Charlton County ends Buford title run

BUFORD - The last time the Buford football team lost a playoff game - to Commerce in the 2000 Class A title game - George W. Bush and Al Gore were wrestling for the presidency.

Saturday night, Charlton County ended Buford's 19-game playoff win streak, whipping the Wolves 35-20 at Tom Riden Stadium to win the Class AA state title.

Buford coach Dexter Wood was telling anyone who would listen that his team, the two-time defending Class AA state champs, were the underdogs going in.

"We got beat by a better football team that was more experienced and more talented," Wood said after the game. "We knew going in it was going to be an uphill battle for us and it was.

"But nobody expected this group of seniors to get here so I couldn't be more proud of a group than I am of these seniors. They had an outstanding season."

The loss also denied the Wolves a chance at history. A win would have given them a record-tying fourth straight title. West Rome last did it from 1982-85.

The Charlton defense was the difference forcing four Buford turnovers, none bigger than when Justin Williams picked up a Mark Standridge fumble and went 80 yards for a touchdown and a 20-6 lead just before halftime.

The play came on a 4th-and-1 for Buford at the Charlton 25 after the Wolves' had already converted on one 4th down play in the drive.

"When you turn the ball over like that, it always hurt you. But they have a tough, big-play defense and they made the plays when they needed too," said Wood, whose Wolves finished 13-2.

A second Standridge fumble in the fourth quarter at the Buford 1 lead to another Charlton (14-1) score and an insurmountable 29-13 lead.

Standridge finished with 179 yards on 26 carries and scored on runs of 24 and 47, the second one pulling Buford to within 20-13 early in the third quarter.

Charlton quarterback Dwight Dasher handled the Indians' offense nearly flawlessly running for two scores of 13 and 6 yards and also kicking a 21-yard field goal.

Charlton running back Lemuel Walker also scored twice on a pair of 1-yard runs and finished with 141 yards.

Buford senior lineman Carston Mathis had one shining moment late in the game recovering a Standridge fumble in the end zone for the Wolves' final touchdown.