BUFORD -- Even Jess Simpson was forced to just shrug his shoulders when it came to explaining just how well his Buford Wolves are clicking in the playoffs.
Buford scored 28 points in the first nine minutes of the game and then cruised to a surprisingly easy 52-14 win over Callaway Friday night in the second round of the Class AA playoffs. It was the 17th straight playoff win for Buford (11-1) which will play Cook, a 41-7 winner over McIntosh County Academy, next week in the quarterfinals.
"We're not the fastest or the biggest but that is four weeks in a row where we have come out of the gate fast," Simpson said. "The defense stepped it up and the offense made some big plays. I can't tell you enough how proud I am of this team."
Callaway's dynamic tandem of Ricky Parks and Marquis Terrell were held to 75 yards in the first half while the Wolves forced four first half turnovers, including a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown by C.J. Moore and a 16-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by kicker David Petroni to open the second half. The Cavaliers did not cross midfield until midway through the third quarter.
Meanwhile, Buford scored on five of six first half possessions while piling up 289 yards of offense.
"We really didn't do anything special," Simpson said. "The guys were just flying around and made some big plays. This time of year is what you work for and they just played fantastic."
The Cavaliers came into the contest on a three-game winning streak and averaging over 40 points a game in that span. Parks and Terrell had terrorized opposing defenses all season long but could get little going against the Wolves' front-line defense.
After Callaway failed on a surprise pooch kick to open the game, Buford needed just one minute and three plays to make its first statement. Alex Ross hit Paris Head on a 56-yard pass and then Andre' Johnson capped the quick drive with a 5-yard TD run.
The Buford defense then held the Cavaliers to three-and-out and Dominique Swope capped a 55-yard drive with a 2-yard TD run. One minute later Moore picked off a Parks pass to make 21-0 just six minutes into the game. After a Callaway fumble on its next possession, Ross connected with Head again for a 33-yard strike and Johnson finished off the four-play drive with a 2-yard TD run.
Swope would add a 14-yard TD run late in the first half and Petroni would boot a 24-yard field goal to close out a 38-0 first half.
The Wolves made it 45-0 on Petroni's fumble recovery for a score and then Sean Jones capped a 49-yard dive with a 2-yard TD run for a 52-0 lead.
Parks would score a pair of second half touchdowns but was ineffective most of the game hitting just 3-of-12 passes for 73 yards and two interceptions. He was just 1-for-7 for 11 yards in the first half.
Ross, meanwhile, was nearly perfect throwing for 139 yards on just 4-of-5 passing. Three of the completions were for over 30 yards. Swope finished with 64 yards and two scores, Jones had 67 yards and one touchdown and Johnson had 24 yards and two TDs for the game.
Friday
January 31st, 2025
8:02AM
