Buford outlast Carrollton 28-21 to claim GHSA 6A state title

Buford celebrates after defeating Carrollton to win the GHSA 6A state championship

Billed as a national championship matchup, the Buford Wolves and Carrollton Trojans Georgia High School Association Class 6A state championship showdown lived up to the hype despite getting off to a relatively slow start. With defenses of both teams, who entered the night unbeaten looking to establish themselves, the opening quarter would end with neither team scoring and Buford intercepting two Carrollton passes.

The stingy defensive play would continue throughout majority of the second quarter until a Carrollton trip play in which quarterback, Mason Holtzclaw would throw to Peyton Zachary in the flats, who would throw down field to running back, Cameron Wood, who was able to sneak behind the Buford defense and set up a first and goal for the Trojans, who would later score on a Nick Archer rushing touchdown.

It would not be until the third quarter in which Buford would finally get some points on the board, thanks to two field goals, including a 43-yard kick, by Andrew Ivanciuc, which would see Buford trailing 7-6 until a Carrollton fumble would give the Wolves another opportunity to score, which they would succeed on a Tyriq Green rushing touchdown. With the successful completion of the ensuing two-point conversion, Buford would take a 14-7 lead.

From there, the two teams trade scores as Carrollton tied the game 14-14 following a drive which concluded with Wood's only touchdown of the night, but the Wolves regained the lead once Dayton Raiola led them down into a goal line situation which was nearly costly as Dylan McCoy would fumble crossing the goal line, however Deion Miller would recover for the Wolves who regained the lead going up 21-14.

However, the Trojans would catch a big break thanks to their defense , which forced a fumble by Raiola that was recovered by Carrollton's Jahmir Harris who return the ball for a touchdown helping the Trojans once again tie the game, 21-21. On the ensuing Buford possession, set up at their own 15-yard line, Green would break away for an 85-yard touchdown run helping Buford regain the lead as they went up 28-21 and would eventually hold on to be by the same score.

"After that first half when we were down 7-0, everybody just got together, we just talked and we just stayed as a team and kept our composure and came back out and do what we do," Green said of the Wolves not allowing the fact they trailed at the half to detour them.