You wouldn't have guessed it after watching the Wolves dismantle the Blue Devils 49-13 Friday night in the Class AA quarterfinals at Tom Riden Stadium.
Buford (13-0) dominated the game through the first three quarters, holding Elbert County to 87 yards -- 15 in the first half -- while building a 42-0 lead. The Wolves' sweltering defense scored one touchdown, set up two short drives for its offense, and forced five turnovers in that span.
Buford coach Jess Simpson said the secret was his scout team offense during the week.
"(The scout team) did a great job of running it and preparing us," Simpson said. "It's not an easy offense to stop but our guys did a fantastic job, especially in the first half. They set the tone for us."
Elbert County did not reach midfield in the first half and had just one first down, three punts, and three turnovers in the first 24 minutes.
Despite the lopsided score, it took the Wolves an entire quarter to get on the board. The Elbert County defense stopped Buford after a long drive to open the game and it wasn't until Andre' Johnson scored on the final play of the quarter on a 4-yard run that the Wolves took a 7-0 lead.
The Buford defense then forced two straight Elbert County turnovers to start the second quarter, including a 12-yard interception return for a touchdown by Jaylen Mize for a 14-0 lead. Buford also took advantage on some big plays on offense, including an 88-yard pass from Sam Clay to Nathan Staub for a 21-0 lead. Staub juked one defender and then out-sprinted three others the final 70 yards for the score.
"The pass play really got the offense going," Simpson said. "The interception was a huge play because it was just a seven-point game midway through the second quarter."
The Wolves then put the game away with 21 points in the third quarter, including an electrifying 65-yard run by Johnson, who ran over three Elbert County defenders in a 10-yard span en route to the score and a 28-0 lead. Staub added a 1-yard run and Dontravious Wilson scored on a 5-yard run following another Elbert turnover for a 42-0 lead by the end of the third quarter. Buford's final score came on a 29-yard run by Ryan Mack to make it 49-6.
Buford finished with 412 yards of offense, 239 on the ground paced by Johnson, who had 84 yards. Elbert County (11-2) finished with 188 yards, 150 after the third quarter and 120 came on just two plays.
Elbert's only scores came on a 4-yard TD run from R. J. Jones early in the fourth quarter and a 70-yard pass to Jones with just under two minutes left against the reserve defense.
Buford will move on to the semifinals next week taking on Carver, Columbus, which beat Fitzgerald 34-21 Friday night. They will hold a coin flip Saturday to determine home-field advantage. Buford beat Carver, Columbus 35-7 on Sept. 2.
Simpson said that might as well have been last season.
"That was what, week two or three?" he said. "I am sure they have improved since then. It was really only about a 21-7 game. We got some breaks to help break it open. I expect they will be ready to play no matter where it is."
Buford's Nathan Staub, left, and Andre Johnson celebrate during a game played earlier this season.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/11/243847