ATLANTA -- Buford had its ending.
The history, grit and determination of Wolves football was all wrapped in one incredible play.
Unfortunately, Calhoun had time -- and Adam Griffith -- still on its side on Friday night at the Georgia Dome, as the Yellow Jackets held on for a 27-24 overtime victory in the Class AA title game.
Griffith booted a 32-yard field goal in the extra frame,clinching the win and halting Buford's assault on history to become the only program to win five straight state titles.
Buford amassed 356 yards, outgaining the Yellow Jackets on the night, but turnovers -- four for the game -- and clutch play from a Calhoun team that had lost three straight championship bouts to the Wolves proved too much to overcome.
"This is hard; it hurts and it's not what we wanted," Wolves coach Jess Simpson said. "But losing is part of life, and hopefully we can take this and learn from it and grow.
"I just hate it for my seniors to have to go out like this. I love them, and I'm so proud of them."
A pair of Wolves seniors capped a fourth-quarter comeback that will be remembered for decades, as Dillon Lee and Andre' Johnson turned what looked a hopeless situation into a Buford lifeline. Facing a fourth down punt from the Yellow Jackets at midfield, Johnson broke through the Calhoun line of scrimmage to force a fumble that Lee scooped up and returned 40 yards for the tying score, 24-24, with 39 seconds left in regulation.
But the jaw-dropping play couldn't completely turn the tide. And the turnovers that hurt the Wolves early returned to haunt Buford late, as Calhoun forced and recovered a fumble on the first play from scrimmage in overtime. The Yellow Jackets wasted no time after the takeaway, sending Griffith out on first down to watch the senior send Calhoun to its first state title since 1952.
"There was a bad look in everybody's eyes there at the end (of regulation)," Yellow Jackets coach Hal Lamb said. "But we found a way to win that football game at the end. I just told them to regroup and that it was a whole different ballgame."
Calhoun did enough during regulation to avoid overtime, scoring 14 straight points in the second half -- including 46- and 37-yard field goals from Griffith and a 15-yard touchdown run from quarterback Taylor Lamb.
But Buford's thirst for a fifth straight title proved fierce, and the Wolves (14-1) scored with 1:12 to play and refused to yield even after the ensuing onside kick rolled harmlessly out of bounds. Stuffing the Yellow Jackets on three straight plays, Buford burned all three timeouts and then made what seemed to be the play of the game to tie the score. But it wasn't enough.
"You can't fault their fight," Simpson sad. "It just wasn't meant to be today. I can't remember a game that up and down. But they were the better team today, and we were lucky to be in it at the end."
The Wolves rushed for 217 yards on the night but couldn't generate much push in the second half, rolling up only 43 yards after halftime. C.J. Moore's 94 yards and a touchdown on six carries led the way, while Johnson added 76 yards on 13 carries.
"They lined up and did what they do on defense," Simpson said of Calhoun. "They've been great all season and tough to run on."
The Yellow Jackets forced Buford to go through the air late, as quarterback Sam Clay completed 11 of 22 passes for 139 yards, an interception and a touchdown to Paris Head late in the game.
Meanwhile, Calhoun signal caller Lamb came up with plenty of big plays of his own through the air, going 16 of 35 for 203 yards and a score. Chase Rierson was his top target with six catches for 61 yards, while running back Darius Washington caught two passes for 69 yards and a score. The Yellow Jackets also generated enough rushing yards -- 126 -- to keep Buford's defense at bay.
"Our kids do believe and this is for the Calhoun community," Lamb said. "It is unbelievable. You are in this business to change lives but you are also in this business to win championships. Lo and behold we got our first one."
The game started just like both coaches had expected -- close.
Neither team sustained much rhythm on offense in the first quarter, though each got close enough to attempt a field goal. And each missed on those attempts.
Yet Buford began to find its feet as the period dwindled, moving to the Calhoun 11 before bogging down. The drive ended with a 33-yard field goal from David Petroni for a 3-0 lead just five seconds into the second quarter.
Calhoun fired right back with its kicking game, however, Griffith drilling a 29-yard field goal to knot the score at 3-3 with 9:50 left in the half.
Then came the fireworks -- though it was just a hint of what was to come.
Taking possession after a short punt to the Yellow Jackets 45, the Wolves marched to the Calhoun 16-yard line and looked set to find pay dirt, as Dontravious Wilson took a handoff and bulled his way to the Yellow Jackets 4. But as Wilson dug for more yards, the Yellow Jackets defense stripped the ball, and linebacker Tony Hernandez fell on the fumble.
Calhoun didn't waste the turnover.
Moving to their own 37, the Yellow Jackets exploded for the first big offensive play of the game when Washington gathered a short screen pass, hurdled one defender, stiff-armed a second and sprinted to the end zone with 2:26 left in the second quarter.
The touchdown electrified the Yellow Jackets' sideline, but Buford had the perfect answer. On the first play from scrimmage, Moore made one cut and shot past the Calhoun defense, untouched, for a 68-yard scoring run. The play knotted the score at 10-10, a mark that held until the interval.
Both defenses regained control at the start of the third quarter -- until Calhoun's high-octane passing regained its rhythm. Moving 77 yards in six plays -- with the aid of an unportsmanlike conduct penalty on Buford -- Calhoun quarterback Lamb capped the assault with a 15-yard touchdown sprint with 5:43 left in the third quarter. The Yellow Jackets then took advantage of a napping Wolves special teams to score a two-point conversion on a run from Alex Kirby for an 18-10 lead.
By the time Buford found another reply, it was almost too late.
Yet Buford refused to give in, passing its way down the field with Clay connecting with Ryan Dillard for a 35-yard pass to midfield. The Wolves also shrugged off an interception by Calhoun's Heath Everette, which was nullified by a Yellow Jackets penalty on the play. Clay then lofted a 29-yard touchdown to Head in the corner of the end zone to pull within 24-17.
The play set up a tense onside kick attempt, but the ball rolled past several players and out of bounds to give the Yellow Jackets possession at the Wolves 49.
But Buford wasn't finished -- not by a long shot.
After holding Calhoun on three straight plays and calling all three of its timeouts, the Wolves faced a Yellow Jackets punt near midfield.
The ball never even made it onto punter Zane Rhodes' foot, as a poor snap gave Johnson just enough time to break through the line and hit the punter, jarring the ball loose for Lee, who cradled it and ran untouched to the end zone.
The score spoke of destiny, but Calhoun wasn't interested, stopping Buford on the first play of overtime and scoring on the next to seal the win.
"I'm going to remember this team and this senior group for a long time," Simpson said "They've been a real special group, and I hate it that this is their last memory."
SCORING SUMMARY
Buford.......0....10....0...14....0 -- 24
Calhoun....0....10....8....6....3 -- 27
Second Quarter
BUF -- David Petroni 33 field goal, 11:55, 3-0
CAL -- Adam Griffith 29 field goal, 9:50, 3-3
CAL -- Darius Washington 63 pass from Taylor Lamb (Griffith kick) 2:26, 3-10
BUF -- CJ Moore 68 run (Petroni kick) 2:06, 10-10
Third Quarter
CAL -- T. Lamb 15 run (Kirby run) 5:43, 10-17
Fourth Quarter
CAL -- Griffith 46 field goal, 7:42, 10-21
CAL -- Griffith 37 field goal, 3:07, 10-24
BUF -- Paris Head 29 pass from Sam Clay (Petroni kick) 1:12, 17-24
BUF -- Dillon Lee 40 fumble return (Petroni kick) :39, 24-24
Overtime
CAL -- Griffith 32 field goal, 24-27
Wednesday
July 16th, 2025
2:10AM
