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 60 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.
  • In a span of over half a century, our Red Devils have had only two head coaches: Thomas Bunch from 1961 to 1971, and Larry Campbell from 1973 to 2013.
  • 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 was the first school to play in 8 Georgia Dome playoff games.
  • 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.