CARTERSVILLE -- Buford's defense spent all week listening to tales of Cartersville's offensive prowess.<br />
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On Friday, the Wolves stuffed all that talk into another dominating performance, letting their play do the speaking in a 27-3 Class AAAA semifinal win over the Purple Hurricanes in Cartersville.<br />
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"We get tired of hearing how good other teams' offenses are," said Buford safety Steven Reese, who helped secure the game with a third quarter interception. "We like to say that our secondary is a no-fly zone. And the guys up front played amazing too. There's not a better group of guys I could ask to play with."<br />
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Reese's pick was one of three second half turnovers that punctuated a domineering performance, as Buford stymied Cartersville for 205 total yards en route to an eighth straight state championship game appearance.<br />
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"It's not easy getting to the Dome," Buford coach Jess Simpson said. "You work all year, starting in January, and this is a big reward. It never gets old."<br />
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The Wolves (14-0) will play St. Pius at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, for the Class AAAA crown -- a rematch of the 2012 Class AAA championship game that the Wolves won 10-3.<br />
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"It's my senior year; I'm pumped, and I'm going to be giving everything for my community, my team and everybody that had a part in my football career," Reese said.<br />
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Buford certainly wouldn't mind another defensive performance like Friday's.<br />
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The Wolves stonewalled Cartersville in the first half, allowing just 63 yards while its offense took a toe hold, scoring on two 1-yard plunges from Joshua Thomas to take a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. <br />
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Buford employed a swirling mix of blitzes and coverages to keep stellar freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence off balance, and it took the young phenom a half to find his rhythm, opening the game 1-for-7 for minus-1 yard.<br />
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"We gave him (Lawrence) different looks, and I think that helped; this game is awfully fast, and everybody was flying around out there," Simpson said. "But that young man will be outstanding for years to come."<br />
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Cartersville's defense fought hard to stay in the contest, however, keeping the Wolves from pulling away. And Lawrence started to find his feet in the second half. Trailing 14-3, the freshman completed three straight passes to move the Purple Hurricanes to midfield.<br />
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Then Reese stepped in and halted the momentum.<br />
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"I coached that kid (Lawrence) at an All-Star camp this summer, and I kind of knew his timing. He's very precise with his drops, and I could see it coming," said Reese, who jumped a pass route and snagged the ball, returning it to the Cartersville 4-yard line.<br />
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Thomas took it from there, scoring his third touchdown of the game from a yard out for a 20-3 advantage (the point after attempt failed) with 39 seconds left in the third quarter.<br />
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Jordan Perlotte added a two-yard run in the fourth quarter -- after another big turnover. This time Isaac Nauta recovered a Purple Hurricanes fumble to help ensure there would be no comeback.<br />
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Buford's offense could not dominate Cartersville's defense either, managing 260 total yards -- though big yardage wasn't necessary on a night when the scoring drives amounted to (in order) 41, 28, 4 and 28 yards. Evyn Cooper led all Buford rushers with 97 yards on 16 carries, while Thomas finished with 65 yards on 15 carries.<br />
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"I felt like all night we were just one cutback or one block away from a big play," Simpson said.<br />
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The also Wolves committed nine penalties to help stunt their own momentum, including an illegal motion penalty that negated a 57-yard touchdown pass from Luke Humphrey to Nauta -- Buford eventually punted on the first quarter possession.<br />
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"Sometimes that happens; you have games like that, and hopefully we got it out of our system," said Simpson. "The big story was our defense and how they kept making plays."<br />
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Now they will get the chance to make even more plays on the biggest stage of all.<br />
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<b>SCORING SUMMARY</b><br />
<b>BUFORD</b>..............7....7....6....7 -- 27<br />
<b>CARTERSVILLE</b>....0....3....0....0 -- 3<br />
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<b>First Quarter</b><br />
BHS -- Thomas 1 run (Bonadies kick) 4:15, 7-0<br />
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<b>Second Quarter</b><br />
BHS -- Thomas 1 run (Bonadies kick) 10:09, 14-0<br />
CHS -- Cruz 29 field goal, :06, 14-3<br />
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<b>Third Quarter</b><br />
BHS -- Thomas 1 run (kick failed) :39, 20-3<br />
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<b>Fourth Quarter</b><br />
BHS -- Perlotte 2 run (Bonadies kick) 9:51, 27-3
