It took a state championship-caliber team from Florida to hand Buford its first loss of the season.
Chaminade-Madonna of Hollywood, Fla., the No. 1-ranked Class 3A team from Florida made the 600-mile journey and shut out Class 6A No. 1 Buford 7-0 on Friday. It was the first time Buford has been held scoreless since the loss to Cartersville in the 2015 state championship game.
“This was so much fun,” Chaminade coach Dameon Jones said. “It’s been fun to come to somebody else’s house and play them. That’s a quality team over there and I’m just proud of my guys.”
Buford (3-1) struggled to move the ball against the big, fast and physical Chaminade defense. The Wolves managed only 58 yards rushing, 49 of that from Victor Venn, and 40 yards passing. Buford picked up only four first downs.
Chaminade was led by running back Davion Gause, the top-rated sophomore running back in the country. Gause ran 32 times for 197 yards and scored the game’s only touchdown. He picked up three crucial first downs on runs in the final drive when the Lions were trying to run out the clock.
Buford coach Bryant Appling said his team will benefit from playing a team that has won state championships in three of the last four seasons.
“We’ve still got a long way to go,” Appling said. “But we have grown over the first four games. That’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to fight to get better and that’s what we’re going to try to do next week.”
The entire game was old-fashioned smash-mouth football, with both defensive lines dominating play. Buford went three-and-out on its first three possessions and on five of seven possessions in the first half, turning it over downs another time.
“That’s what we stand on,” Jones said. “Our defense has been good every year.”
Chaminade fared only slightly better on offense, with Gause breaking through the right side on a quick hitter for a 63-yard touchdown with 1:25 left in the first quarter. It was the only double-digit run for the Lions in the first half.
Buford had chances but could not take advantage. Chaminade quarterback Cedric Bailey fumbled on an exchange midway in the second quarter and Eddrick Houston recovered for Buford at the 11. The Wolves had to punt and Brian Dilworth fumbled the return, which Peyton Rinker recovered for Buford at midfield. But the Wolves went nowhere and had to punt again after incurring a 15-yard penalty and failing to move the ball. Chaminade led 7-0 at halftime.
Buford had opportunities in the second half, too. They started at the 50 late in the third quarter, but Dilworth came up with an interception and the Buford defense had to toughen up and force the Lions to try a 49-yard field goal, which was no good.
The Wolves had their best chance with 7:22 remaining when Gause fumbled and Japhet Mubenga alertly picked the ball up at the 35. But Buford gambled on three long passes, all of them incomplete, and was forced to punt. The Wolves never got the ball back.
“That’s what’s happened the last couple week, getting a turnover on defense and putting it in on offense,” Appling said “We couldn’t capitalize tonight.”
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