BUFORD -- Xavier Gantt took the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown and set the tone early to lead Buford to a 44-0 win Friday night in Region 8-AAAA play.<br />
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With the win, the Wolves (9-0, 5-0 Region 8-AAAA) maintained its one-game lead atop the region standings. They will travel to Stephens County next week needing a win to clinch the region title.<br />
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Buford wasted little time in blowing the game open in the first quarter. Jordan Perlotte scored on a 1-yard run and Quay Picou scooped up a Madison County fumble and returned it 9-yards for a score less than a minute later for a 21-0 lead less than six minutes into the game.<br />
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Perlotte added a 4-yard touchdown in the second quarter and Matt Bonadies booted a 31-yard field goal to give Buford a 31-0 halftime lead.<br />
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Elijah Bryant and Joshua Blackwell added touchdown runs in the second half.<br />
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Madison County (5-4, 3-3) is tied with White County for the final playoff spot. The Red Raiders will need to beat North Oconee next week and hope for a White County loss to North Hall to get into the playoffs.<br />
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White County (5-4, 3-3) owns the head-to-head tiebreaker by virtue of its 34-27 victory over Madison County earlier in the season.
