Buford-Calhoun scouting report
Buford (13-1)
The skinny
Carver-Columbus coach Dell McGee, whose team beat Buford 14-0 on Sept. 3, breaks down the Wolves' offense and defense:
- Offense: They're just a smash-mouth type of offense. They formation you, motion you. They try to get you to think a whole lot. A lot of window dressing. They're going to run five base plays, play-action pass and boots, but they do it out of all kinds of formations and shifts, which makes it tough.
- Defense: They tackle very well, cover the field very well. They're not going to give up any cheap touchdowns. If you can work your way down the field and be patient, that's the thing to do. They're going to make you work for every yard you get.
AJC rating: 41
- Run [10]: (229 yards per game) Tailback Seon Jones has rushed for 1,126 yards to lead a dominating running game that averages more than 7 yards per attempt.
- Pass [6]: (126 yards per game) In an offense focused primarily on the run, quarterback Alexander Ross has been efficient with 16 touchdown passes and three interceptions.
- Vs. run [9]: (98 yards per game) With a huge defensive front, this team is always very difficult to run against.
- Vs. pass [9]: (82 yards per game) Opponents are completing 42 percent of their passes against Buford's athletic secondary.
- Special teams [7]: Kicker/punter David Petroni has been solid for the Wolves on special teams, hitting 80 percent of his field-goal attempts.
Need-to-know basis
- The history: Buford, located in north Gwinnett County, got its name when the people of the town renamed it after Algernon S. Buford, president of Atlanta and Richmond Air Line Railway, in an attempt to lure a lunch stop on the new railway. Buford has produced three NFL players: P.K. Sam, Darius Walker and Tim Wansley. The team plays at Tom Riden Stadium, where they are 48-2 under Jess Simpson since 2005. Buford won state championships in 1978, 2001-03 and 2007-09.
- Last year: Buford won the state title by beating Calhoun 13-10.
Starting lineup
Offense
QB -- 9 Alexander Ross, 6-2, 198, Sr.
TB -- 4 Seon Jones, 5-9, 178, Sr.
FB -- 21 Dominique Swope, 6-0, 195, Sr.*
TE -- 41 Kurt Freitag, 6-5, 235, Jr.
RT -- 56 Josh Cardiello, 6-3, 278, So.
RG -- 27 Ben Sweatt, 5-11, 208, Sr.
C -- 51 Tyler Burge, 6-2, 215, Jr.
LG -- 58 Devonte Mack, 6-0, 253, Jr.
LT -- 74 Vadal Alexander, 6-6, 320, Jr.
FL -- 11 Trey Jerkins, 6-1, 152, Sr.
WR -- 16 Jamal English, 5-7, 145, Sr.
PK -- 15 David Petroni, 6-0, 159, So.
Defense
DE -- 41 Kurt Freitag, 6-5, 235, Jr.
DT -- 90 Dequan Clark, 6-2, 276, Jr.
DT -- 58 Devonte Mack, 6-0, 253, Jr.
DE -- 6 Rick Legrant, 6-0, 202, Jr.
LB - 22 Dillon Lee, 6-4, 228, Jr.
LB - 32 Andre Johnson, 5-11, 217, Jr.
LB -- 20 Malik Green, 5-8, 186, Sr.
CB -- 28 Ryan Dillard, 5-11, 170, Jr.
S -- 1 Eric Barr, 5-8, 166, Sr.
S -- 23 Paris Head, 6-0, 163, Jr.
CB -- 24 C.J. Moore, 5-10, 165, Jr.
P -- 15 David Petroni, 6-0, 159, So.
* FBS (formerly Division I-A) recruits
2010 Results
8/27 Gainesville W 40-19
9/3 Carver-Columbus L 14-0
9/10 Westminster W 32-10
9/17 Therrell W 33-6
9/24 Lovett W 37-14
10/1 Decatur W 42-7
10/8 Clarkston W 47-0
10/15 Avondale W 48-2
10/22 GAC W 38-7
11/5 Westminster W 42-0
11/12 Hart County W 52-22
11/19 Callaway W 52-14
11/26 Cook W 21-14
12/3 Lovett W 53-13
*****
Calhoun (14-0)
The skinny
Carver-Columbus coach Dell McGee, whose team lost to Calhoun 27-14 in the state semifinals, breaks down the Yellow Jackets' offense and defense.
- Offense: I thought they were very balanced on offense. They're definitely a lot more committed to the run this year, as opposed to the previous year. I thought that made it very difficult to defend them. They definitely work the quick game very well. They didn't get in a lot of predictable situations and kept us off balance.
- Defense: They do a great job of tackling. The strength of that team is definitely their front eight. They leverage the field well, tackle well. They're fundamentally sound. They didn't do anything different from what we practiced; they just do it really well.
AJC Rating: 45
- Run [9]: (207 yards per game) Between quarterback Landon Curtis and running back Dustin Christian, this is an extremely dangerous running game behind a senior-laden offensive line.
- Pass [8]: (173 yards per game) Curtis is capable of stepping back and throwing to his quartet of 6-foot or taller receivers who create plenty of mismatches.
- Vs. run [10]: (85 yards per game) Very few teams have been able to run on the Jackets' experienced 5-3 formation defense.
- Vs. pass [8]: (102 yards per game) Buford doesn't pass often, but it might have to throw to move the ball against Calhoun.
- Special teams [10]: Kicker Adam Griffith has scholarship offers from Alabama and LSU.
Need-to-know basis
- The history: Until Dec. 29, 1835, Calhoun was the national capital of Cherokee Nation, New Echota. When the U.S. government forced the Cherokees from their land in the east to embark on the Trail of Tears, New Echota was abandoned, but is now a historical park just a few minutes from downtown. Calhoun has produced one NFL player -- Riley Gunnels. The home stadium is Phil Reeve Stadium, where Calhoun is 74-15 under Hal Lamb since 1999. The program won a state title in 1952.
- Last year: Calhoun lost to Buford 13-10 in the state championship game.
Starting lineup
Offense
QB -- 2 Landon Curtis, 6-1, 200, Sr.*
OL -- 50 Tyler Cooper, 6-0, 285, Sr.
OL -- 68 Ian Carmichael, 6-0, 220, Sr.
C -- 55 Tyler King, 6-3, 255, Jr.
OL -- 76 Oscar Valladares, 5-11, 215, Sr.
OL -- 59 Jacob King, 6-0, 250, Sr.
RB -- 5 Dustin Christian, 5-9, 170, Sr.*
WR -- 1 Ben Lamb, 6-0, 170, Jr.
WR -- 21 Chase Rierson, 6-4, 200, Jr.
WR -- 14 Clay Johnson, 6-0, 170, Jr.
WR -- 3 J.T. Palmer, 6-3, 185, Sr.*
PK -- 99 Adam Griffith, 5-11, 175, Jr.
Defense
DE -- 63 Gus Roberts, 6-1, 225, Sr.
NT -- 93 Caden Parker, 6-0, 255, Sr.
DE -- 44 Reed Allen, 6-3, 230, Jr.
LB -- 6 Hunter Knight, 5-11, 185, Jr.
LB -- 8 Alex Kirby, 6-0, 210, Jr.
LB -- 51 Gabe Freeman, 6-1, 215, Jr.
OLB -- 4 Trent Frix, 6-0, 180, Jr.
OLB -- 18 Heath Everett, 6-1, 180, Jr.
DB -- 31 Jacob Young, 5-11, 180, Sr.
DB -- 3 J.T. Palmer, 6-3, 185, Sr.
FS -- 22 Chance Beaver, 6-1, 180, Sr.
P -- 2 Landon Curtis, 6-1, 200, Sr.
* FBS (formerly Division I-A) recruits
2010 results
8/27 Dalton W 27-14
9/3 Armuchee W 49-13
9/10 Pepperell W 35-0
9/17 Chattooga W 40-0
10/1 Sonoraville W 42-8
10/8 N. Murray W 54-7
10/15 Gordon Central W 44-6
10/22 Dade County W 43-8
10/29 Lakeview-Ft. Oglethorpe W 54-24
11/5 Rockmart W 35-8
11/12 Manchester W 44-8
11/19 Westminster W 36-19
11/26 Fitzgerald W 31-13
12/3 Carver-Columbus W 27-14
