ATLANTA There’s clutch, then there’s the unbelievable.
Whatever you want to call it, the Buford Wolves are making the comeback in the state championship game seem like a routine day in the park.
For the second consecutive season, Buford needed an extra frame to pull out an improbable win in the state title game.
In 2019, Hayden Olsen kicked a field goal to beat Warner Robins in the Class 5A title game. This time, the defense forced a Caleb McDowell fumble inside the 5-yard line to preserve a 34-31 victory over Lee County in overtime to win the Georgia High School Association Class 6A crown at Georgia State Stadium.
BUFORD Out with the old, in with the new as they say.
Buford’s Friday night Class 6A semifinal showdown with Valdosta pitted the state’s two winningest programs during the 20th (Valdosta) and 21st (Buford) centuries.
But the Wolves old-style power run game and bruising defense were way too much for the Wildcats’ new-fangled spread.
Buford used a 21-point blitz in the opening five minutes to grab the lead and then cruised to a 45-26 win at Tom Riden Stadium. The victory moved the Wolves into their first Class 6A championship game and second straight finals after winning the Class 5A crown in 2019.
Only two area football teams still in the hunt for a state championship.
Buford and Jefferson moved into the state finals in their respective classifications after taking wins on Friday night in the semifinal round of the Georgia High School Association football playoffs.
In a battle of the state s most prolific state title winners, Buford blew past Valdosta 45-26 at Tom Riden Stadium in Class 6A. Victor Venn rushed 12 times for 134 yards and three touchdowns, while Gabe Irvin Jr added 94 yards and a score. Buford will go for its second consecutive state title after winning the Class 5A crown in 2019.
BUFORD – From the opening kickoff, this one was over.
Buford (11-1) used a relentless defensive attack, a grinding rushing game and a few on-target passes to roar past Langston Hughes (11-2) 44-15 in the quarterfinals of the Class 6A playoffs at Tom Riden Stadium on Friday.
It s the Wolves second straight semifinal appearance, first-ever in Class 6A, and 12th time in the past 14 seasons going back to 2007.
Buford coach Bryant Appling was relieved after the game but was also all smiles as he leads the Wolves into another historic accomplishment this season. I m just proud of these kids, all the stuff they ve gone through, proud of these coaches and proud of this community, he said. We ve jumped up [classifications] four times since I ve been here and each time we re like, oh man, I don t know. But each year we find a way to keep winning . keep playing. The kids are grinding and are not scared of anything right now.
RADIO: WDUN AM 550 LANGSTON HUGHES (11-1): No. 2 seed from Region 4; defeated Region 2 champion Glynn Academy 35-0 on the road in the second round BUFORD (10-1): No. 1 seed from Region 8; defeated Cambridge 42-7 in the second round NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two programs. . Hughes is into the quarterfinals for the first time and also set a school-record for wins in a season. Buford is in the Elite 8 for the 21st straight season. The Wolves are 17-3 in the quarterfinals since 2000. . Both teams still carry rankings and the Wolves have won their last 6 matchups when both teams were ranked. Their last lost to a ranked team was to Archer in 2018. The Panthers are 1-5 in their last six games vs. ranked teams. . The Panthers are very balanced averaging 186 yards passing and 176 yards rushing and are 5th in offense averaging 32.0 ppg. Dual QBs Air Noland and Xavier Smith both have passed for more than 1,100 yards and Smith is also the team’s leading rusher (796 yar