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
Region 7-AAA
December 14th, 2012
9:18 pm
Good job Wolves! Bout time I don’t have to listen to those SPX trolls anymore.
Beekner
December 14th, 2012
9:25 pm
Proud to be a Golden Lion!
Rizzo
December 14th, 2012
9:31 pm
It was a great game, both teams played well.
Region 7-AAA
December 14th, 2012
9:59 pm
Agreed, it was an awesome game! Probably going to be the best one of the weekend next to the Lovejoy/Norcross game tomorrow night.
Clive
December 14th, 2012
10:02 pm
Region,
Get a life, man!
BufoRD '78
December 14th, 2012
10:06 pm
Was at the game and St Pius was tough. A shame one team had to lose. With the deaths of 2 young athletes in our community this year, this one was special. Go Wolves!!!!
Defense wins Titles
December 14th, 2012
10:20 pm
Josh Cardiello bringing championship mentality to The “G”. Josh will be a Darn Great Dawg.
Defense wins Titles
December 14th, 2012
10:22 pm
LB Korie Rogers will be next Buford player to join The “G”. GATA Korie. Join our 2014 Dawg Recruiting Class, My Man.
Seen a Few
December 14th, 2012
10:47 pm
Congratulations Buford on a great win for you. Region 7 AAA. Your comments are classless and I’m sure most good Buford fans don’t want you to represent them. These much smaller group of ball players from SPX played these incredible Buford Athletes pretty dad gum hard and close. “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.” otherwise there was no redzone activity for Buford. Name another team other than the Red Elephants who are winning big in the final 5A game right now that played Buford so close. Again congratulations to Buford but “The St. Pius defense was equally rugged and allowed Buford only 178 total yards, 189 below its average.” Just a proud dad of a Pius player who wants them to get their credit. I would think that most reasonable fans of both teams would acknowledge that this was a slobber knocker classic. Congrats to both teams and coaches.
bigbadbob
December 14th, 2012
10:57 pm
Seen A few,
What a joke! “Poor little ole Pius…woe is us, we are so small”, yet you recruit kids from all over the metro area with your sham of a 7th/8th grade program when you don’t even have 7th and 8th grade classes. And you don’t mind bringing in a few ringers here and there from the public schools al la GAC whose parents can suddenly afford private school tuition. The Buford kids parents probably didn’t take them for private athletic lessons and hire trainers for them when they were in middle school. If you are so proud of your kid and can afford private school, why didn’t you at least send him to one with good academics?
Football Mom
December 14th, 2012
10:58 pm
Well said ‘Seen a Few’. Both teams played a good game. Advice for Buford -Show some class – as they say, ” Act like you have been there before.”
Son of Waco
December 14th, 2012
10:58 pm
If you can lose 22 starters and then win the state championship the next season the pool of talent must be college like….
Football Mom
December 14th, 2012
11:00 pm
to bigbadbob — One question – Have you ever heard of the GFL?
larrydrew
December 14th, 2012
11:08 pm
Football Mom: WTF? Buford has been to the finals (and won) MANY times. When was the last time whiny Pius has been there? (even after spending the past few years trying to beat up on the tiny little public schools before they were forced to move back up in classification). Did somebody steal your precious spoiled little rich kid’s lunch money at the scary Dome?
Camden74
December 14th, 2012
11:13 pm
Congratulations wolfie!
YELLERJACKETZ1
December 14th, 2012
11:15 pm
LARRY BE NICE !!! GREAT GAME BOTH TEAMS ! BUFORD CALHOUN SURE MISSES YALL WHY DID YOU GO ? OH WELL LETS FLIP A COIN TOMORROW EVE AND TEE IT UP SUNDAY !!!
Rizzo
December 14th, 2012
11:21 pm
Seen a few, good post. I agree that this was one of Buford’s most formidable foes, and I was never sure until the last 10 seconds that Buford.
Bigbadbob, I hope you’re not from Buford. You’re embarrassing.
Rizzo
December 14th, 2012
11:23 pm
Sorry, I meant I was never sure until the last 10 minutes that Buford would win.
Big Fan
December 14th, 2012
11:28 pm
Bigbadbob…tell me what was said above that you complained about above your post that wasn’t factual. You don’t think your players are bigger and better athletes. Is that not a compliment? Then you get off on the SPX program. There was nothing in that post that referenced Buford’s program. Why so defensive? Looks like someone stating facts and congratulating both teams to me. What’s up with the attack on academics? Again, did anyone say anything negative about Buford?
ST PIUS fan
December 14th, 2012
11:43 pm
bigbadbobby- You my friend may have won the game but you are a true LOSER in life Larrydrew. Go get some help you need it. I AM PROUD TO BE A GOLDEN LION..
ST PIUS fan
December 14th, 2012
11:48 pm
I am just happy to see Son of WACO back on here … Welcome my friend who I feel can win it all next year. That game two weeks ago was the best high school game I have been to in a long time. You were always classy in victory and defeat unlike the University of BUFORD DOGS.
ST PIUS fan
December 14th, 2012
11:52 pm
larry larry larry does your mommy know you still wet the bed?????? You are SUCH a loser… We are so PROUD of our GOLDEN LIONS . WHAT A GREAT SEASON…….
Cay
December 15th, 2012
12:15 am
Wow, Larry and Bigbadbob are embarrassing to Buford. I hope Buford doesn’t claim you guys, actually. It was a heck of a game, though. Buford was big and physical — overall, it was just an incredibly physical game. Pius made one more mistake than Buford and it cost us. So congrats to Buford. So proud of Pius, though. We exceeded expectations in our “down” year… So we got a lot to be proud of.
It’s great to be a Golden Lion!
Fred
December 15th, 2012
12:16 am
@bigbadbob – I don’t have a dog in this fight but I do find it exceedingly humorous and ironic that a Buford fan complains about recruiting. I fully understand that Buford has open enrollment and anyone can pay the tuition and go to the schools. I am a little curious just how many of the football players don’t live in the city limits. I guess most do but I bet there are more than one or two that live outside the city and pay tuition to attend.
Fred
December 15th, 2012
12:20 am
@larrydrew – You make FootbalMom’s point for her perfectly! Speaking of moving up/playing up, I believe there are other schools such as Marist and Lovett that have similar numbers as Buford but play up 2 classifications to play against similar competition. If Buford is so good, why don’t they move up? Just asking.
Joe
December 15th, 2012
12:24 am
As opposed to SPX, which has no city limits!?!
ST PIUS fan
December 15th, 2012
12:26 am
Cay Fred : Can this GLODEN LION get an AMEN… Very well said. It is GREAT TO BE A GOLDEN LION
Joe
December 15th, 2012
12:30 am
You can’t play up in one sport only, and it includes the other A, also. You’re asking Buford to jump off a cliff with everything, or push the other schools off a cliff in football. Seems like the right choice for Buford–their job isn’t to bring their program down to your level–it’s your job to rise to theirs!
Winks
December 15th, 2012
12:35 am
The recruiting topic is a waste of time. St. Pius is open to anybody who applies and gets accepted. Buford’s not private, but the same applies except there is no “acceptance” standard. You apply, you have a little sense, you’re in. For what it’s worth, Buford is in Gwinnett County yet many of the best players from that program in recent years have come from Hall County.
So the recruiting stuff is like peeing in the wind.
And it was clearly that Buford was bigger. Much bigger. Talented group of big boys.
Buford was probably the fourth best offense SPX played against this year. By far the best defense, however, and the best overall coached team St. Pius faced.
Obvious
December 15th, 2012
12:38 am
For the Golden Lions – 45 must be the charm…
Hamilton
December 15th, 2012
12:44 am
A good, clean, hard fought game! Congrats to Buford on the win. You want to win em all, but if you gotta go down, that is the way to do it. No fumbles, no critical penalties, just a tough ass good game. Congrats Golden Lions – you made the whole SPX community proud. Again, well done , Buford – we hope to do it again next year.
Not an ST PIUS fan
December 15th, 2012
1:01 am
ST PIUS fan – you are an embarrassment to the kids who gave it all at the dome this evening. Go back to your bottle and remote. Please use a moniker which better describes your real life – like fat, used car dealer. Yea you – ST PIUS fan. What an idiot. YES – YOU. C-R_Y-B=A”B’Y
Not an ST PIUS fan
December 15th, 2012
1:08 am
@seen a few — you are a class act. It is too bad this bozo ST PIUS fan continues to get on these ajc blogs and embarrass your entire community. Of course, he’s a coward who remains a tiger behind that keyboard of his. GREAT GAME and a better season. Y’all have a lot to be proud of!!!
Dang
December 15th, 2012
3:58 am
It’s 3A people, calm down. Not like it means anything. Not even real football at this level
CMT3204
December 15th, 2012
6:16 am
Congrats to the Wolves! It was a very good game played by two very well coached teams. I fully expect to see Pius in the mix again next year. Proud to be a Buford grad! Coach Simpson and his crew never cease to amaze me with what they get out of those kids! Its awesome, totally awesome!
Chris
December 15th, 2012
7:00 am
Congrats to Ralph and the GHSA!. Another state title for you. As long as Buford is allowed to control their enrollment numbers and be very selective in the process, they will remain a forcein the lower classifications. It is not recruiting, it is referred to as cherry picking.
Spx dad
December 15th, 2012
7:41 am
Very hard fought game! Buford’s def line and lb’s would give any school regardless of class a run for their money as best in state. As for Buford moving up, as someone already mentioned, all sports would need to move as well which would not make sense. The director cup going to the best school in all sports will be a running between Woodward, BT, and Spx in aaa. Spx is on their way to another one with state titles in girls and boys cross county and runner ups in football and volleyball.
Football Friend
December 15th, 2012
7:45 am
It was a really great game to watch. Sorry to see the comments so negative. Both teams played a great game and (from what I understand) both are very good schools. Both schools should be proud.
Mike
December 15th, 2012
7:51 am
Bigbadbob,
100% of St. Pius grads go to four year colleges but you can take solace in the fact that the Techinical College was a sponsor of the GHSA games so maybe there is a place for you yet. I say maybe as I doubt you would be accepted.
Great game Buford ans SPX!
SPX Class of 75
December 15th, 2012
7:56 am
A large percentage of this thread is simply shameful. Can’t we all just congratulate both teams on a fine season, a hard-fought title game, and accept the fact that, in the end, one team wins and one does not. In this case, it’s Buford but that, in no way, taints the effort of St. Pius. These are young kids on both teams who sacrifice and toil and invest their hearts and souls, win or lose. Hats off to both. As for those who would take cheap shots in either direction, well, they taught us at Pius to pray for people like you.
clem
December 15th, 2012
7:58 am
spx recruits and buford doesn’t….that’s funny.
WA Parent
December 15th, 2012
8:05 am
Congrats to Buford on a well-fought game. They made the plays when they needed to make them. Yes, Spx dad, let’s get back to the race for the Director’s Cup!
Incorrect Wink
December 15th, 2012
8:13 am
Incorrect Wink…there is an acceptance standard at Buford at it doesn’t include sports ability.
out of towner
December 15th, 2012
8:25 am
This entire thread is an embarrassment to humanity. It’s a high school football game.
NurseBecky
December 15th, 2012
8:25 am
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—these are kids you’re talking about. Those of you who say all these hateful things on this blog should be ashamed of yourselves. The most important thing is that everyone got to the Dome safely, no kid was injured, it was a hard fought game and Buford won fair and square. So pack up your stupid ugly words and get over it. You’re supposed to be adults, so act like it.
stspxgrad
December 15th, 2012
8:28 am
I cannot believe how far SPX has come since my playing days. So proud of those guys. My little brother was the starting fullback for the SPX team that beat Marist to break the 21 year losing streak. You don’t have to ask if he was cheering on the Golden lions at the Dome last night.
Addressing recruiting: ANYONE who even suggests that we recruit has no idea what they are talking about. I can personally state that as a former player, SPX never recruited. Hell just look at our records before Standard arrived. We did and still do the best we have with what we have. Don’t even try to bring the 7th-8th grade program up, we had that when I played and nothing has changed.
What did happen was a change in culture. Standard gave us that foundation to start building a winning program, and it didn’t happen overnight! He changed everything, from how we conducted practice and utilizing players where they were better suited to how the school and supporters percieved our team. He made believers out of us and gave us confidence that we could WIN. THIS DIDN’T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. Again, look at the records before 2003. Now, that we have FINALLY established a winning culture at SPX, people start accusing us of recruiting just because we are a “private school”. Look into the facts before you make such a bold and uneducated statement. GO LIONS.
Stringer Bell
December 15th, 2012
8:37 am
Great game where both teams left it out on the field, which I truly expected. Congrats to both teams for making it an exciting, tough, physical game. Although Buford won the ship, there were no losers in this game IMO.
- Woodward Academy Dad
PiusDad
December 15th, 2012
8:56 am
Great job by the kids on both teams and both coaching staffs. Buford was bigger and deeper, but our Pius boys gave them a run for their money and the defenses on both sides played awesome. It came down to one play. Congrats to Buford and Pius nation needs to hold their heads high and be proud of these boys.
GnG
December 15th, 2012
8:59 am
The game was fun to watch and it appeared from the side line that both teams matched up in size and were both coached very well. All this is a small rock in life, as I have terminal cancer and will not see many more title games if any. Pleased with the outcome! Buford football is a scholaship program and kids in some programs don’t even get to play, so they come here (on their own) hoping to be part of the scholarship program. Each new student must pass a panel and be approved in scholastic efforts and community efforts first regardless of ability in football. We don’t want troubled students here to give you more reasons to complain. Contribute to the City of Buford or you will not be accepted!
WolvesArePeaking
December 15th, 2012
9:08 am
Well that’s the end of another great season at Buford…… Say what you wanna say were the state champs again!
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…
Thomas J. Mullarkey
December 15th, 2012
6:39 pm
mom3
You should be ashamed of yourself for that comment.
It is sad when you stoop to comments diet at the kids.
Confessionals are open… I hope you will find your way there?
Catholic Schools RULE All AROUND in AAA
December 15th, 2012
7:35 pm
To Snoopy, bigdadhillbillybob, and all the “delusional” Buford Fans on this blog –
Get a grip. This was a toss up game going in and that is how it ended up. Play the game again and SPX and Buford split 50/50. Fact – Buford as an overall athletic program is non-entity, a non-player, and in hillbilly language, a “loser.” Go check the finish of your Buford School the past 10 years in AA for the Directors Cup. Guess what you’ll see? Not even ONE Top 10 finish yet alone “nada a Director’s Championship.” Fact 2 – you have no Junior Program in any sport that is of any quality and hence that is why you have to recruit players in high school to compete in any sport. Fact 3 – Same story for you in AAA for the Director’s Cup. You are a NON PLAYER!!! Go check the current standings for AAA and look who is in first – Blessed Trinity !!! Guess who will be 1,2, 3 come May? BT, SPX, and then Woodward. Guess who will NOT even be in the Top 10 ? BUFORD !!! Fact 4 – Don’t even talk about academics. 10% of the Buford students couldn’t even be in the lowest track at BT, SPX, or Woodward. That is why when the Ivy Leagues, the Academies, and the real academic schools come around Atlanta to recruit, their first go to are the private schools – BUFORD still doesn’t get the respect because your athletes overall can’t hang academically – you’re nothing more than a public school trying to pose as a private because of your size. And now that you’re up in AAA it is just a matter of time til you become like Marietta – outmatched and outrecruited.
Go Catholic Boys!!!
THEX
December 15th, 2012
8:23 pm
Snoopy-you are a real ass. I assume you don’t represent the Buford contingent. Anyone with a bit of intelligence knows yesterday’s game was very well played by both teams, very exciting-just a great defensive battle. Buford has won all these championships-why don’t you act like you’ve been there before.
Catholic Schools RULE All AROUND in AAA - BT is #1
December 15th, 2012
8:40 pm
SPX33 – great comment, hit the nail right on the head – however, you need to make a correction on the Director’s Cup Comment. Go check the standings. Blessed Trinity has a nice lead on you and everyone else for that matter and will be strong in Winter and unstoppable in the Spring Sports Seasons. Your dominance in AAA in the Director’s Cup is over, now that the best Catholic School in the State of GA has arrived in AAA. For the Catholic record, The Holy Trinity trumps a Saint
. But it is nice having you guys as Catholic Brothers now in AAA. It will make us both better and guarantee that a Catholic School will own the Director’s Cup forever. Also, with McFarlin at BT now, we can start tag teaming Football State Championships starting next year and shut down the Buford gig. It is about time it come to an end, it is only a matter of a season or two and they’ll go the way of Marietta 
.
littlecat
December 15th, 2012
10:03 pm
@catholic schools…. last night we were playing football…. when you want to talk about girls volleyball i am sure there is an active forum…. peace…to all religions… hopefully that catholic team will win in 6a tonight… oh , sorry… cool out … lc
littlecat
December 15th, 2012
10:32 pm
@catholicschoolsruleallaroundbtis#1…. i propose a bet on any bt or spx combo winning the 3a championship other than buford in 2 years from now (when we go the way of marietta)….. $10,000. (or more) . my email is liitlecat_littlecat1962@yahoo.com… we can put in escrow anywhere you like ;an atlanta bank , or my trailer up in buford or my place in nyc… let me know… peace… lc.
Observer
December 16th, 2012
12:28 am
I would hazard to guess the blogger using “Catholic Schools Rule” in their name has no affiliation with any Catholic school whatsoever. Just a loser trying to stir up some trash between two good teams. Would be surprised if they knew the first thing about Catholicism.
wolfbait67
December 16th, 2012
8:14 am
Not a Buford Fan: reckon he did not know that LOSERS do not play on Sunday, they get to go back to Calhoun and talk about last year….maybe for the next fifty years since they win one every fifty years….one in six isn’t bad if you are a Calhoun fan. they say Jefferson just gave them fellowers up I-75 a lesson in how football is played up I-85 way…ie: Buford, Norcross, Gainesville, and Jefferson….congrats to all the schools
Rizzo
December 16th, 2012
8:24 am
Catholic Schools Rule:
You have a tremendous amount of hate, especially coming from someone who is affiliated with a religious school.
If you’re going to have a long tirade that’s off the top of your head, dont insert the word FACT, because you’ve lost all credibility that way.
I disagree with you on almost everything. Directors Cup standings, I don’t know, but I’ll give you that. We’re working on improving the smaller sports, but it takes time.
Please understand Buford is a public school. With that comes a large contingent of lower income students, kids who don’t speak English fluently, etc. In comparing public to private schools, you’re comparing apples to oranges. Don’t you see that?
You’re way off on academics. We’re pretty much at the top for public schools. We can’t turn someone away because of grades if they live in the district like private schools can. That’s why you can’t compare the two.
The only comparison we should be making in this forum is the Championship game. I think both the teams were incredibly talented and equal in almost all aspects. We had one key play that went our way, which made the difference. We’re looking forward to seeing SPX in the playoffs next year.
Congratulations to both teams!
Don't be biased
December 16th, 2012
8:52 am
@mom3 — exactly the kind of biased statement I’d expect from a Pius fan.
Cherries on top
December 16th, 2012
8:59 am
Buford continues its dominant streak, while St. Pius continues to seek a modern football championship. St. Pius fans come on to this public blog and question the integrity of their opposition and the intelligence of the opposing players. Thanks for showing your class yet again, like you have all season in attacking everyone you play. 24-10.
Buford Fan
December 16th, 2012
9:20 am
I don’t have a dog in the fight. I have no relationship with any St. Pius player or Buford playerfor that matter. I don’t know where all the hating is coming from? I was there Friday night. That was the best ball game I’ve seen in years. The guys on the field didn’t seem to show near the hostility towards each other many of you are expressing on this thread.
Nothing would please me more than to play St. Pius again in a playoff game again. They pushed Buford to their limits, limits a team like Buford needed to be realized to challenge their character to see if they had what it took to win a State Championship. I was as much in awe of their team as I am of Buford’s team. Stand up bunch of guys on both sides of the ball. I wish I could say the same for all the spectators typing nonsense on this thread.
Too bad someone had to lose. Hope to play Pius again and congratulations to our Wolves!
Golden Tiger
December 16th, 2012
10:02 am
It’s true, D1 scouts inundated the SPX sidelines to watch all those “recruited” 185 pounders play against Buford. They crowded the bench area to the extent that Coach Paul Standard had to burn a valuable timeout and request that they all move over to the water coolers for Powerade and canapés so he had enough room to work the sideline. After the game the D1 folks moved up to the Stadium Club for martinis and to draw straws for the first shot to offer that 165-pound SPX kid who hits like an Irish jackhammer.
Please. Get a life people.
Great, hard-nosed defensive game. Congrats to SPX on a great season. Congrats to Buford on another Championship.
atl
December 16th, 2012
12:07 pm
Now we all know that Buford recruit, because the head coach told us during halftime of the Championship game Friday.He(Buford Head Coach) said it was the first time for alot of his kids being in GA Dome. Buford have played in the GA Dome six years in a row four semi- and two state championship games. So i guess this team were all FRESHMAN……….HA HA
Roger
December 16th, 2012
12:51 pm
Simpson said it was a first time for a lot of the kids playing in the dome, not being in the dome. There is a big difference from being in the dome, than playing. Got it? Good. You are dismissed.
atl
December 16th, 2012
2:28 pm
Buford beat Lovett 53-13 in semi in 2010 when these senior were in the 10th grade and they didnt play at all. WOW
littlecat
December 16th, 2012
9:40 pm
@goldentiger…what a great football game… the defense was great on both sides… i think you could count the missed tackles on one hand..2 great teams….probably will meet again next year…. if you need a martini at half time i will pour one up for you in the wolf lounge where we entertain all of the parents who’s kids we recruit
i know boys on both teams.. great to see all of them work so hard and do so well… peace.. lc.
Golden Tiger
December 17th, 2012
3:13 pm
If someone else is behind the bar – I will take it shaken, stirred, or simply poured. Hopefully we will see you in the wolf lounge next season. Best of luck.