The win was the 38th consecutive for the Wolves. Buford's last loss on the field occurred Sept. 7, 2012 – a 19-15 defeat at the hands of Gainesville. The Wolves were forced to forfeit two games later that season – both 60-point blowout wins – due to using an ineligible player. While Friday night's win over fourth-ranked Marist (11-2), the No. 2 seed from Region 6, was not a 60-point blowout, the game was never really in doubt after the first quarter.
Marist broke on top midway through the first quarter on a 25-yard field goal by senior kicker Joey Gogol. The War Eagle’s run-based offense, featuring lots of wing-T and wishbone looks, was able to keep the ball away from Buford’s punishing pro-style attack, while Marist’s defense held its own.
But in the second quarter Buford took over for good. On the second play of the period senior running back/fullback Joshua Thomas bulled in from a yard out to give the Wolves a 7-3 lead after Matt Bonadies’ successful extra point kick.
On the Wolves’ next offensive possession, Thomas struck again, this time from long distance. On fourth-and-two, he muscled his way to the second level against a stacked Marist defensive front, and rumbled 48-yards for his second touchdown of the night and a 14-3 lead for Buford.
Gogol nailed a 30-yard field goal on Marist’s next possession to narrow the gap to 21-6 at halftime.
