BUFORD, Ga. -- Class 7A No. 1 Buford, in one of the most anticipated games in the country, relied on special teams and defense to hold off perennial national power St. Frances Academy of Baltimore, 18-0, on Friday at Tom Riden Stadium.
It was just enough for Buford coach Bryant Appling to breath a small sigh of relief. The Wolves came in ranked 10th nationally in the MaxPreps poll while the Panthers were ranked sixth.
“We showed toughness on defense all night long,” Appling said. “We knew it was going to be tough sledding on offense and we made the plays we had to make to win the game. Bottom line, that’s what we want to do early in the season.”
The Wolves would not let St. Frances get much going early, partially blocking a punt, causing and recovering a fumble, and intercepting a pass.
Devin Williams deflected a St. Frances punt in the first quarter to put the Wolves at the Panthers 33. Transfer quarterback Dylan Raiola, in his first regular season action in Georgia, tossed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Tyshun White for an early 7-0 lead.
The special teams set up Buford’s second score. The Panthers’ Jermichael Gillis muffed a punt return and the Wolves’ Deronte Broughton pounced on it at the 24. Four plays later Raiola found K.J. Bolden on a 7-yard touchdown pass. Christian Langford added a 2-point conversion to push the lead to 15-0.
The Buford defense dominated from there.
The Wolves had a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown by Bolden called back. Buford also blocked a field goal in the third quarter. They finished with five sacks and held Oregon-commit Michael Van Buren to just 88 yards passing for the game.
“We did what our coaches told us to do and we played as one and we came out with the win,” defensive lineman Eddrick Houston said. “Those turnovers were because it got our offense back on the field.”
Mario Ventura provided the final points with a 31-yard field goal.
“It wasn’t perfect. We’ve got some things to fix,” Appling said. “But I’m proud of them. Every time (St. Frances) got down there and had a chance to score, we found a way to stop them.”
The Panthers’ defense was just as nasty. They held Buford’s potent ground game to just 51 yards rushing. Raiola picked up the slack throwing for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
“It was special,” Raiola said. “To get in there and endure it was special.”
