BUFORD, Ga. — In front of more than 12,000 fans enduring the August heat—and a national television audience watching on ESPN2—Buford broke open a close season opener with 29 consecutive second-half points to defeat Gainesville 39-19 at Phillip Beard Stadium.
Senior quarterback D.J. Hunter accounted for two rushing touchdowns in his first career start, while the Wolves turned a pair of Gainesville punting mistakes into special-teams scores. The victory extended Buford's winning streak to 16 games.
The Wolves carried a 10-6 advantage into halftime, but Gainesville claimed its first lead on the opening possession of the third quarter. Clemson quarterback commit Kharim Hughley kept the drive alive with a 23-yard run before connecting with Collin Porterfield for a 4-yard touchdown, putting the Red Elephants ahead 13-10.
Buford's response changed the direction of the game.
A.J. Granville opened the ensuing possession with a 25-yard run, and Hunter followed with a 31-yard completion to Ashton Thomas. Hunter finished the drive with a touchdown run, restoring the Wolves' lead at 17-13.
Following a short Gainesville punt, Tripp Chatmon raced 40 yards for another Buford touchdown. The Wolves added a two-point conversion to stretch the margin to 25-13 late in the third quarter.
Special teams provided the next decisive play. A snap sailed over Gainesville punter Logan Gailey and into the end zone, where sophomore defensive lineman Carson Whyte recovered it for a touchdown. The Red Elephants then lost a fumble on their next possession, and Hunter capitalized with an untouched 28-yard scoring run that gave Buford a commanding 39-13 lead with 8:15 remaining.
Gainesville's Jordan Brown added a 1-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.
Defense and special teams helped Buford navigate a tightly contested first half. Gainesville advanced into Wolves territory on its opening series, but Justin Thomas recovered a Brown fumble to end the threat.
The Red Elephants later reached the Buford 9-yard line before consecutive mishandled snaps forced them to settle for Dwayne Carter's 35-yard field goal.
Buford recorded its first touchdown of the season when another low snap disrupted a Gainesville punt attempt. Brady Wagner recovered the ball in the end zone, giving the Wolves a 7-3 advantage.
Gainesville pulled within one point during the second quarter after taking over at the Buford 20. An illegal-formation penalty erased a potential touchdown, and Carter converted a 25-yard field goal to make it 7-6.
A muffed punt by Gainesville created one final opportunity for Buford before halftime. Tank Watson secured the loose ball, and Evan Griffeth later made a 38-yard field goal as time expired to send the Wolves into the locker room with a four-point lead.
Buford overcame an uneven start by controlling the line of scrimmage, forcing turnovers and taking advantage of favorable field position. Hunter settled into the offense as the game progressed, helping the Wolves score on four consecutive possessions during their second-half run.
The defending Class AAAAAA state champions will have an open week before traveling to Charlotte, North Carolina, to face Mallard Creek on Sept. 4.
