BUFORD — Christian Turner could have let the injuries get him down, could have moped about missed opportunities and rotten luck.
But the Buford junior running back knew better.
"We talk all the time here about having that 'next man up,' mentality," said Turner, who entered the 2016 campaign with high expectations before suffering a high ankle sprain in the season opener. "Buford is known as an unselfish program, and the guys here all help each other out so that you're ready when it's your turn to step up."
It was that kind of support, mixed with a burning desire for success that kept Turner balanced while that injury -- and then another -- kept him sidelined for much of the season. And now that he's fully healthy -- Turner is wrecking havoc on the Class AAAAA bracket.
"He's been battling to get back healthy; we even sat him down the first week of the playoffs because we wanted to make sure he was fully healthy," Buford coach Jess Simpson said.
Starting with the Wolves' second-round win over Jones County, Turner showed just what he brings to the Buford backfield, rushing for 102 yards and scoring four touchdowns in a 56-26 victory. But that was only the warm-up, as Turner absolutely torched Carrollton in last week's quarterfinals, rushing for 273 yards and four more scores, including touchdown runs of 73 and 89 yards in a 34-27 Wolves win.
"Before my first run (against Carrollton) I had some butterflies, like I always do. But then I got that first carry, and that gave me some confidence. Then I got my second and it really gave me some confidence," Turner chuckled.
Indeed, Turner's second rushing attempt saw the junior take a handoff, spin off two converging Trojans defenders, then another before cutting to the sideline where he stayed inbounds despite another defender's shove in the back en route to a 73-yard score and a 6-3 lead (the point after touchdown attempt failed). The speedster was far from finished, however, and his second touchdown run left most in attendance slack-jawed, as he took a third-and-16 handoff around right end and sprinted untouched for an 89-yard score.
"The offensive line is blocking just like they do in practice right now," Turner said. "The holes are wide open and I'm just reading my keys and going."
Buford needed Turner to keep at it, as the Trojans knotted the score at 13-13 only to see Turner tack on two more touchdown runs in the third quarter to help the Wolves build an advantage they would not yield.
"That's a big deal when you've got a guy who can turn five-six-seven-yard runs into a 70-yard run," Simpson said. "That's a lot of yards that you make up, and you're not having to be perfect with a long drive. Having Christian back there gives us some more confidence; that's one more weapon back that's been missing."
It also frees up fellow junior standout Anthony Grant to play more defense -- which he did with an impact against Carrollton, laying several big hits on the visitors to help the seal the win. And while Grant is still the team leader in rushing (1,382 yards, 23 TDs), the Wolves know they're a much more dangerous team with each allowed to play at full speed -- Turner, by the way, is now second on the team with 942 yards and 16 scores.
"Anthony had carried the load on offense, but with Christian back that really freed us up to play 'Ant' more on defense," Simpson said. "Those two guys are best friends, and they play for each other like so many other guys on this team. In fact, 'Ant' was the fullback for Christian on two of his runs."
And you can expect them to keep playing hard now that Buford is set for its record 10th straight state semifinal appearance.
"It doesn't matter who scores or who has the big night for us, at the end of the day it's all about the team," Turner said. "We all trust each other and pick each other up. When I was hurt I was confident I'd get back in the game at some point. And I stayed with my teammates and watching them play and being with them kept me OK."
Up next is a Kell team that may have lost to Carrollton in the regular season but also finished tied for first place in Region 7-AAAAA -- along with fellow semifinalist Rome.
"When you get to the last four you know what you're up against, and when you look at the tape of these guys you don't see any weaknesses," Simpson said of the Longhorns (11-2). "They're big, physical and well-coached. The whole operation will have to run well for us; it won't just be about the running backs running well."
That has not been a problem so far this postseason, however.
"It just feels great to be back and getting to contribute," Turner said. "And right now we're playing for our seniors. We don't want them to go out in the semifinals. We want to win this for them."
KELL at BUFORD
- WHAT: Class AAAAA football semifinal
- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
- WHERE: Tom Riden Stadium, Buford
- KELL (11-2, No. 3 seed Region 7-AAAAA): Defeated Woodland (Stockbridge) 52-29 in the quarterfinals
- BUFORD (12-1, No. 1 seed Region 8-AAAAA): Defeated Carrollton 34-27 in the quarterfinals
