes and all sports using playoff brackets will use a points formula to determine which schools make the playoffs and how they are seeded. The points will be based on a team's winning percentage and the winning percentage of their opponents. A region with four football-playing schools is no longer guaranteed having all four teams make the playoffs. Region champions are guaranteed a home game in the first round. Scheduling quality non-region opponents becomes more important.