BUFORD, Ga. — It’s the game the entire state wanted. Even Buford coach Bryant Appling acknowledged they have had a sideways glance going themselves as the season wore on.
“We knew it was a possibility, and we knew it would probably be a fun situation for everybody; probably more fun for y'all than it is for us,” he said about Friday’s massive Class 6A semifinal showdown with Carrollton at Tom Riden Stadium.
The two teams have been ranked Nos. 1 and/or 2 all season. They have been on a collision course and the winner will head to Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. to play for the Class 6A state title.
It will be a huge showcase affair and is sure to attract more Division I scouts (i.e., head coaches) than honey does to bees, as the field will be filled with nearly two dozen major prospects. The Wolves (12-1) are no strangers to high-caliber competition, having already played the likes of Milton, Douglas County, Benedictine, and Roswell during the regular season. Seven of their 10 regular season opponents advanced to the playoffs. Carrollton (13-0) will be the ninth-ranked team of their 14 on the season.
The Trojans have faced just five ranked teams, including Buford, Strength of schedule certainly favors the Wolves. But Appling stated that means nothing come Friday night.
“We know what we got in our lap, as far as you know, preparing for them and then trying to find a way to stop them,’ Appling said.
By stopping “them,” he really means trying to slow down senior quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis, the nation’s No. 1-rated quarterback and a Colorado commit.
Lewis, so far, has been unstoppable. He has passed for 3,272 yards and tossed 44 TDs to just 4 INT in 2024. He has paced an offensive attack that is averaging 47.46 points/game in the state’s largest classification. The Trojans have scored 40 or more in 11 straight games.
“They're gonna make plays, man. They're gonna do things. They're just that well-coached, and that talented,” Appling said. “It starts with (JuJu) but, you know,, they're athletic everywhere. So all they got to do is get the ball in those guys' hands and let them work. So it's a full team deal.”
Lewis definitely has weapons at his disposal. Kimauri Farmer leads a punishing ground game (1,142 yards, 18 TD), and juniors Peyton Zachary (821 yards, 9 TD) and Ryan Mosley (761 yards, 11 TD) lead a receiving corps that has four players with 30 or more catches and 400 or more yards.
But while the Carrollton offense may be the irresistible force, the Buford defense is truly the immovable wall. The Wolves are surrendering a minuscule 10.0 ppg and have given up just 23 points (7.6 ppg) in the playoffs.
They are loaded across every level, paced by linebackers A.J. Holloway (71 tkl, 10 TFL, South Carolina commit), Mantrez Walker (60 tkl, Colorado commit), Jadon Perlotte (30 tkl, USC commit), and Kenyon Rivera (46 tkl, Memphis commit). Bryce Perry-Wright (57 tkl, 22 TFL, 9 sacks) and Nicco Maggio (40 tkl, 14 TFL, 4 sacks, Wake Forest commit) lead a formidable front.
But Appling said his greatest weapon may be a much-improved offensive line in 2024 and a rushing attack led by senior Justin Baker (980 yards, 12 TD, 4 100-yard games). Fellow seniors Ethan Ervin (722 yards, 7 TD) and Ty Green (505 yards, 7 TD) give the Wolves three backs with over 500 yards.
“Controlling the football on offense will be a big key to this thing for us. You know, sometimes the best defense is a good offense,” he said. “We like to run the ball and hold on to it, but we need to stay on schedule with that. That’s the best way to keep the ball out of (Lewis’s) hands. That's the plan of action as far as us having a good night on Friday.”
Another key issue could be whether Lewis even plays on Friday night. Reports last week said he left their 46-6 win over Hillgrove in the first half with what is being said is a broken hand. But Appling said he doesn’t buy into the thought that Lewis will miss out on a chance to lead his team into the state finals if possible.
“I don't know a whole lot. I mean, they're not going to tell me a whole lot about what's going on,” Appling said. “We're preparing like any other game, you know, for their best shot, and that’s with (Lewis). You can call me a liar if it doesn't happen, but I think the kid is gonna play.”
Junior Dylan Bishop came on in relief of Lewis and went a solid 10-of-14 for 123 yards and 3 TD passing. But Bishop has thrown just 34 passes all season for 200 yards and 5 TD, and no INTs.
Still, Appling would not accept his group having any sort of advantage.
“Look, you can throw all that stuff out about them not being as good without JuJu,” he said. “Obviously, JuJu is a one-of-a-kind type of player. But I know what (Carrollton) Coach (Joey) King is about, and we’ve played against him for a long time at different places. Regardless of who's in there, they're coached up, and they're gonna put the ball where they want to put the ball. They will be formidable no matter who is playing.”
Carrollton has not won a state title since 1998. They have three state title games since then, the most recent being in Class 7A in 2022, falling 70-35 to Mill Creek.
Buford is looking for its first title since winning three straight from 2019-2021 in Classes 5A and 6A.
With the state finals being moved back to The Benz starting this season, playing in arguably the world’s greatest stadium is enticing for coaches, players, and fans.
But the Wolves have some unfinished business off Sawnee Avenue. This will mark the final game at Tom Riden Stadium as they are set to open a State-of-the-art facility off Buford Highway beginning in 2025.
Appling said there’s no more fitting way to close out the iconic stadium than with what could be one of its greatest matchups ever. And he wants to send it out right.
“We have an opportunity to win the final game here ever, and that's our focus right now,” he said. “But it’s really about more than that. For me, this is a special place.
“When I grew up, I played in DeKalb County, but we didn't have our own home stadium. So I always loved the fact that, when we got to go play somebody, they had their own stadium.
“Tom Riden is just such a neat place that's rich in tradition with all the past games and things like that. It was always an honor to go out there and coach in it. It was going to get to the point where it's the last one.
“It's a place we just don't want to leave, and we want to leave it better than we found it. We’re going to try to find a way to put one more really good effort together to playing beautiful football. That's the plan -- to send Tom Riden out a winner.”
CLASS 6A SEMIFINALS
CARROLLTON at BUFORD
Records: Trojans (13-0, No. 1 seed Region 2-6A); Wolves (12-1, No. 1 seed Region 8-6A)
Last week: Carrollton beat Hillgrove, 46-6; Buford beat North Gwinnett, 43-7
Where: Tom Riden Stadium, Buford
Radio: WDUN AM 550
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: Buford leads series 3-0. All four meetings now will have been in the playoffs and all since 2016. Buford won 21-6 at home in the 2021 Class 6A semifinals. The two teams have been ranked Nos. 1 and/or 2 all season atop the classification, and both are ranked in the top 25 of virtually every national poll. Both teams have destroyed their opponents in the playoffs. Buford has outscored their first three playoff opponents 142-2,3, while the Trojans have outscored their three opponents 141-26. Since moving up to the state’s highest classification, both city schools have fared well. But neither has been able to capture a state title in the highest class, which was 7A, until this season. Buford, however, has a much richer championship history, with 13 state titles since 2000. Carrollton has 7 titles overall, but 6 came between 1956 and 1974. The Trojans’ last state title came in 1998. Buford has had a more challenging schedule in 2024. The Trojans will be the 9th-ranked team Buford has faced this season. Carrollton has faced just 5 ranked teams, including Buford. The Buford offense (526 points, 40.46 ppg) has gotten steadily better as the season has gone on. Jr, QB Dayton Raiola (1,797 yards, 19 TD, 3 INT) has put together a quietly efficient campaign. The Wolves will feature 6 or 7 other RBs during the game. Sr. RB Ethan Ervin (722 yards, 7 TD) and Sr. Ty Green (505 yards, 7 TD) give them three backs with over 500 yards. Sr. WR Jordan Allen (35 rec., 793 yards, 5 TD) is the leading receiver. The Trojans are giving up 13.54 ppg on the season but have upped their game in the playoffs, allowing just 26 points (8.7 ppg). No one has scored more than 28 in any game this season. They have a solid front-7, but the strength is on the back end with a secondary led by three D-I commits in Dorian Barney (Alabama), Zelus Hicks (Texas), and Shamar Arnoux (Southern Cal), who all are in the top 400 prospects.
What to watch for: The field will be littered with Division 1 talent on both sides. But the key matchup will be the Buford defense vs. the Trojans offense. Buford’s is yielding a minuscule 10.0 ppg and has surrendered just 23 points (7.6 ppg) in the playoffs. The Wolves are loaded across every level, paced by LBs A.J. Holloway (71 tkl, 10 TFL, South Carolina commit), Mantrez Walker (60 tkl, Colorado commit), Jadon Perlotte (30 tkl, USC commit), and Kenyon Rivera (46 tkl, Memphis commit). Bryce Perry-Wright (57 tkl, 22 TFL, 9 sacks) and Nicco Maggio (40 tkl, 14 TFL, 4 sacks, Wake Forest commit) lead a formidable front. Carrollton is averaging a whopping 47.46 ppg in the state’s largest classification.
