Buford head football coach Jess Simpson describes his program as a “blue-collar community that loves to play the game, play it fast, and loves to run and hit.” Forty-five student-athletes from this “blue-collar community” have been offered football scholarships since 2000. During that time, the Wolves have won four state championships and 80 of 82 regular-season games.
Last season, the Wolves’ fourth state-title run in a decade looked easy as the Wolves defeated Dublin 48-0 in the semifinals and Lovett 50-0 in the championship game.
Thirteen players from last season’s team signed college-football scholarships in 2008, including defensive tackle Omar Hunter and linebacker T.J. Pridemore, who both signed with the University of Florida.
This season, defensive lineman Dallas Lee has already committed to play for Mark Richt and the University of Georgia in 2009. And despite returning only five starters, the Wolves showed the power of their program with a 42-21 win over Mansfield Timberview, Texas in week 1.
The Wolves have a huge senior class of 26 this season and two of those seniors, running back Cody Getz and quarterback Michael May, stepped up big in the win over Timberview. Getz gained 139 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns while May controlled the offense, completing six of seven passes for 54 yards.
As for the team’s talented class of juniors, running back Storm Johnson leads the way. Johnson rushed for 147 yards and three touchdowns against Timberview.
Simpson describes his 2008 team as “developing young talent who waited their turn to play.”
“We’re not young, just inexperienced,” Simpson explained.
MORE THAN W’S
Buford’s main focus is not results, which is ironic for a team with the Wolves’ noted past success, especially one riding a 17-game winning streak.
“We’re process oriented, not results oriented,” Simpson said.
In week 1, Simpson learned a lot about his inexperienced team playing in 113-degree Texas heat.
“We put our stake in the ground. We showed great intangibles.”
Last Friday night, the Wolves faced another tough test for their inexperienced team when they hosted North Hall, who was ranked No. 7 in Class 3A according to the GPB/Score Atlanta rankings. Buford is ranked No. 1 in 2A.
Both teams averaged more than 40 points last season, but, once again, talent overcame inexperience, as Buford defeated North Hall 45-14.
Another talented junior running back stepped up for the Wolves in Jessel Curry. Curry gained 117 all-purpose yards with two touchdowns. May, Johnson and Getz each added a touchdown of their own.
The defense also stepped up, holding a team that averaged 42 points per game last season to only two fourth-quarter touchdowns while forcing six turnovers.
This Friday, Buford hosts Lovett in a rematch of last season’s state championship game.
Lovett is 1-1, unranked in the GPB/Score Atlanta ranking, and looks to be rebuilding this season after 11- and 12-win seasons the past two years.
And for those of you that hope Buford will slow in 2009 after losing 26 seniors to graduation, you should know: the Wolves’ junior varsity team was undefeated last season.
Wiley can be reached at dwiley12@gmail.com.
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