BUFORD — Buford coach Jess Simpson said coming into the 2015 season his team was as inexperienced as any in recent memory. It showed at times in the Wolves’ season opener against Eastern Christian Academy out of Elkton, Md., Friday night at Tom Riden Stadium.
He also said there was plenty of talent, which also was on display at times.
In the end, the Wolves overcame key missing players, six fumbles, half-a-dozen penalties, and a late-game rally to hold off the Honey Badgers 27-20 to run their win streak to 41 games.
“If you looked at how hard these guys played with all the adversity they had to go through, it was a good night,” Simpson said. “I’m not focused on the mistakes made because we can fix those. It’s the first game. There’s going to be mistakes. It’s how they respond when things go wrong.”
With senior tailback Xavier Gantt slowed by an injury, sophomores Christian Turner and Anthony Grant, along with senior fullback Martin Mangram, were called on to pick up the slack. They responded with three touchdowns combined.
“There were a bunch of the of the young guys that had a good night,” Simpson said. “But the seniors we had also stepped up when needed as well.”
The Honey Badgers did not waste time taking the opening drive methodically down the field. Leddie Brown did the hard work inside with 10 tough yards on the ground, including a 1-yard scoring run with 6:02 left in the first quarter.
Eastern Christian’s Alex Barker was 4-for-5 passing on the drive for 68 yards and kept the drive alive going 3-for-3 on third down conversions, including a 28-yard pass to Tavian Washington to the Wolves’ 1 on a third-and-16 to set up the score. Barker was stuffed on a two-point conversion run, however, to keep it a 6-0 lead.
Buford answered right back with an 84-yard drive. It wasn’t a complete beauty with two penalties and two fumbles. Christian Turner and Mangram combined for 43 yards rushing with Mangram capping the drive with a 13-yard run for a touchdown to give Buford a 7-6 lead after a Jarett Burgos extra point with 11:53 left in the second quarter.
Both defenses then made adjustments. The Buford defense forced the Honey Badgers into a quick three-and-out and then a 14-yard punt to set the Wolves up for a potential short scoring drive at the Eastern Christian 31.
But the Wolves offense could not capitalize with a pair of penalties and then a fumble at the Eastern 12 after getting a first down on a defensive holding call on an incomplete pass on fourth down.
The Honey Badgers drove to their own 48 late in the second quarter but a sack of Barker back at the 40 forced a turnover on downs with 30 seconds left. Buford ran out the final seconds.
Neither offense could get on a roll in the first half after the opening drives by each. Buford managed just 113 total yards of offense and had three fumbles, losing one. Eastern Christian had 125 total yards, 103 in the air by Barker. There were only five full possessions in the first half with one punt, one turnover, and two drives ended on downs.
Grant started the second half with a bang taking the kickoff 66- yards to the Honey Badgers 19. But the drive stalled when the Wolves were stuffed on 4th-and-goal at the Eastern Christian 2 turning the ball over on downs.
Buford would get a short punt and return for another short field at the Eastern Christian 24. But they would fumble a fourth time on the first play with the Honey Badgers recovering at their own 12.
The defense would force another quick three-and-out and then the offense finally went to work starting at the Honey Badgers 39. Turner capped the short drive with a 2-yard run for a 14-6 lead with 42 seconds left in the third quarter. But Grant provided the key play with an 8-yard gain on a screen pass on third down to keep the drive alive. The Wolves would fumble two times on the drive, including at the 6, but kept possession both times.
Eastern Christian got its dormant offense untracked to start the fourth quarter with Brown capping a 73-yard drive with a 41-run yard burst for a score to pull within 14-12.
The Wolves responded right back starting with a 45 yard kickoff return by Mangram to the Eastern Christian 33. Mangram finished the quick drive with a 1-yard TD run for a 20-12 lead after a botched extra point attempt with 6:57 left in the game.
On the Honey Badgers next possession senior defensive back R.J. Walker appeared to have sealed the game stepping in front of a Barker pass and racing 50 yards for the interception return for a touchdown and a 27-12 lead with 3:37 left.
“What a big-time play by R.J. He’s a senior leader and it was fun to see him get his,” Simpson said. “That gave us a little bit of breathing room at the end.”
They would need it as Barker capped a quick two minute drive with a 13-yard TD pass to Washington and then a Brown run for a two-point conversion to pull within 27-20 with 56 seconds left. But the ensuing onside kick attempt went out of bounds and the Wolves ran out the clock.
Simpson said they are just trying to manage while they try and get all their pieces back in place. The most noticeable absence was senior nose tackle Shug Frazier, who did not dress for the opener.
“These guys did a good job of stepping up as the next man. I’m excited about when we get everyone healthy and hitting on all 8 cylinders,” Simpson said.
The Wolves next will play host to Class AAAAAA Berkmar before heading to Class AAAAAA No. 3 McEachern in two weeks.
SCORING SUMMARY
EASTERN CHRISTIAN....6....0....0....14 -- 20
BUFORD..........................0....7....7....13 -- 27
First Quarter
EC -- Brown 1 run (run failed) 6-0, 6:02
Second Quarter
BUF -- M. Mangram 13 run (Burgos kick) 7-6, 11:53
Third Quarter
BUF -- C. Turner 2 run (Burgos kick) 14-6, 0:42
Fourth Quarter
EC -- Brown 41 run (run failed) 14-12, 10:00
BUF -- M. Mangram 1 run (kick failed) 20-12, 6:57
BUF -- Walker 50 INT return (Burgos kick) 27-12, 3:37
EC -- Washington 13 pass from Barker (Brown run) 27-20, 0:56
