Buford has won so often—39 straight games—and on such big stages—nine state titles in 13 years—that it will be much bigger news if the Wolves lose to St. Pius X on Saturday in the Class AAAA championship game.
You would think that somewhere in the back of the Wolves coaches’ and players’ minds they’d be worried about being the ones who suffer the first defeat since 2012. But that’s simply not the case, according to coach Jess Simpson.
“We’ve already lost a bunch of streaks since I’ve been here,” said Simpson.
A bunch is a little bit of an exaggeration. Buford has lost only eight times under Simpson. But the Wolves did have a 47-game win streak snapped in 2004, when Simpson was defensive coordinator under former coach and current athletic director Dexter Wood. They won 32 in a row from 2007 to 2009 with Simpson as head coach. You're not going to win them all. Simpson is 6-1 in state championship games, heading into Saturday.
“Maybe if you’re a senior, you feel the expectations a little, but our team and our staff, overall, we are just in the moment,” Simpson said.
The moment on Saturday features a familiar opponent. Buford and St. Pius X met two years ago in the Class AAA state championship game, with the Wolves scoring the winning touchdown with nine minutes to play in a tight 10-3 victory. The two teams will again at 4:30 p.m., Saturday in the Class AAAA state championship game at the Georgia Dome.
St. Pius coach Paul Standard believes this Buford team is better than the one that nipped him in 2012.
“When I look at a team on film, I’m looking at their size, speed and strength,” Standard said. “Normally, a team will be great in a couple of areas. Buford is great in all three and then they’re extremely well coached. We’re basically up against the 1960s Green Bay Packers.”
This version of the Packers … err ... Wolves is one of Simpson’s most dominant and boasts a bevy of next-level stars. Linebacker Austin Smith and defensive tackle Quay Picou are committed to Tennessee. Defensive back David Curry is committed to Virginia, and offensive linemen Nick Polino (North Carolina) and Hunter Holland (Western Kentucky) also have committed. There’s many more stars, including running back Joshua Thomas and tight end Isaac Nauta, have offers from big-name college programs.
Buford averages 256.1 yards rushing, while holding teams to 41.6 yards on the ground. The Wolves (14-0) have outscored opponents by an average margin of 38.2 points. The offense is directed by senior quarterback Luke Humphrey, a first-year starter who Simpson says has been one of the most improved parts of this season's team.
St. Pius (12-2) battled back from a pair three-touchdown losses to open the season to reach the state championship game for the second time in Standard’s 14-year tenure. The Golden Lions are going to run their option offense that has helped them win 12 straight games and come back from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit in last week’s semifinal win over Woodward Academy. Tailback Joey Connors, who started the season at quarterback, scored the winning touchdown with 47 seconds to play against Woodward Academy. Running back Dalton Wilson and linebacker Brian O’Reilly are the only two Lions who played significant minutes in the 2012 state championship game loss to Buford. No St. Pius senior has an offer to play college football, according to Standard. But that doesn’t mean the Lions don’t believe they can hang with Buford.
“I think some teams that play Buford are beaten before they even get off the bus,” Standard said. “I know this about my team: when we get off the bus, we’re not going to be beat.”
Plus, Standard has a few tricks up his sleeve.
“We’ve got a couple trick plays that we’re going to break out where we have with 13 players,” Standard said with a laugh.
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