BUFORD, Ga. — Despite the dominating start to their first season in Class 7A, Buford’s real test began Friday night against defending state champion Collins Hill.
The No. 1-ranked Wolves passed, making it look easier than the 23-3 win appeared at Tom Riden Stadium in both teams’ Region 8-7A opener.
The Wolves (6-0, 1-0 Region 8-7A) opened the game with seven consecutive runs, with Justice Haynes doing the damage and setting the tone. The senior Alabama-commit piled up 61 yards on 6 carries, capping the 67-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.
The Eagles (2-4, 0-1 Region 8-7A) answered back. A Mikey Sheehan screen pass to Dion Crawford for 43 yards got them into Buford territory and a roughing the passer penalty by the Wolves eventually moved Collins Hill to the Buford 11.
But a sack of Sheehan by Eddrick Houston on third down forced a 31-yard field goal by Isaac Bonacci to cut the lead to 7-3 midway through the first quarter. It looked like it was headed for a possible shootout.
From there, however, the Buford defense took control. The Wolves stopped the Eagles on downs, picked off a pass, sacked Sheehan six times, and forced six punts over the final eight possessions of the game.
Following the Eagles field goal, the two teams traded punts before Buford went back to its running game. Haynes had 5 carries for 40 yards and Christian Butler had 3 carries for 18 yards, which set up a 31-yard field goal from Mario Ventura for a 10-3 lead midway through the second quarter.
The Eagles had the ball and a chance to tie, moving to the Wolves’ 29 after a series of screen passes late in the second. But sacks by Houston and Jadon Perlotte pushed Collins Hill back to midfield and they were forced to punt.
The Wolves’ defense had four sacks in the first half and held Collins Hill to -7 yards rushing and just 95 total yards as it went to the half a 10-3 Buford lead.
The Buford defense made another big play late in the third quarter when sophomore Cannon Goldin picked off Sheehan at the Eagles 42.
The Buford passing game then came alive. Sophomore Tristan Gabrels replaced Wittke and connected with Sam Harkness for 8 yards and then Tyshun White on a 32 yard strike to the Collins Hill 2. Three plays later Gabrels scored on a sneak to give Buford a 17-3 lead.
The Wolves put it out of reach early in the fourth when Haynes scored on a 10-yard run for a 23-3 lead two plays after a 45-yard pass from Gabrels to KJ Bolden to the Collins Hill 11. Haynes finished with 130 yards on the ground, most of that in the first half.
