STOCKBRIDGE — Buford football is set to embark on its record 18th straight state quarterfinal contest on Friday.
For the Wolves, a big key to that streak includes forgetting it's a streak at all.
"We should always consider ourselves fortunate to practice and play over Thanksgiving break because there’s a lot of people that don’t," said Buford coach John Ford, who is actually experiencing his first quarterfinal with the Wolves after joining from a Roswell program he led to back-to-back championship appearances in 2015-16. "You never take one for granted, no matter how many times you’ve done it. You’re thankful and grateful for every opportunity you get. And you want to work as hard and play as hard as you can to make sure that you put yourself in a position to keep playing."
Certainly third-ranked Buford knows that it must give every ounce to keep its season going in this quarterfinal, as No. 2 Stockbridge lies in wait.
The Tigers (12-0) are making their sixth straight quarterfinal appearance and feature the type of talent and experience that should make for a intriguing matchup with a Wolves (10-1) team that appears to be hitting stride at just the right time.
"They’re elite on both sides of the ball, no question," said Ford, who added that he believes Stockbridge to be a tougher task than the South Pointe, South Carolina, team that handed Buford its only loss of the season (33-27 on Sept. 15). "(Stockbridge is) so sound on both sides of the ball. Offensively they believe in the veer, but they’re also a big-play team, throwing up to that receiver Marquez Ezzard -- he's as good as any receiver I’ve seen in years. He can dominate at any level. He has elite ball skills, athleticism, route running; he’s good at all of them. Defensively, they play so hard; they’re so sound, so fundamentally sound. They don’t give up big plays. They basically don’t allow you to drive down the field and score. They tackle well in space; they take on blocks well; they’re outstanding. (Stockbridge) coach (Kevin) Whitley’s done an outstanding job and has an unbelievable program."
The Tigers defense enters the showdown allowing just 5.9 points per game -- tops in all of Class AAAAA -- and featuring playmakers at each level, including senior defensive end Brenton Cox (an Ohio State commit) senior defensive back Nasir Green (a Wake Forest commit) and senior linebacker Donovan Manuel (team-high 69 tackles). No team has scored more than No. 5 Jones County on the Tigers -- in a 27-17 win for Stockbridge (and the Greyhounds are still alive in the playoffs as well). And only two opponents have reached double digits against the Tigers defense this season.
Yet Stockbridge is yet to face an offense as prolific as Buford's, and the Wolves enter the showdown averaging just under 48 points per contest (second in Class AAAAA behind only defending champs Rome).
And Buford seems to be hitting stride at just the right time after dominating performances in the second half of a region title showdown with Flowery Branch (a 42-7 win) and then first and second round playoff wins over Paulding County (54-23) and Maynard Jackson (48-0).
"I would say they're the same Buford they've always been in terms of a big offensive line, great running game and a quarterback that can get it done," Stockbridge coach Kevin Whitley said. "We know we cannot make the game easy for them and make mistakes."
The Wolves have done plenty of damage in typical fashion, mauling opponents on the line of scrimmage to help the three-headed running back monster of Anthony Grant (908 yards rushing, 19 TDs), Christian Turner (720 yards, 9 TDs) and Derrian Brown (799 yards, 11 TDs) grind opponents to dust -- though the addition of freshman quarterback Aaron McLaughlin (1,577 yards passing, 16 TDs, 5 INTs, 57 percent completion rate) has added a passing threat that defenses must honor.
Defensively, meanwhile, Buford has continued its typcial stout play, allowing just 9.4 points per game (second behind Stockbridge in Class AAAAA), and just under three yards per carry -- which will be tested by an imposing Tigers rushing attack led by senior running back BJ Riley (859 yards, 9 TDs) and senior quarterback Gabriel Mckenzie (1,492 yards passing, 60 percent completion rate; 626 yards rushing, 3 TDs).
"They’ve been playing good recently but it gets a lot harder for them Friday night," Ford said of his lines of scrimmage. "Stockbridge on both lines -- they’re gigantic on offense, tackles go over 320, and they’re maulers. Defensively, they’re as good as we’ve seen ever. Brenton Cox and the rest of that D-line, and there’s eight of them that they roll in, they’re all great football players."
And while Stockbridge is a run-first team (206 yards per game), four-star receiver Ezzard is a game-breaker with 43 receptions for 994 yards and 13 TDs. Yet the Tigers have not put up points in bunches on better opponents, averaging just 19 points per game against the three ranked teams they have faced so far -- and Stockbridge still won all three contests.
"We will have a stern test on Friday night, no question," Ford said.
BUFORD at STOCKBRIDGE
-- WHAT: Class AAAAA quarterfinal
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Tiger Stadium, Stockbridge
-- RADIO: WDUN AM 550
-- BUFORD (10-1, Region 8-AAAAA champ): Defeated Maynard Jackson 48-0 in the second round
-- STOCKBRIDGE (12-0, Region 4-AAAAA champ): Defeated Ware County 10-7 in the second round
-- WINNER PLAYS: Rome at Starr’s Mill winner (away -- A universal coin flip for match-ups between same seeded teams determined the upper half of the bracket will host the semifinals)
