STOCKBRIDGE — Buford football knew this was the week it might finally get punched in the mouth.
And when it did, the Wolves responded with a barrage of power football that No. 2 Stockbridge could not handle, as the Wolves pounded out a 20-17 win on Friday in the Class AAAAA quarterfinals in Stockbridge.
Third-ranked Buford stormed back from a 14-0 second quarter deficit, taking a 17-14 lead in the fourth quarter before finally sealing the game on a 24-yard Hayden Olsen field goal with 6:08 to play.
The victory set up a semifinal showdown at Rome -- a rematch of last year's Class AAAAA title game.
"There was never a question that we were going to win -- not when we were down, never," said Buford senior defensive end Mick Reese. "We just kept after it, and our O-line started getting a push, and we took control."
The Wolves (11-1) churned out 200 yards rushing and out-gained the Tigers 326-182 after surviving Stockbridge's early onslaught buoyed by explosive plays, including an interception return for a touchdown and a 74-yard run from BJ Riley. Buford allowed just 28 yards rushing the rest of the game, however, while Anthony Grant (63 yards, TD) and Christian Turner (74 yards, TD) helped Buford dominate the game clock and contorl momentum.
It was the kind of game tailor-made for Buford's sizable lines of scrimmage.
"This whole week we checked and we said, 'it's time to kick some tail.' This was a check of our mahood; it was about digging in and beating the man across from us, and that's what we did," said Wolves junior lineman Harry Miller. "I've got the best team in the whole world; these are my brothers. And even when we were down there was never any doubt by us that we would win."
Certainly Buford will make its semifinal trek with plenty of self-belief after answering the bell in Stockbridge.
"We knew it'd be tough sledding in this game," Buford coach John Ford said. "Stockbridge has one of the best defenses in the state. They came in allowing just 5.9 points per game. And we talked about resiliency and mental toughness and went out and did it. I'm just grateful for our kids and our coaches to put us in this position."
The Tigers got the drop on the Wolves from the start, as Demaje' Carter pounced to pick off a short Buford pass attempt and return it 39 yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. The play ignited the home stands and hardened Buford's resolve to run with power, and the Wolves began to do so with success -- though Stockbridge made it tough going in the shadow of its own goalpost.
In fact the Tigers yielded just three points in a first half that saw Buford twice drive inside the Stockbridge 20. The first instance yielded only a turnover on downs, as the Tigers stuffed the Wolves on fourth and 2 at the Stockbridge 10. The second came with Buford trailing 14-0 late in the second quarter, and the Wolves' Hayden Olsen cut the deficit with a 28-yard field goal after Buford pounced on a Stockbridge fumble at the Tigers 25-yard line.
Buford racked up 115 yards rushing in the first half but could not make convert the big play -- unlike Stockbridge, which used a 72-yard second quarter run from BJ Riley to set up a 2-yard touchdown plunge from Riley just two plays later. The running back gave the Tigers a 14-0 lead with 9:56 remaining in the half en route to 84 yards on the ground.
With its season the line, Buford upped the intensity in the third quarter, starting with a strong defensive effort to force a punt at midfield. The Wolves then embarked on an 11-play, 84-yard drive, marked by tough running and a 32-yard completion from Aaron McLaughlin to Tyler Gillis. Anthony Grant capped the surge with a 1-yard dive to make it 14-10.
The Wolves rode the momentum and forced another turnover on the Tigers' ensuing possession, Kellen Neal pouncing on a fumble at the Stockbridge 45. Four plays later Christian Turner plowed into the end zone from a yard and Buford's first lead, 17-14 with 11:55 remaining.
Stockbridge was stunned, but far from finished and fashioned a response after a 50-yard throw and catch to Yahsyn McKee from Gabriel McKenzie set up a 27-yard field goal from Rico Sanders that knotted the score at 17-17, 8:24 remaining.
But the kick could not stem the Buford tide, and the Wolves responded with another long drive on their ensuing possession. This time, the Tigers kept Buford out of the end zone, but Olsen was up to the task, converting his second field goal of the night to push visitors in front for good, 20-17 with 6:08 remaining.
Thanks to the Buford defense, the outcome was never in doubt, as the Wolves forced punts on two of the Tigers three remaining possessions before the clock ran out on Stockbridge at midfield, and Buford secured its 11th straight state semifinal berth -- and a rematch of last year's Class AAAAA title showdown.
SCORING SUMMARY
BUFORD...............0....3....7...10 -- 20
STOCKBRIDGE....7....7....0....3 -- 17
First Quarter
SHS - Carter 39 interception return (Sanders kick), 11:44, 7-0
Second Quarter
SHS - Riley 2 run (Sanders kick) 9:56, 14-0
BHS - Olsen 28 field goal, 1:04, 14-3
Third Quarter
BHS - Grant 1 run (Olsen kick), 2:39, 14-10
Fourth Quarter
BHS - Turner 1 run (Olsen kick) 11:55, 14-17
SHS - Sanders 27 field goal, 8:24, 17-17
BHS - Olsen 24 field goal, 6:08, 17-20
http://accesswdun.com/article/2017/11/609115/buford-stockbridge-quarterfinal