BUFORD — Atlanta’s Dan Quinn was more than familiar with the high school tradition that has become Buford High football long before he became head coach of the Falcons.
Quinn recruited players from the school while assistant coaching at the University of Florida -- so when plans were put into the works for the eighth-annual Kia Motors Friday Night Lights, Tom Riden Stadium on the Buford campus seemed like a logical choice.
“We love getting in touch with the fans at this level. You can see the enthusiasm and it really pumps our guys up,” Quinn said after the Falcons completed a 90-minute practice Friday at Buford. “The tradition here speaks for itself. This is a great area for high school football, college football, our team.
Buford Athletic Director Dexter Wood said Quinn's connection to the school played a major factor in bringing the annual event
"It all started with the connection our football coach, coach (Jess) Simpson has with their football coach (Dan Quinn)," Wood said. "When coach Quinn was at (the University of) Florida, he used to recruit at Buford, so they developed a relationship. And when coach Quinn got the job in Atlanta and they asked him where he wanted to go for this, he said, 'let's go to Buford.'"
On the field, the Falcons looked improved from their summer workouts. And the defense, Quinn’s forte as the defensive coordinator with Seattle, was tough and aggressive for much of the head-to-head matchup with the offense.
In the early going, individual battles between receiver Roddy White and cornerback Desmond Trufant and receiver Julio Jones and cornerback Robert Alford had the jam-packed crowd ‘oohing-and-ahing’ frequently. Jones managed one catch while Trufant shutout White.
The defense later forced a pair of fumbles and rookie and No. 1 draft pick Vic Beasley spent much of the night harassing Matt Ryan before eventually recording a sack.
“We believe in giving our young guys their turns, and I thought there were some good moments out there,” assistant head coach and passing game coordinator Raheem Morris said. “It’s been a lot of fun watching them go out there and play.”
Second-year cornerback Ricardo Allen had a tipped pass and third-year player out of TCU, Stansly Mapongo, caused and recovered a fumble.
The offense would have some moments of its own, mostly from the second and third units. Backup QB T.J. Yates and Justin Hardy connected on a long 58-yard pass after Hardy whipped cornerback Jalen Collins, who has struggled at times, on a stop-and-go pattern.
Antone Smith, coming off a broken leg that ended his 2014 season early, ripped off a pair of long runs and gave the beleaguered running back corps, which has been besieged by injuries of late, a needed boost.
“I’m healthy now and it felt good to get some runs like I was used too before the injury,” Smith said. “I think the offense is starting to come along.”
Free agent receiver Leonard Hankerson caught a pair of passes, beating Alford both times, and third-string quarterback Sean Renfree had a pair of TD passes, one to Eric Weems, and a second to Hardy on the final play of the practice.
Quinn said it was a typical practice where both sides of the ball had some solid moments.
“It’s always a back-and-forth in practice,” Quinn said. “The offense had some big plays and the defense created a couple of turnovers. The competition is what we are trying to preach day-in and day-out so I was happy to see where both sides made some plays.”
With recent troubles at the running spot spot with the top two backs, Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, both going down with hamstring injuries, Smith’s resurgence was a welcome sight.
“It was great to see Antone come to life there,” Quinn said. “To come back from the injury he had, I was thrilled for him. I really felt that burst on the draws, the outside runs, catching the ball. It was a way for him to say I’m back and I can play.”
NOTES: Safety Charles Godfrey left with a cut on his head but is not expected to miss any practice time. ... The Falcons will take the day off on Saturday before hitting the fields again on Sunday at the Falcons Complex in Flowery Branch.
