Buford wins bragging rights over Lanier after the Wolves ran away with the game in the first half with 42 points. The Longhorns never could gain any traction and Buford would ultimately defeat Lanier 56-0 at Tom Riden Stadium.
Buford’s defense put pressure on Lanier quarterback Carson Thomas all night. Photo by Alicia Couch PayneBuford’s defense has been notoriously stingy ever since their 7-0 loss to Chaminade-Madonna, Fla., they have not given up a single point to their last four opponents. Buford held Lanier to just 27 yards of total offense while the Wolves had 409 offensive yards.
The Wolves would get their first touchdown of the night just over two minutes and a half minutes into the first quarter when senior Tobi Olawole ran the ball 24 yards for the score.
Buford (7-1, 4-0) scored two more touchdowns in the first quarter both of which were one-yard dashes into the end zone. Those touchdowns are credited to Victor Venn and Eli Parks. Venn would be Buford’s top rusher of the night with 64 yards on eight carries.
Lanier (3-4, 2-2) could not catch a break as less than a minute into the second quarter, Buford’s Malik Williams would block a punt by Cesar Campos and return it for a score.
Isaiah Bond running into the end zone after a 69-yard pass from Dylan Wittke in the second quarter. Photo by Alicia Couch PayneIsaiah Bond would show why he is considered the No. 1 ATH in the nation when he broke out for a 69-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Dylan Wittke. Bond caught two passes for a total of 91 yards to lead Buford in the most receiving yards against Lanier.
Wittke would throw another touchdown pass in the second quarter when he connected with Jordan Allen for a five-yard pass. Wittke would complete six out of nine passing attempts for 124 yards and two touchdowns on the night.
With senior kicker Alejandro Mata making all of the extra points, Buford would lead 42-0 at halftime over Lanier.
Buford’s student section dubbed “The Real Wolfgang” showed their support of the football team during the game with Lanier. Photo by Alicia Couch PayneIn the second half, while Buford kept Lanier scoreless, Lanier’s defense seemed to wake up a bit and keep the Wolves from running all over the Longhorns.
Stanford commit Ashton Daniels found Zack Salo for a 26-yard touchdown pass with 4:23 on the clock in the third quarter. Mario Ventura made the extra point. Daniels ended the night completing five out of five passes for 79 yards and a touchdown.
In the fourth quarter, Buford would add their last touchdown of the night off of a three-yard dash into the end zone by Christian Butler. With Ventura’s kick good, the Wolves ended their night with a 56-0 win over the Longhorns.
Lanier’s quarterback Carson Thomas completed just two out of 10 pass attempts for a total of 12 yards. Thomas constantly had to be on the move as Buford’s defense continuously broke through the Longhorns’ offensive line.
#71 Jackson Favors and #55 Pierce Demarco protect Dylan Wittke during Buford’s game against Lanier. Photo by Alicia Couch PayneBuford has just two regular-season games left, both away games. Next Friday night, they travel to play Winder-Barrow and then on Nov. 5, Buford will play Dacula at Dacula. Both of these games are Region 8-AAAAAA games. Dacula is currently second in the region behind Buford.
Buford head coach Bryant Appling feels his team is peaking at the right time as the playoffs are just around the corner.
“I feel good right now. I feel like we are climbing and growing at the right pace at the right time,” Appling said. “Got a long way to go but you know the young guys are coming up on the O-line and the older guys who haven’t had a whole lot of experience but have been around for a while are playing some really good football. We are just trying to keep them healthy and keep us growing.”
BUFORD 56, LANIER 0
Buford 21 21 7 7 — 56
Lanier 0 0 0 0 — 0
FIRST QUARTER
BUFORD: #4 Tobi Olawole run 24 (#99 Alejandro Mata kick) 9:23
BUFORD: #6 Victor Venn run 1 (Mata kick) 4:50
BUFORD: #3 Eli Parks run 1 (Mata kick) 1:06
SECOND QUARTER
BUFORD: #43 Malik Spencer returned blocked punt 26 (Mata kick) 11:14
BUFORD: #1 Isaiah Bond 69 pass from #17 Dylan Wittke (Mata kick) 6:55
BUFORD: #48 Jordan Allen 5 pass from Wittke (Mata kick) 0:22
THIRD QUARTER
BUFORD: #26 Zack Salo 12 pass from #12 Ashton Daniels (#95 Mario Ventura kick) 4:23
FOURTH QUARTER
BUFORD: #32 Christian Butler run 3 (Ventura kick) 7:38
BUFORD LANIER
First Downs 22 3
Rushes-yards 29-206 20-15
Passing yards 203 12
Comp-ATT-Int 11-14-0 2-10-0
Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1
Penalties-yards 4-40 1-5
Featured photo above: Buford’s CJ Clinkscales goes airborne during a play in Friday night’s game against Lanier. Photo by Alicia Couch Payne
