AAA: Buford 10, St. Pius 3
The Buford defense lived up to its billing as the best in the state, putting the clamps on the the prolific St. Pius running game and coming away with a 10-3 victory in the Class AAA championship game.
The win gave Buford (12-3) its fourth state championship in five years and its first since moving up in classification. It was the school’s ninth state title and the eighth in 12 years.
“That’s the legacy these seniors have left you,” Buford coach Jess Simpson told his team after the game. “That’s what you juniors and sophomore have to live up to.”
Buford limited St. Pius to 104 yards rushing, 198 yards below its average, and only 184 total yards. St. Pius had only three runs that exceeded 10 yards. The St. Pius defense was equally rugged and allowed Buford only 178 total yards, 189 below its average.
The difference in the game came down to one play early in the fourth quarter. On fourth-and-1 at the 39, Buford quarterback Taylor Mitchell pitched the ball to Dontravious Wilson, who headed to the right. Wilson got lost in a crowd and, with Jordan Perlotte acting as the lead blocker, emerged from the pack for a 39-yard touchdown run with 9:10 remaining.
“We couldn’t hit the one play we needed and they did,” said St. Pius coach Paul Standard. “That was the difference in the ball game.”
Wilson, who has committed to Western Kentucky, wound up with 59 yards on 12 carries. St. Pius was led in rushing by Ryan Braswell, who carried 17 times for 88 yards; his only big burst was a 41-yard run.
No. 7-ranked St. Pius (12-3) set the tone for the game on its first possession. The Golden Lions were able to effectively run their option offense, with quarterback Jack Spear taking the lead, and drove to the Wolves 24 yard line in 13 plays. But on fourth-and-1, Braswell was hit head-on by Korrie Rogers for no gain to end the threat.
Neither team did much until No. 3-ranked Buford got the ball with 1:33 left in the half and raced downfield to set up a 43-yard field goal from Matthew Bonadies.
St. Pius tied the score on its first possession of the second half. The Golden Lions used 10 plays to get to the 30, where Thomas O’Leary kicked a 47-yard field goal, his longest of the season, to make it 3-3 with 4:38 remaining.
Pius had two possessions in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t move it against Buford. The first one resulted in a punt and the final ended with a couple of sacks.
“Our defense played with reckless abandon,” Standard said. “Everything Buford got they earned. I think their size was probably the difference at the end.”
It was an emotional game for Buford, which dedicated the season to former assistant coach Ryan Daniel, who died suddenly in January while playing a pickup basketball game. There were photos of Daniel taped up in the locker room, with a message extolling the Wolves to “Play for something bigger than yourself.” The Buford jerseys even had the “RD” printed in gold letters in Daniel’s honor.
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118 comments Add your comment
Hairy
December 15th, 2012
9:14 am
Good thing the folks from Buford have this football game to make them feel better about their lives. One could only imagine the doldrums they would be in if they were not allowed to bring in the players from the apartment homes to improve their minimal local talent.
4A Power
December 15th, 2012
9:15 am
Marist would have beat both of these teams handily.
Big Al
December 15th, 2012
9:28 am
What kind of recruiting class has Buford lined up for 2013? I understand they always have a good one.
littlecat
December 15th, 2012
9:35 am
i didn’t see marist playing last night. who won that game?
Stinger63
December 15th, 2012
9:53 am
Great game played by both teams! Congratulations to Buford from Calhoun.
YELLERJACKETZ1
December 15th, 2012
10:05 am
CONGRATS TO THE WOLVES AND RED ELEPHANTS FROM YOUR FRIENDS IN CALHOUN.
Roy D. Mercer
December 15th, 2012
10:14 am
Congrats to Buford State Champions..
Time for some like BullDawg Rick to man up and address this prediction:
Bulldawg Rick
December 9th, 2012 9:25 pm
WIshing good health to both teams, as Buford will roll in this game by 20 +..
realstate
December 15th, 2012
10:27 am
4A Power…Are you looking for trouble on this blog and or talking out of your behind?? Which is it??Marist or the big “M” as known to you wants no part of SPX! period! You had the opportunity to play us SPX and you chose to schedule Lovett! FACT!. SPX has gone out of the way to communicate with your powers to be and you have declined. Pius Marist game would be great for the community, the profits from the gate and great for the student body. The only reason you stay in 4A is because of the directors cup only….tennis, golf and soccer, compared to other public schools in 4A. Get off your soapbox keyboard and talk to your administration and put the game back on schedule for next year. BTW Buford would crush you also!
AAA Watered Down
December 15th, 2012
10:35 am
3A may be the weakest class above single A. Neither of those teams would make the final four in other classes. Buford is not as strong as prior years.
Bwolves
December 15th, 2012
10:35 am
At least SPX Class of 75 has it right. It was a close hard fought game and either teams could have won. St Pius definitely deserved to play in the Championship. Seen a Few has run his mouth all week on the Scout vent although the majority of Pius fans have been classy. Funny Football Mom speaks of class. Read some of the posts by YOUR fans. GNG, another classy St Pius poster, St Pius Fan, Chris etc.
Fred
December 15th, 2012
10:36 am
Let me clarify my comments from earlier a little bit. First – Congratulations to both teams! You made it further that any other team in your classification! It was a great game that Buford wound up winning. SPX played a great game and Buford got that one breakout play for the winning score. Definitely a great game by both teams.
My earlier comments were directed at 2 specific people’s vents and specific statements they said that were a little outrageous in my opinion. They were not meant to be taken as an indictment of Buford’s football program, only to bring a little sanity to some wild claims.
Just a Fan
December 15th, 2012
10:40 am
I thought these recruting allegations would be put to rest when the stats on athletic transfers were published earlier this year.If a student lives in the attendance area desiginated for a school then they should be eligible providing all other requirements are met.The heavy populated areas benefit most from the transfers of course. Lets face it-the days of community based football are forever gone. The thing I would have a big problem with is if any athlete is attending a private school on scholarship.
Bwolves
December 15th, 2012
10:41 am
Hairy, Apartment Homes? I don’t think Brian Jordon or Buddy Curry kids lived in apartments. If they did so what? Not everyone is born with a golden spoon in their mouth. For the uneducated, the VAST majority of open enrollment kids at Buford enroll in Grammar or Middle School and DON’t play a major sport. Buford has also has sent kids to Harvard, Air Force Academy, Notre Dame, USC-the real one, North Carolina, GA Tech,UGA, Alabama, LSU. The list goes on.
Thomas J. Mullarkey
December 15th, 2012
10:52 am
AAA Watered down
FYI……….. DIVISIONS NOT WITHSTANDING
Marist has a #571 National Ranking and 24th in Ga
St Pius is 411th and 18th in Ga.
Buford is 378th Nationally and 16th in the State.
I would add a little more water to what you are drinking?
Good Game. No real losers on the field , seems quite a few behind lap computers?
Get a Life
December 15th, 2012
11:10 am
@ bigbadbob….You take about recruiting?!?!?! you my friend are an idiot! Buford is the lowest of low school when it comes to recruiting! It’s a known fact they pay families to move into their city just to play football. And I’m not talking locally. It’s nationally they do this! One day they will get busted like Milton did in Basketball!
bubba bean
December 15th, 2012
11:13 am
Thomas J Mulllarkey….. Great point!
4A Power…..why would put that cheesy comment on this blog anyway??!!
Remember they are only high school kids wanting to compete on the grid iron!
Awesome game on both sides of the ball and very well coached teams
My hat is off to both schools, administration and all the countless hours the coaching staffs puts into these young fine men!
Truth Teller
December 15th, 2012
11:26 am
Congratulations to Buford. A public “city” school with students from all over the northern perimeter. For a couple of thousand $$, any one can “attend” Buford. And Gwinnett country subsidizes the rest of the cost. Nice setup.
Scam alert.
Truth Teller
December 15th, 2012
11:28 am
@Bwolves
Hairy, Apartment Homes? I don’t think Brian Jordon or Buddy Curry kids lived in apartments.
You are correct they don’t live there. They just rent the apartment so they established “residency”. Same with the Davis twins and Nelson girl.
Friday Football Fan
December 15th, 2012
11:29 am
Big Bad Bob,
Calling out SPX for that and not looking at Buford for the same thing is irresponsible.
Buford operates just like a private school for those outside the district
Truth Teller
December 15th, 2012
11:32 am
@Just a Fan
The thing I would have a big problem with is if any athlete is attending a private school on scholarship.
If private schools offered scholarships based on sports, why have about 10 kids, who live in North Fulton, left a private school in Norcross to attend Buford. Do you want names? Here are just a few that will receive major D1 scholarships: Davis, Davis, Nelson, Jordan….
AAA Watered Down
December 15th, 2012
11:38 am
Mr. Mullarkey — who cares about Marist, I am not from there. My point still stands — 3A was weak this year. I don’t think Buford would have made the final four in 4A,5A, or 6A, and Pius would not have made it in any class, other than 3A and 1A. Just my opinion. Sorry.
Thomas J. Mullarkey
December 15th, 2012
11:42 am
Get A Life
Ideal suggestion. Why don’t you?
Buford forfeited three games because the GHSA has spectroscope so far up EVERY winning schools [ Buford is just one on many] , …. that it isn’t funny.
Think about that before you say more pointlessly hurtful things… It is unattractive and cowardly?
Thomas J. Mullarkey
December 15th, 2012
12:14 pm
Mr. Watered Down. Nothing wrong with Bourbon and Branch.
and Of Course your opinion is yours…
But looking at the numbers….. State/National
AAAA 6/148, 12/327, & 56/1364
AAAAA 14/361, 19/430, 28/633, & 15/374
AAAAAA 2/68, 1/8, 7/151, & 8/180.
Looks like all of 5A is in the same territory as the two 3A schools?
6A you may have a point, but My Opinion is St Pius or Buford would not be blown out by any.
These kids are all about the same size, similar training, and good coaching. Depth does not replace talent and both Pius and Buford have that advantage.
Now the rest of 3A might be weak, but have you seen a Carver Columbus play?????
Bulldognation
December 15th, 2012
12:19 pm
The one thing i took a way from the game is that #42 dalton wilson is the real deal. He was in my opinion the best player on the field during his game and apart from #4 from Gainsville he was the best player in all 3 games AS A SOPHOMORE. No question in my mind he is the best sophomore in the state almost caught Bufords ga commit from behind. THAT BOY IS A MONSTER
GTVET
December 15th, 2012
12:22 pm
Enter your comments here
SPX33
December 15th, 2012
12:24 pm
Great game both teams. Either could have won Buford had one play that made the biggest difference in the game. So congrats to Buford. You are a deserving champion.It’s a shame that adult pettiness takes away from what these programs and these kids have accomplished.
The private school recruiting claim is old and tired. Rest assured if SPX recruited, allowed any kid in regardless of their ability to maintain the academic standard, and paid their tuition everyone else would be playing for second place. We have produced exactly 5 D1 players in the last 10 years and 2 of those were kickers.
Nonetheless we are well on the way to another Director’s Cup – the 4th in 5 years.
GTVET
December 15th, 2012
12:31 pm
Please tell me these are not adults with these rants.These are GAMES played by KIDS…….Good Lord…..Congrats to Buford in a good defensive game and to Gainsville on your first Championship.Gainsville looked very impressive in their game…..GO JACKETS!!!!……Thoughts and prayers to the friends and families of those innocent children in Ct.
GT1985
December 15th, 2012
12:36 pm
Congratulations to Buford on its victory and congrats to St. Pius too. It was a great game to watch. Both teams are obviously well coached and the speed on the field was impressive. I’ve seen several AAAAA games this year and both of these teams could compete with many of the AAAAA teams. Marist fans – if you are convinced you can beat St. Pius, then play St. Pius.
Golden Lion
December 15th, 2012
1:02 pm
@BOB …… As 8th graders, this senior class may have won one game. The QB, OL, DL, and WRs are all the same kids that played last night. Recruiting? Tell me again Buford how that freshman lineman moved from Central DeKalb to Buford for a job? Please if we were recruiting we would get bigger DLmen and OLmen and just more depth. On second thought, I would rather lose the final game with OUR KIDS any day because you can’t recruit HEART. These kids have it.
Go look at the Pius program and you will see that most players have played in the program since 7th grade; some even come out as 5th graders.
If you are an outsider looking in I cannot simply explain St. Pius to you. It is truly a place you have to experience for yourself to fully understand it. Parents send their children to St. Pius for reasons other than sports. Academics, Religion, and simple peace of mind to name a couple. We should never have to defend or explain ourselves to outsiders. So continue the attacks if you must, but they don’t affect us. Go to the spx.org and look at our mission and vision statements and our values section to learn what our school is about and the morals we try to bestow upon our students.
Last night was a very good game. I was on the losing side of the scoreboard. Let us enjoy the game, celebrate our players, and go on from here. You better believe that we will be back and we are prepared to fight! Go Lions!
AAA Watered Down
December 15th, 2012
1:20 pm
Mr. Mullarkey — those rankings don’t take into account the stronger comp. in the other classes. Look at Maxwell Ratings.
Buford Dad
December 15th, 2012
1:25 pm
The best Defensive fought game I have seen in years! Congrats to St Pius to be your size and play D like that, impressive. I knew who ever made a big play down towards the end would win and we did. But hats off to those Players at St Pius. I enjoyed That game from start to finish! Go Wolves!
NurseBecky
December 15th, 2012
1:48 pm
GnG–so sorry to hear of your illness. My husband of 27 years passed away in August–it sure made me realize that life is short and the things you think are important are really not–what’s important is our faith in God, family, and helping those who are less fortunate than you are. God bless you and your family.
misstoodie46
December 15th, 2012
2:09 pm
@goldenlion that “freshmen lineman’s” parent can be reached for comment at 678-879-7459 anytime!!!
MPark#9Buford
December 15th, 2012
2:15 pm
also these next few years will be interesting for Buford because we have a lot of young players
MPark#9Buford
December 15th, 2012
2:19 pm
Also what about the other years that we beat Calhoun were those not you best teams with the super star wide receiver and quarter back two-three years ago???!!!!!
wolfbait67
December 15th, 2012
2:38 pm
Camden74: thanks for the kudos……hear you guys R trying to get to the top of the Wrestling charts…..sounds like y’all have some solid fellows down there….anyway,until next year, enjoyed the camaraderie talking our favorite subject (the Wolves and the Wildcats) and have a safe and health holiday season…Merry Christmas …wolfie
BullDawg Rick
December 15th, 2012
2:49 pm
Well Well Well….
Buford played a good game… Pius played their best game of the season…
Buford’s experience in big games the past dozen years helped them win this game.. Really was their easiest of the past 3 games. No need to come from behind..
5 State Championships in 6 seasons…
Pretty good.. & their only loss was to the AAAAA State Champs, 19-15… Congratulations to our neighbors to the north, the Red Elephants of Gainesville.. DeShaun Watson, the best QB in the state, was able to beat the Wolves because they run & throw very well & are not a one dimensional offense..
Now for Norcross to keep up the tradition of the best sports playing county in the USA!!!
ILOVESPX
December 15th, 2012
3:20 pm
Great game last night-a classic defensive battle.
Congrats to Buford on the win. I’m very proud of SPX. Go Lions!
Too bad there are so many %@#-holes on the blog today.
Just enjoy your win.
ILOVESPX
December 15th, 2012
3:27 pm
bigbadbob-you are a total idiot. Have you heard of the term “feeder team?”
Take a look at the fields at BHS, with multiple teams, practicing every night.
Are they being prepped to play fball at Buford? I think so.
Every school has a feeder.
To suggest SPX recruits – wow – coming from Buford? Pretty funny.
It’s unbelievable that you have to insult others-why not enjoy you win?
littlecat
December 15th, 2012
3:32 pm
i never caught the marist score last night?what was it?.. and mr. aaa watered down.. gainesville is a great 4a team… won the state championship… beat buford in the second game of the season with 2 returning starters from buford…. ok to have opinions… but facts are a s.o.b.aren’t they?
3AFan
December 15th, 2012
3:48 pm
Wow, the St. Pius bloggers have had a chip on their shoulder all season — most aggressive bloggers I have read all year each week. Get a life. Congrats to Buford.
Golden Lion
December 15th, 2012
4:25 pm
Didn’t say anything was wrong with that any kid going to Buford. Football programs are a magnets to some parents. Just saying to @BOB that some kids can go to one school or school system with more ease than other schools. If you live in Buford can they turn you away? I dont think so but at St. Pius you could live across the street and still not get in. That was my point.
Little different in Dekalb no matter where you live you can go to any high school you want. Talk about transfers.
Nick Glass supporter
December 15th, 2012
4:38 pm
Karma. Don’t tell me Pius doesn’t recruit. And don’t tell me Pius is good to the people it does recruit. Ditched my boy Nick for some bs reason, and then Pius people get on this blog and call Nick and his friends trash. Glad to see them lose.
mom3
December 15th, 2012
4:48 pm
I’m gonna go out on a limb here. Based upon his post-game interview, I’d say that the kid that scored the touchdown for Buford would never pass the entrance exam to St. Pius.
wolfbait67
December 15th, 2012
5:13 pm
St Pius sounds like those sweat bees from Calhoun who are doing some sweating and crying now….AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..
Joe
December 15th, 2012
6:16 pm
So some think AAA is weak, and Buford couldn’t compete at a higher level, but the AAAAA champs only beat Buford by 4 points, with Buford winning last year–and we saw yesterday that they’ll beat you as badly as they can. Now someone is going to ask-again-why thet don’t play up–it’s because you can’t play up only in football. Anyway, they tried to move up a few years ago, to avoid Atlanta traffic problems, but the northern regions pitched crybaby fits to keep them out. Ironic that it’s where they landed now !!!
Not A Buford fan
December 15th, 2012
6:20 pm
Just like to say appears Calhoun folks a little distracted by the Buford game yesterday and didnt realize they had to play today. Like a lamb to the slaughter…lol…
@wolfbait where is the guy now who wanted to flip for home field then have Calhoun to play Buford on Sunday?
Mike
December 15th, 2012
6:23 pm
NG supporter, there was no BS reason and you know it. We call it an honor violation which tells me all I want to know about yours.
Thomas J. Mullarkey
December 15th, 2012
6:32 pm
AAA Watered Down
We must agree to disagree. The numbers are National Rankings, and reflect exactly the level of competition those teams meet. That is why hey are so highly ranked.
But isn’t it great that teams ranked 1354 can still have their day in the sun!
But I will admit that Buford and St Pius, and rightly Woodward and Blessed Trinity have the advantage in being able to pull from a large demographic area than say… Carver of Columbus or North Hall
Snoopy
December 15th, 2012
6:32 pm
Buford produces CHAMPIONS!!
St Pius – Go ahead & pat yourselves on the rear & be thankful for runner up status & beat up on the kid that scored the WINNING TD!! You holier than thou runner-ups sound like Tech fans trying to lessen your loser status because of academics.. LOL
Buford has MANY players that have gone into the service academies & Ivy league schools…