(ATLANTA, GA) Lincoln County lost 35-31 to Bowdon in the Class A Division II state finals here December 15. The game will be talked about for decades.
The contest set a new record for GHSA football finals with seven lead changes. The previous record was four, achieved five times since the finals started in 1947.
Unfortunately the game included controversial calls and a failure on at least two occasions for the officials to follow GHSA regulations. These situations may have impacted the final outcome and thus the state championship.
At the 3:30 Monday kickoff in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Lincoln County took the opening kickoff with Kelby Glaze scooting 19 yards to the B 43. Two plays later an 11-yard run by Glaze reached the 28. The drive fizzled with Fortson Partridge booting a 50-yard field goal with 9:37 left in the opening period. That kick is the longest in that stadium this year at any level (high school, college, or pro).
A 45-yard kickoff return reached midfield for the western Red Devils. A 25-yard pass reached the 21 before a 20-yard pass with just under eight minutes left in the quarter gave Bowdon the lead. With the kick, BHS led 7-3.
Lincoln County came right back with a 16-play, 80-yard, eight-minute drive. Jonathan Norman went left seven yards untouched into the end zone on the first play of the second quarter. Partridge's kick put LCHS up 10-7.
A Bowdon receiver got behind the Lincoln defenders for a 48-yard touchdown pass with 9:24 left in the half. With the PAT, Bowdon led 14-10.
Glaze broke loose for 51 yards to the B 14. He rushed for seven more on the next play. Norman gained one and Christian Elam two before Aiden Jones scored from four yards out. Partridge was again good and Lincoln County led 17-14 with 6:50 remaining before the break.
The LC Defense stopped Bowdon on its next possession with a quick-kick punt rolling to the LC 36. Four penalties pushed the LC Devils to the 14. A 20-yard punt gave Bowdon a short field at the LC 41. Bowdon's star receiver Kaiden Prothro scored his only touchdown of the game on a 20-yard catch. The UGA signee finished the game with four catches for 71 yards after being denied on multiple occasions by the LCHS defenders.
Lincoln County was called for a rare facemask penalty on a stiff-arm by a running back to stymie their final drive of the half. Bowdon led 21-17 at the half. Of note, Lincoln County was penalized seven times for 52 yards in the first half to no yards penalized for Bowdon.
Bowdon drove from its 20 to the LC 3 on 13 plays, mixing running and passing. Its running back pushed to the goal line, but the ball popped loose with Lincoln County recovering in the end zone. The field officials ruled a fumble before the ball crossed the plane of the goal line, resulting in a touchback for Lincoln County. As should be expected, the play was reviewed by the GHSA replay official. The replay process took over four minutes, which appeared to be a violation of Section 5 Article 3 of the GHSA Football Video Review Protocol which states, "The review official will have a maximum of two minutes to make a decision on the challenge. The two minutes will begin once the official is on the headset."
The replay official ruled the play was a touchdown, allowing Bowdon to extend its lead to 28-17 with 4:32 left in the third quarter. Unlike college and pro leagues, the GHSA replay process does not allow the field officials input into the replay decision. Lincoln County faithful, and many independent observers, have yet to see a video capture that provides conclusive proof, required by the GHSA protocol, that the play was a touchdown and not a fumble prior to the goal-line. Most video and pictures favor the fumble call.
Down by 11 in the third quarter to the three-time defending state champions, Lincoln County fought back. Norman returned the kickoff 15 yards to the LC 44. On third down, Bowdon intercepted at ground level. Lincoln County challenged the play with video review ruling it was a good catch. However, the referee charged Lincoln County a timeout due to the failed replay. That's the rule in other leagues, but the GHSA Replay protocol specifically states, in all capitals in Section 5 Article 1: NO TIME OUT WILL BE CHARGED NO MATTER THE OUTCOME OF THE CHALLENGE. That timeout, or lack thereof, will prove to be crucial in the last few minutes of the game.
Lincoln stopped the Bowdon possession at midfield, taking over at its 23 after a Bowdon quick-kick. Lincoln drove to the B 45 on six plays. Mekhi Wade rushed for two for a first down, then for 11 to the B 32. Norman rambled for 24 on a end-around reverse. Glaze ran for five before scoring from the three with 10:09 remaining in the game. To close the gap to three, Glaze ran the two-point conversion. Bowdon's lead was cut to 28-25.
Bowdon gained two first downs before punting to the LC 13. Wade ran for three. Glaze gained eight but an unsportsmanlike penalty pushed Lincoln back to the 12. Elam rushed for four. Glaze then took the pigskin and zoomed down the right side for 84 yards after breaking away from two tacklers. The PAT was blocked, but Lincoln County led 31-28 with 5:34 remaining.
Bowdon scored on a 27-yard pass with 2:34 remaining. With the PAT, Bowdon led 35-31.
Jones returned the kickoff 20 yards to the LC 41. Wade gained eight for a first at the B 48 with 1:43 left after Lincoln's last timeout was used. Jones rushed for 16 before Glaze added two and a pass fell incomplete. LCHS was called again for illegal procedure. Defensive pass interference gave Lincoln a first down at the 20 with less than a minute to go. Glaze rushed for six. The final play ended at the three as Lincoln County, missing that wrongly-charged timeout, ran out of time. The officials missed a roughing-the-quarterback penalty on the last play that would have given LCHS another chance.
Kelby Glaze ended his best game of the year with 244 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. He was selected to the All-Finals Team.
Lincoln ran 57 offensive plays for 387 yards compared to 49 for 360 for Bowdon. LCHS was penalized 11 times for 92 yards with four for 40 for Bowdon.
Lincoln County finishes at 14-1, scoring 606 points to set a new school record. LCHS allowed 130 points during the season.
The 13 senior players are to be congratulated on their 42-10 record during their high school years. Lincoln County has good talent returning for 2026.