NORCROSS, Ga. – Buford buckled down late to knock off Norcross on the road Friday night, 28-25.
The Wolves led 28-10 after three quarters of play, but turnovers allowed the Blue Devils to come back into the game, forcing the Wolves to show poise down the stretch.
"Sometimes, you just have to win ugly," said head coach Bryant Appling. "I'll take the fight we showed tonight, but we have a lot to improve on for next week."
Dylan Raiola got it going through the air early, finding KJ Bolden for a 51-yard touchdown on the Wolves' opening drive. Norcross answered on the ensuing drive with a 3-yard rushing score, but Raiola gave Buford the lead right back on a 23-yard pass to Justin Baker to take a 14-7 lead.
After the Blue Devils kicked a field goal for the only points of the second quarter, Raiola linked up with KJ Bolden twice more in the third for touchdowns to extend the lead to 28-10. Norcross battled back to cut the lead to three with 3:38 to play, but Buford was able to bleed the clock down and secure the win.
Raiola was 9-for-19 for 174 yards and four touchdowns. Bolden had 76 yards receiving on three catches.
The Wolves will travel to Grayson next week in the Class 7A quarterfinals.
