Sports

Buford Beats Washington County for Class 3A Football Title

Buford beats Washington County for its 10th GHSA football championship.

Valdosta may still hold the moniker of Winnersville in Georgia high school football, but the Buford Wolves can safely be called the team of the century.

Buford won its 10th state championship — its ninth since the turn of the century — with a 35-19 win over Washington County in the Georgia High School Football Association Class 3A finals Friday night at the Georgia Dome.

Running backs Thomas Wilson and Joshua Thomas each scored two touchdowns for the Wolves, who trailed early 13-0.

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The win for Buford (15-0) was its sixth title in seven seasons as it became the fourth school in Georgia history to reach double-digits in state championships.

Buford trails only Valdosta (24), Lincoln County (14) and LaGrange (11) on the all-time list of state champions.

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Washington County used two big plays to take a 13-0 lead — a 41-yard TD pass from A.J. Gray to D.J. Sanders, and an 86-yard punt return by Melvin Hill.

The game turned on Buford's final possession of the first half and its first possession of the second half.

Taylor Mitchell hit a 43-yard pass to Isaac Nauta just before halftime to trim the score to 13-7, then Wilson scored on a 28-yard run early in the third quarter for a 14-13 Buford lead.

Thomas then scored on an 18-yard run and Wilson on a 35-yarder for a 28-13 lead.

Gray completed a 64-yard pass to Sanders to make it 28-19, but Thomas scored from the 5 with 1:40 left to end the scoring.

  • Check back for more on the game

Buford State Champions

State championships won by the Buford Wolves

  • 2013: Class 3A
  • 2012: Class 3A
  • 2010: Class 2A
  • 2009: Class 2A
  • 2008: Class 2A
  • 2007: Class 2A
  • 2003: Class 2A
  • 2002: Class 2A
  • 2001: Class 1A
  • 1978: Class 1A


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