BUFORD, Ga. — Backed up near its own goal line with the game tied to open the second half, Buford put together the drive it needed. Then its defense made sure Miami Central never answered.
The Wolves marched 92 yards for a go-ahead touchdown and held the Rockets scoreless after halftime to earn an 18–7 victory Thursday night at Phillip Beard Stadium. Buford improved to 3–0 and extended its winning streak to 18 games.
Facing a Miami Central team ranked No. 21 nationally by MaxPreps, the fifth-ranked Wolves had to work through an uneven first half before finding their footing. A productive third quarter and a pair of fourth-down stops ultimately gave Buford the edge, handing the Rockets their first loss of the season.
Silas Nuckles gave the Wolves an early lift, finishing their opening possession with a 29-yard touchdown run off left tackle. But the offense struggled to build on that start as Miami Central crowded the line of scrimmage and limited room in the running game.
The Rockets pulled even on a four-yard touchdown run by quarterback James Perrone in the second quarter. At halftime, the score remained 7–7.
Buford's first possession after the break changed the game.
Starting at their own 8-yard line following a penalty, the Wolves moved the ball the length of the field on a drive that took nearly half the third quarter. D.J. Hunter kept the possession alive with a third-and-9 completion to Ashton Thomas, who became a frequent target as Buford worked the ball toward the perimeter.
Thomas added two bubble-screen catches during the drive, helping create room for the ground game. Jameer Cantrell contributed a big run as the Wolves steadily moved out of their own territory and into scoring position.
Hunter finished the possession with a touchdown pass to tight end Owen Muraski, who caught the ball in the flat and broke a tackle on his way to the end zone. A successful two-point conversion put Buford ahead 15–7.
Miami Central threatened to respond, but Beck Brosius stopped a fourth-and-2 play in the backfield to give possession back to the Wolves. Six plays later, Evan Griffeth connected on a 35-yard field goal, extending the lead to 18–7 late in the third quarter.
The Rockets again moved into Buford territory on their next possession. This time, Ethan Hauser and Brendon Davis combined for a fourth-down sack to end the threat. Miami Central went without a point over the final two quarters, marking the second consecutive game in which Buford's defense delivered a second-half shutout.
Thomas finished with four receptions for 45 yards, while Cantrell rushed for 55 yards on seven carries. Their contributions helped the Wolves sustain the decisive touchdown drive and turn a tied game into a lead they would protect the rest of the night.
Through three games, Buford has found different ways to keep winning. A week after defensive touchdowns fueled a victory at Mallard Creek, the Wolves leaned on a long offensive possession and timely stops to beat another nationally recognized opponent.
Buford returns to the road Sept. 18 to face Grayson.
