An exclusive presentation from Georgia Public Television presents the Georgia High School Association two.

Thousand football.

Semifinals.

Funding for this program is provided in part by Georgia Natural Gas, Georgia's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, IBEW Local 613 and by South Trust Bank.

Final match ups is about to take place.

Buford and McIntosh County Academy.

Let's join the national anthem.

Oh, they may.

And will and oh.

Great job on the national anthem.

Hell, over one line from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, I'm Dave Gardner, along with former Georgia Tech Yellowjacket in Buffalo, Bill, John Davis.

And John, we officially kick off the first of ten semifinal football matchups here.

In just a few moments, Class A, Buford and McIntosh County Academy going at it looks to be a great ballgame day.

This is every boy's dream right here to be able to play in the Georgia Dome.

I know it was when I was playing and growing up, so it's going to be a great football game.

They have worked hard all year long to get to this point, so we're looking forward to a great match up.

Buford Wolves and McIntosh County Academy Buccaneers, of course, and Friday's game today and then, of course, tomorrow's semifinal.

The Commerce Tigers and Lincoln County Red Devils in a rematch of last year's Saturday's semifinal match up is going to take a look at the Buford Wolves.

When you talk about Buford, you talk about a football team that likes to throw the football a little bit and they can certainly move the ball.

They do.

They run the ball about 60% of the time, throw the ball 40% of the time.

And they've got a great receiver in P.K.

Sam that they're going to get the ball to as fast as they can.

Big play guy averages about 30 yards a catch.

He's headed off to Florida State.

So we should see some big things with him today.

They're going to look at him, of course, the man, the big play man, P.K.

Sam, a talented athlete.

All eyes will be focused on number four today when Buford has the football.

Early in the week, we caught up with coach Dexter Wood of the Buford Wolves to talk about preparation for today's semifinal matchup against the Buccaneers.

Well, our priority always starts with the defense and its ability to stop the run game.

And so whatever that takes to try to do that, we're going to try to implement it.

We feel like if we get them throwing the football, then that's that.

That would be success for us defensively.

Offensively, we want to be as multi-dimensional as we can.

We obviously love to run the football, but we think we have a fine quarterback and some good receivers.

And this was dictated last week by Miller County.

We'll throw it when we need to.

So we feel like we were we balanced.

Now, meanwhile, McIntosh County Academy, the Buccaneers, they like to run the football and they've certainly done a great job of that this year.

An excellent football team.

You know, as an old offensive lineman, you know, you take pride in the running game.

You can see right there over almost 3700 yards rushing.

It's always going to do is run, run, run.

If they make him pass that he's going to but he wants to establish a run in with his offensive linemen take control of this game for us.

One of the go to guys for McIntosh is number 11 right there.

Jermaine Austin, 368 yards last week in a dramatic victory over Athens Academy.

360 yards last year, he set the the pace of the ball game.

And you can bet that they're going to try to get him the ball as fast as they possibly can so he can set the pace for today.

Coach Bradley Warren has been with the program five years now for the Buccaneers and we also caught up with Coach Warren talking about preparation for today's semifinal matchup.

Offensive game plan.

We run the football, we rush for almost 4200 yards this year.

So that'll that'll be our primary plan.

If he makes us throw the football, we will on defense.

We're going to try to get 11 hats on the ball and cover up his little receiver.

The sign for Florida State.

There you have it, the first of two state semifinal matchups just moments away.

We'll be right back with the kickoff right after this.

You're watching the Georgia High School Association Football Championships on TV.

Yeah.

Hello, everyone.

Welcome back to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

For the first of ten semifinal matchups taking place this weekend, it's the Class eight game between Buford and McIntosh County Academy.

Just about ready to kick things off.

They're going to look at number 11.

Jermaine Austin, who stands back deep for McIntosh.

They won the toss and will receive the football.

Kicking will be number two.

Elliott Bray, boy for the Buford Wolves.

Buford 12 and one overall, the number two seed out of Region eight, their only blemish coming in the final week of the regular season against rival Thomas, who we will see at tomorrow's game.

One little blemish on their record.

You're right.

But they're excited to be here and ready for a great game.

And we are underway.

A high kick that comes down around these seven.

It'll be handled by Will Jones inside the ten across the 15.

But he has hit and dropped across the 28 about the 21 and the Buccaneers will take over first down and ten McIntosh County Academy the number two seed out of region three of course, Bradley Warren, the head coach.

They're going to look at the backfield, Gilbert Edwards, Austin Brown and Lewis, very talented.

And the offensive line, that's a good one.

Perry, Caldwell, CUSUMANO, Jones, Underwood and McIntosh first down and ten for the Bucks Ball just across the 21 Buford but five six guys in the box McIntosh Out of the way and T Edwards in motion Quick handoff That's Austin left side And he drives forward about 425 to end about three yards on first.

Down day one of the things you're going to see this afternoon by McIntosh is their linebackers.

They're going to be as close to the offensive line as they possibly can be to really try to stop them from getting running downhill.

They're going to look at the defensive front for Buford McDonald, Chandler Rogers and Scranton, and they're going to look at the linebackers and the secondary Brey boy Carbine Stewart, Sam Brooks, Aiken and Brown, the linebacking corps.

Very quick defense.

Buford is only giving up 30 points in three playoff games, second and seven this time, Gilbert on the carry is hit and dropped.

He may have lost half guard that time.

Nice pursuit by the wolves on defense.

Brian Carbine did a good job of stringing that play out right there out of his defensive backs in the corner to come up and make a play puts him in a third long situation, which is exactly what McIntosh wants to do.

You'll see right here on the replay you can just see him stringing it out, does a good job breaking the block and getting off of it and allowing the DBS to come up and make the play.

Nice job there by Westbrooks and P.K.

Sam two combined for the stops so third down and long Daniel Gilbert the quarterback number ten six six £200 for McIntosh he's quite an athlete three touchdown passes this year Like I said they don't throw the football that much third down and a long seven to sweep Austin left side cuts up and across the 30 for about the 31 he's going to be close to a first down, but I believe he's going to be just a little bit shy.

And you can tell McIntosh is really going to try to set the tempo.

As we said earlier, they're just going to run the ball and they're not going to throw unless they really have to.

They are.

Buford does a good job right here, stopping them short of the first down.

Stewart and Brown combining on the Stop for the Wolves.

And it looks like the punting unit is coming on to the field there for the Buccaneers fourth down and short.

And of course this early in the game, this deep in your own territory, probably a smart thing to do to get rid of that ball.

Yeah, it is.

And this is one of the important parts of every game as the special teams and they need to do a good job, do a good job protecting and get a good run off.

Roll Jonesboro Put it away for the Buccaneers Good rush by Buford Nearly got it pick Sam will field it at the 37 he has hit and dropped inside the 35 Great coverage by McIntosh.

Great job getting down the field almost got a block but lions needs to do a little bit better job but did a great job getting down field and locking up and not allowing T.K.

to break out and make the.

Play.

Jeffrey Taylor, number 42 there.

You saw him on your screen with a nice special team stop there as the wolves high powered offensive attack will take over with 939 remaining here in the opening quarter, quarterback Travis Payne, a senior six £170 by formation for Buford with twins left now man in motion to the right side five man front for the bucks and it's a toss that's hard Aiken over the right side keeps his feet still going and drives across the 35 up close to the 36 yard line.

As good job keeping his feet moving right there.

It looked like one of the defensive linemen got through into the backfield and made them change his route.

But did a good job keeping his feet moving, getting about three yards.

Charles Carter turned it back in Aiken, over a thousand yards rushing this year for Buford, 15 touchdowns.

They're going to look at the backfield.

Payne Aiken McDonald Moore Sam a.k.a Sam a good wide receiver for their and the offensive line Merrill Rogers Chandler Young Scranton and Gray Boy the tight end second down and a long six Trubisky was now.

On the run on formation once again Payne to the handoff that's McDonald the fullback but not a lot of room there over the left side.

Nice job by the Bucs up front.

McIntosh did a good job of establishing the line standards right there and not allowing Buford to open up the holes for Buford does a good job.

They're going to look at the McIntosh County Academy Defense Conner, Lewis, Hobbs, McIntosh and Colson up front.

Oh, and in the secondary linebackers Howard Jones, Taylor, Edwards, Armstrong and Jordan, John Howard.

And to throw a pretty good looking athlete there, we'll have to watch out for him.

He's one of the leading tacklers for the Bucks on defense, third and five for the wolves.

It's time they shifted on formation.

He was going to keep it from going nowhere.

What a tackle that time by love.

Darius Lewis, number 36 Nice stop and bring up fourth down but.

Darius has done a great job on the defensive line this year.

80 tackles, three sacks he's got 11 tackles, four sack or four tackles for loss.

He just does a good job right here.

Fallen off his block and tackling are wrapping up and not allowing him to break through that whole case.

Same with you for Charles Edwards back deep, but a low bun actually goes up and doesn't really go anywhere at all.

A short punt that time, probably about a 15 yard punt.

16, 17 yard punt, possibly great field position for McIntosh.

Now as they get the ball back.

No harm done.

These first two series, first series for each team.

David, you know, they're coming in to the dome.

This is the first time either one of these teams have been in here.

And it takes them a while to get acclimated to the to the atmosphere.

Quickly, let's send it down to our sideline man, Mr. Brian Salmond.

Thanks, guys.

I just wanted to let you know that McIntosh Academy, they've got somebody they hired Preacher Brown over here.

So if the fans can't give him what they need, you're going to have to go to Preacher Brown to give him some from upstairs.

Back upstairs, you guys and.

Preacher Brown in the house today at last play, a four yard carry that time for the Buccaneers.

Brave boy, Stewart and Brooks combining for the hits bring up second down at about five and a half.

Coach Warren's talking to his offensive line, just getting them to establish the offensive line, the line of scrimmage to get underneath Buford Heads and see if they can get a good drive together.

Twins right this time to Sweet Boston back into the middle gets a cross midfield to the Buford 48 gain of about two and a half yards as Aaron Scranton came in there to make the stop so bring up third down about three.

And a half.

One of the things that you're seeing Buford do right now is that the really attacking the running scrimmage, especially from a linebacker standpoint, and not allowing the guys, Aiken and McDonald, to be able to start running downhill.

So they're doing a good job as far as letting them get their motor.

Going back into the offense, 102 points to 46.

They have outscored their opponents in three playoff games this year.

They beat Clench County twice in one season.

That was certainly a highlight for the Bucks, beat them in the second round, third and fourth, misdirection.

Edwards left side.

He's got room 45 breaks through down to the 41 and a first down nice hard running that time by Edwards.

Nice job by the offensive line right there a little misdirection brings number 34 right there around the left hand side, pick up the first down before did a good job keeping them in third down, but they like to have him in third most situations that they possibly can because the running game is so good to see right there.

The left guard kind of pulls around misdirection, does a good job of getting up through there and picking up the first down bucks.

Driving first and ten from the Buford 41 Brown in motion gets straight up the middle this time that's Austin Munson for about three or three yards down to the 37.

They're going to look at some fans decked out in Christmas attire just around the corner open, got the shopping, done their job.

That's always done.

The last the 24th kind of surprised a pretty good sized crowd for being close to nine in here.

Both teams have really brought some fans with them.

That's great fan support right there, especially McIntosh coming up from outside of Savannah, bringing the amount of fans that they have.

It's great to see.

Second and six winning T. Handoff in this direction.

That's Robert Brown 35 and drag down at the 33 yard line that time.

By Sam.

Another misdirection around the right hand side because Sam does a great job that shows you the speed that he has for four, four or five speed really has to get around the corner to beat him.

But you'll see right there, he doesn't bite on the fake.

He just goes out there and shadows and he just goes after him, uses the speed and good tackle.

Buccaneers using a lot of misdirection here in the early going.

Robert Brown, six touchdowns this year on the ground.

He's got one receiving touchdown.

They're going to look at his numbers.

Third down in a yard and a half handoff.

Austin right side.

He looks like he's got the first down perhaps on forward momentum depends on the spot nice job by Buford though to push him backwards.

That was number nine, Ryan Carbine, who ramped him up.

Before sticking with their game plan.

Right now, just trying to stack eight people in the middle of the box right there.

Not do not allow him to get the yardage up front.

If he's going to beat him outside, let him do that and let Buford Speed try to come down and make the tackle.

But it looks like he might have a first down.

If not, obviously, we know they'll go for it.

They will bring out the chains you to look for 43 remaining in the opening quarter.

No score.

And it looks like it will be a first.

Down for the Buccaneers coach.

Bradley.

Warren there for Macintosh, played football three years at Tennessee.

Chattanooga.

So Macintosh getting in a little bit of a groove right here, Dave.

Going to try to keep it up and continue to give the chance.

To keep it on the ground.

Right now, they do it once again.

Austin right side tripped up after a gain of about three bring up second down and seven.

And that's really what they're looking for.

They're looking to get three or four or five yards a carry.

Just use the clock as much as they possibly can and get a touchdown set.

The momentum for the rest of the game.

And if they really come back after that first series and it looks like they've settled down a little bit more than they did that first series and getting a good drive going.

Coach Dexter Wood University of Alabama Alum three year Letterman as a wide receiver for the Crimson Tide.

This time Gilbert on the Keeper over the right side dives across the 25 down to about a 23 and a half.

It's going to be up third, down and about a yard or two.

Gilbert on the Keeper that time, Daniel Gilbert Big six, six, £200.

Got a GPA of 3.3.

That's pretty impressive.

A good all around student athlete on the football field right there.

Yeah it is.

And obviously you see he can run the ball and pass the ball.

So when they do have to pass it, that gives you another weapon in the backfield.

And that's I think that's what makes him so successful.

Moving right along here in the first quarter, 325.

This time, soft, sweet Austin trying to turn the corner.

He's going nowhere though.

Nice pursuit that time by the.

Wolves number nine carbon and number six Sean Strickland also combining for the stop.

And again, they were talking about the speed right there.

They're not going to let him run off the middle.

But look, it's a pursuit that the linebackers have right here, okay?

They just string it along the defensive end right there, does a great job and it allows the corner to come up, make the play.

And Buford has got a lot of speed.

They're going to have to do a better job of establishing the running game on the inside to try to open up that outside.

The box, unable to convert on third down.

So it's fourth down and five ball spotted right at the 26 and it looks like the Buccaneers are going for it.

No field goal in the vocabulary.

For McIntosh fourth and five Austin in the backfield.

And they're going to give it to him straight ahead but he is stuffed at the 25 going nowhere and the ball will go over on downs.

Great job that time by the front for the Buford Wolves there in Scranton.

Among the guys making the.

Hit, the offensive line did a great job of getting underneath the offensive line pads and just not letting him get any penetration.

See how close the linebackers are playing upright.

There's like two extra men that don't have a blocker force.

So Buford gets to change it down right here, which is a good momentum for them.

See if they can get their offense rolling.

Elliot Berry boy, also with some great furniture penetration in there for the wolves.

And now Buford is back on offense.

Travis Payne under center and as Jeff Mero anchoring the offensive line give it to the fullback straight up the middle He's got some room across the 40 and the ball comes loose at the end of the play.

But I believe the wolves maintain possession.

That was number eight.

Alphonso Stanley on the carry, the number seven, Travis Payne, the quarterback following his running back, eventually fell on the ball.

Jeffrey Taylor was the man who strip it away for McIntosh right here.

You'll see a little inside trap play.

53 of the guard comes around, does a good job getting just enough of them to open up the hole and you see right there that starlet Stanley just runs through and he's down right there by contact.

So good.

First down.

What a play, though, by Travis Payne, the quarterback who could easily stay in the backfield but followed his man through and made the recovery this time.

And what can a throw up top oh incomplete nice hit there intended for Lawrence Sam but Charles Edwards with a hit in the secondary.

Kind of floated that one up right there makes it hard for the wide receiver to get up because he knows he's going to get hit after he leaves his feet.

Offensive line does a good job fullback right there does a good job it looks like it just got away from him a little bit floated up and what now able to bring it down.

So the incompletion makes it second down and ten from the 42 to oh one remaining in the first quarter by formation this time receivers left and right.

And good handle the tailback that's okay he's got 45 and up the midfield close to a first down.

Going to be about a yard short or so but about eight or nine yards on the carry nonetheless.

Very nice running play right there for I don't know if we're going to get to see this, but Stanley did a great job leading through, put the linebacker on his back and allowed to hold open up even more.

Good eight yard nine yard gain right there puts him in third short situation.

But areas Lewis on the last stop Webb Aiken just a junior like we mentioned over 1000 yards over 2000 yards for his career and he missed half of his sophomore season with a serious knee injury.

So he has bounced.

Back and boy, this time Aiken going nowhere, though.

Nice job by the.

Defense they swung it out to Darius Lewis in on another stop.

For Darius making his presence known right now, doing a good job of getting in the backfield and kind of blowing up the play before it gets started, gets another tackle for loss and puts him in the fourth down situation.

P.K.

Sam will come in to boot it away.

He's the do it all guy.

Here's a replay of that last one.

See, right there, he just comes through it, makes the tackle and pulls him down and does a good job.

And we've got a flag on the field now.

Looks like we may have had some movement at the line.

We have a dead ball encroachment.

Defense results in a first down and that is huge right there.

The wolves maintain possession of the football and Coach Bradley Warren can't be happy about that.

No, that's a very disciplined play by Buford right there.

They went out knowing that they were going to try to get him to get to come offsides and not not much discipline, but right there by McIntosh.

But it allows Buford to get a first down and it continues to drive.

Under a minute here in the first quarter.

Still no score from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Buford and McIntosh County Academy going at it in the first of ten semifinal games played down to this weekend, half at home and formation first and ten.

Here back to work.

Haner looking deep has a man peeking Sam at the eight knocked away great defensive play by Charles Edwards.

Charles Edwards did a great job right there going up for the ball at the very end.

P.K.

was was open for a second, and the ball looks like it was a little bit overthrown.

But Charles did a great job of going up and knocking it down, not trying to make the interception, but just knocking it down and not allowing P.K.

to get a hold of it.

That's going to be a great matchup all day long.

Sam and Edwards going at it.

You know, they're going to put Edwards on Sam all afternoon.

Look at that.

Great, great, great athletic play right there.

Tom.

Perfectly second and ten from the Macintosh, 47 men in motion this time all information once again, Travis a bootleg, right this time looking throwing.

He's got him an incomplete at the 33 yard line still on his feet to the 25 is number 16.

Mikey Henderson with the counter bootleg play right there.

It was for the right guard in the right tackle.

Pull to the opposite side.

It gets the linebackers moving and also the defensive lineman allows the quarterback to go out and sprint out to his right hand side.

You see right there.

McIntosh His defense is going to the right does a good job of getting down to getting the ball down the field.

Good catch.

And great play.

Good, good misdirection play.

Right now.

He's really mixing the ball on the run in the pass up.

Antoine Armstrong free safety had to make the stop first down drills into the middle.

This time, McDonald falls forward for a couple tackle by Javon Howard the middle linebacker Howard with 110 tackles this year for the Buccaneers.

And that's what happens when you can run and pass the ball.

You're able to confuse the defenses a little bit, keep them off balance some as to, you know, running the ball 95% of the time, there's really not much trickery in there.

Well, that's it for the first quarter.

No score from the Georgia Dome.

But the Buford Wolves are driving.

They're going to look at their faithful on the feet.

You're watching the Georgia High School Association Football Championships on TV.

Dave Gardner, along with John Davis live at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta for the first of two single-A semifinal football games.

They open up quarter number two, no score.

But the Buford Wolves are on offense and they are driving the football on the Macintosh County Academy 23.

Travis Payne the quarterback on formation.

They give us take a left side across the 20 trying to turn the corner 15 and run down at the 13 yard line into the secondary tackle by Richard Jordan but a nice run by Aiken close to another first down.

They can does Macon does a good job running up through the offensive line and then breaking it out you'll see the offensive line, get a double team and then a one on one by fullback.

Does a great job right there, allows them to bounce it out a little bit and go pick up the first down.

So Buford, with the football inside the Buccaneer 15 threatening for the first score of the ballgame.

They break the huddle with runs to the right once again in.

Formation this time, man in motion.

That's brave, boy.

The tight end.

Who comes step.

And now we've got some whistles.

I have taken a little bit too much time there, but battled back.

I'm up five.

So Buford might have lined up offsides and going back to this drive that Buford Z.

Offense first down.

Going back to the end of the drive that Buford is in right now, it makes that penalty on the fourth down punting situation all that much more important because they've been able to control the line of scrimmage right now and get them down into scoring territory.

Wolves will have a first and 15 situation.

Last year there were ten and two overall seven one in region eight.

First and 15, toss the bacon left side 2015 inside the ten and they got a good chunk of that yardage back it's gonna bring up second down at about five So another nice run there by Aiken.

Another good job of blocking by that left side of the offensive line Scranton and Calvert and Bradbury did a great job of just pushing the offensive defensive line down.

You can see right there you they're not going to down the field five, six yards and cutting them off.

And he just does a good job of following his blockers.

To here once again, Buford in great shape last year due for minutes around to the playoffs before finally being beat by Washington World Series.

Aiken ten five.

Touchdown Webb Aiken Gifford's on the board Nice job that time And great blocking over there once again Aiken the work.

Workhorse on that drive.

Buford here in this drive definitely took control of the line of scrimmage and allowed they can just to run it well does a good job it helps to have that big offensive line up front opening up the holes for you great job goes in the end zone untouched and looks like he got a good block out there by his wide receiver to open it up for him.

Now number 54, Kevin Marcus will attempt to add the extra point for the wolves on a snap and is through there.

So with 1035 to play and quarter number two, Buford jumps on top seven to nothing over McIntosh County Academy.

Webb Aiken seven carries 39 yards on that drive and a touchdown.

Right here with the offensive line they're not even getting in their stance does a good job of left tackle on the tight end right there is the fullback who comes through and just barrels his way through and gets Aiken in there for his 16th touchdown.

And again, we go back about making mistakes and special teams go back to that again.

Fourth and four situation.

McIntosh jumps offsides and allows the drive to continue.

And that's one of the things that you can't have happen in order to be successful.

Well, Hagan came into the playoffs with 15 touchdowns, and you're going to look at the jubilant Buford sideline.

There's La Darrius Lewis for Macintosh Gray Boy, set and ready to put it away here for the wolves seven to nothing our score Buford jumping out on top here and now let's see if the Buccaneers from Gary in Georgia can answer Jermaine Austin back deep along with Will Jones, number one.

And they're going to boot it away.

This kick a little bit deeper backs Austin up inside the five.

He's got the 15.

Tries to come back in the 20 and is driven down hard nice is by the wolves.

Houston does a good job game tackling right there not allowing him to get out to the corner.

And it looks like the intensity level for Buford is picked up and they need to resume right here.

Good.

Kick off high school.

He's running up the middle and sees his blockers.

Really don't get any movement.

He tries to break it outside again.

Buford Speed just goes along and catches up to him.

For Jimmy Stewart and West Brooks in there for the wolves first down and ten now for the Buccaneers Wayne T misdirection Edwards 20 and up to about this he is driven out of bounds there it'll be a gain of about three yards second and seven Sam making the play over there.

Young man's been all over the field and we talk about speed.

That young man has the speed obviously going to Florida State really can play wide receiver or defensive back, but it's going to be kind of hard running to his side most of the day just because of his ability to run you down.

You have 47 tackles coming in, two interceptions in the secondary.

You get to look at Daniel Gilbert, his care of the ball over 100 times himself this year.

Wayne T once again and this time with the handoff Austin trying to turn the corner right side breaks a tackle.

Too on his feet 3030 540 and up through the 44 yard line.

What a run by Jermaine Austin.

Jamie Stewart had to knock him out.

Otherwise, Austin may have been gone.

Had a chance to stop him at the offensive line.

We might see in a second, but he does a good job keeping his feet moving, offensive line, knocking him off the ball right there.

But you'll see.

Had a chance to stop him right there.

Tackle get breaks.

Another one breaks three tackles and he's off to the races and does a good job of picking up the first down and more.

As we mentioned, Austin last week, five touchdowns in a dramatic victory over Athens Academy, which puts the Buccaneers in this football game first and ten from the 44.

And another misdirection Robert Brown right side but not a lot.

There may have got a yard falling forward but Ryan Carr by number nine with a big hit.

Buford playing very disciplined defense are not falling for all this misdirection.

And that's one thing you take your hat off for Coach Woods he's got him playing disciplined got him playing there keys.

And therefore, they're not being tricked into over pursuing and does a good job sitting there just waiting for the play to come to them.

The Buccaneers will break the huddle.

I haven't seen the Bucs throw it up too much today, but if Austin keeps running like he did a second ago, they're going to have to this time.

Edwards in motion.

Gilbert going to roll left being pressured into the flat looks for Edwards and incomplete Trying to make a juggling catch of their ball thrown a little bit low, had to adjust, but was unable to get a hand on it.

It would have only been about a yard gain anyway.

Like we got a flag over on the other side of the field.

And it'll be on McIntosh.

Let's go bring it back a little bit.

Worked out and.

The offense penalty has declined third down.

The call by coach Wood declining that puts him in third and long situation instead of giving them two extra plays to try to get the first down.

So good strategy right there.

The offense just needs to stay at home.

And again, let the play come to them because they know they run a lot of misdirection.

They just don't want to.

Over pursue Coach Wooden's sixth season as head coach of the Buford Wolves, third down and nine after the penalty the time by the wolves big play here for the Buccaneers offense Gilbert right side he's going to be knocked out of bounds right at the 45 for no gain.

Fourth and long nice job that time great pursuit job on the defense.

Linebackers are doing a great job running down the offense or the line of scrimmage and again straightened out the play and that's exactly what you have to do against a speed team like this.

And you can see right there there's just no place to run and take your hats off to that defense.

I tell you, they really picked up the intensity level and it looks like McIntosh is a little confused right now.

Will Jones will boot it away.

He takes Sam stands at his own 25 effort sets up for return a low liner taken by Sam at 26 across the throw trying to hit the sideline and it's up to about the 37 before he's pushed out of bounds Ernest McIntosh and Javon Howard pushing Sam out.

So once again, the wolves take back over on offense.

And Dave that's what happens when you one dimensional as McIntosh is when you can't really throw the ball up to open up that defense and get those linebackers off of the line of scrimmage.

It makes it awful hard.

So it looks like Coach Warren's going to have to try to get some type of passing game going because there's so many people inside that box from Buford.

You know, the Wolves offense isn't going to slow up either left this time, but give is taken up and that he's got room 45 and up to midfield into McIntosh territory at the 48 Antoine Armstrong the free safety had to bring him down.

Nice move right there by Aiken going through the offensive line but look at the box.

They got the counter play the guard in the left tackle pulling around just opens it up.

The right guard does a great job coming down on the nose guard to open it up that much more.

It's a nice misdirection play and it has McIntosh over pursuing as you can see right there.

He does a good job, nice fake right there to pick up the extra yardage.

Like a couple of John Davis blocks in there.

Twins left ball to fall on and whistle play will be blown dead.

I wish I could have blocked that.

Movement on the wolves that.

Time.

I'd still be playing.

I doubt you ever played a ballgame at 9 a.m. either at the professional.

Level, no.

I'll tell you what, that's one of the things.

Well, a dead ball foul prior to the snap ball start on the offense.

They play first down.

You know, we talk about playing 9:00 in the morning.

One of the things when we were playing up in Buffalo was that we had a lot of night games and a lot of Monday night games.

It really messes with your clock because on Sunday morning at or Sunday at 1:00, you're ready to play football and you've got a way to hold another day or even play in the morning.

It messes up the clock of these young boys.

First down and 15 for the wolves back into their own territory down to 47.

Payne looking to throw has a man there Oh in and out of the hands of Henderson made a nice catch while ago but couldn't hang on to that one.

Nice throw right down the middle, opening it up between this right between the safeties and you'll see right here does a good job following through.

Got to catch it before you run with it.

He hears a little footsteps right there, knowing that down the middle of the gut, the strong safety and the free safety waiting on him.

But just that ball for another first down, he can have another big play.

Oh.

You soared with receivers left and right this time with the information.

Stanley the fullback, Sam in the slot at you look at the throw once again does so down the field he's got Sam at the 42 on his feet 35 and down to the 30 yard line goes.

Keith Hey, Sam.

Armstrong with the stop that time to be a first down for the wolves.

Does a great job of paying with misdirection right here pulling out to the left.

You know, P.K.

Sam's going to become involved again.

They're running the fake counterplay right there.

Does a good job of squaring up as much as he can, and P.K.

does a good job kitchenette and getting up north and getting those yards after the catch.

Because Sam, a defending state champ with the 110 and 300 meter hurdles and if he gets an open you better watch out first down a ten ball at the McIntosh 30 and this time the gives to Aiken into the middle dives forward Nice stop there though in the middle that was number 36 lead areas Lewis that time wrapping up.

Aiken You know, it's nice to have a player like PJ on on your team, but on the other team, it's not nice because sometimes you need two defenders to make sure you know where he's going to take it.

He's always a threat, whether it's running the ball or catching the ball, so makes a little bit harder for defenses to defend on him.

To get a look at three total yards, Buford won 18, McIntosh County 65 here in the first down.

This time Aiken less let's size down when 25 sets it back to the middle 2015 and a first down once again nice hard running by Webb Aiken, who continues to get the job done on the ground today, doing.

A great job following his offensive linemen and picking out his holes.

And that's what happens when you can have an offensive line to push the defensive line back and downfield.

You'll see right here he pretty much can pick any hole that he wants to be fullback, tight end, does a good job and he just picking his hole, doing a good job, putting his head down and picking up the extra yardage, protecting the ball, especially down here in the red zone territory.

Well, Jones helping out on that last tackle and you look at the fullback, Joe McDonald, number 22 back into the game for the wolves high formation twins right this time give it to McDonald straight forward ten and he's got the five yard line and close to a first down Jeffrey Taylor making the stop but not before the Bulls continue to drive deep.

I don't know if Coach Woods is the play caller or not right here, but he's doing a great job.

Little inside trap play by the offensive line.

They are really stepping up their game right there, but they really keep it.

McIntosh off balance and causing a lot of confusion with the bootlegs and the counter plays, the inside traps and the sweeps and really mixing up his game, playing very nicely.

They've gone out a lot.

Was John Davis live at the Georgia Dome?

Second and short for the wolves on the Macintosh five is McDonald right side touchdown Joey McDonald and Gifford's up 13 to nothing with 528 to play in the first half.

Dave, you don't want to be repetitive, but look right here, the offensive line just really knocked McIntosh off and Macintosh, his defense has some problems right now trying to figure out.

This offense markers for the point after and that one is no good wide to the right that time so the score remains 13 to zip but Buford well in control of this football game and you're going to look at that in on the touchdown Joey McDonald the fullback I haven't heard a lot of him out of the game today let's take another look at that TD.

See the offensive line trapping a little bit outside trap play right there and Knox the defensive line lineman out just opens the hole and it makes it a whole lot easier when you're running backs have the ability to pick holes instead of be forced to run through one hole that's opening up.

So this is, you know, again, talking about Macintosh being one dimensional and running the football, one of the things that they do not want to do is they don't want to get down too much too early simply because running the ball, unless they could just break a lot of big runs, it's it's going to be hard for him to catch up.

Coach Dexter Wood going to be feeling pretty good right now about his team 13 to nothing over McIntosh County Elliott Bray boys set to kick off for the wolves and they're going to look at Jermaine Austin stands inside his own five yard line and really still early in the ball game, John.

But this is almost a do or die drive right.

Now for the Buccaneers.

Well, they need to establish something and establish it in a hurry again.

You don't want to get down.

Too far this time.

A low liner goes out of bounds in the direction of Will Jones.

So this ball will come up to the 35 and at least the Bucs will have pretty good field position.

View first defensive line.

Now the illegal procedure on the kickoff penalty will be assessed at the 35.

Feet for his defensive line especially has been before his defensive lines also have taken taken control of the line of scrimmage as well.

So they need to continue to keep that up.

And obviously, you want to put Macintosh in a passing situation simply because they can.

And that would benefit your defense.

Bruford has sustained a couple of long drives too, and that's kept the Buccaneers defense on the field.

They seem to have gotten worn out a little bit there towards the end of that drive, allowing you to run the Football Buccaneers back on offense.

Quick, give this time to Austin straight up the middle.

May have gotten a yard or so, but as you can see, eight, nine white shirts in there making the stop, carbines, Scranton, all kind of folks in there to tell you what I like that here in script 221 tackles number 76 for Buford, eight sacks, two.

For a defensive lineman.

Those numbers are very good.

You look at Coach Bradley Warren, who's trying to get his team going and now he's going to signal for a timeout.

So the Bucs want to talk things.

Over here, Dave.

They looked a little bit confused right now.

It's hard, you know, Buford is inside, guys inside the box in between the tight ends have really done a great job and just not allowed them to establish any type of running game.

You can see right there, he's not very happy.

They're going to look at Coach Dexter Wood.

We talked to him a little bit earlier in the week and found out about how proud he is of his football team.

I'm proud for our team and our community to be in this situation in the Dome and the semifinals before one two state championship in 1978.

We've always referred to that and now we have a chance to refer to something in the present.

So you can imagine what that means to a group of young teenagers and their parents and our community.

So you feel a great deal of pride and excitement, enthusiasm for them.

Coach will have certainly done an excellent job at that Buford program, 58 and 14, I believe.

Overall, that's a pretty impressive record.

Well, you know, the important thing right there that he said was the community involvement with parents.

And it's nice to have the backing of them, both of them, because that only makes your program that much more successful.

For 56 remaining in the second half.

And so movement over on the right side of that offensive line by the Buccaneers now a dead ball foul but spot on the offense replay second day of like Jonathan Jones may have looked at it lifted up a little early there.

Again Buford put McIntosh in a position they don't like to be in third and long situation too but they're going to blitz up the middle as they possibly can to not let them get a running start and let Edwards or Brown be able to break through there.

14 yards for a first down.

Gilbert looking to throw does so long he's got a man knocked away though Great defensive play that time by Sean Strickland number six a sophomore knocking it away, intended for Lewis to tie it in right there.

Number 36.

What a great play in the secondary.

That heads up play, making sure they go for the football and not get a pass interference on that one.

See right here, a little play action pass right there.

Linebackers bite opens up a little saying throw the ball down there and actually he had had them open there for a second.

Third down and 14 Gilbert looking to throw once again being pressured and has Lewis this time complete but a nice job of hanging on that time by number 32 Westbrook box and the bucks will be shy of a first down by about seven yards three.

Today they've showed that they can throw the ball so I imagine we're going to see that a little bit more as the game goes along.

Not really been able to establish the run right now.

So they're going to try to open it up as much as they can to see if he can spread out that defense a little bit.

What you don't want to do is fall behind by 20 or so and you would be forced to throw the football as the second half gets their will.

Jones eats away a low whiner.

I believe it actually hits the player down if he keeps them out of the return, this one and it goes dead after 33.

So Buford back offense once again with 406 to play and the second quarter here's what's coming up a little bit later on today.

You've got Charlton County, last year's single-A champ who jumped up to Double-A.

They're taking on the America's Panthers and of course, triple-A.

A little bit later on this afternoon, around 3 p.m., Jackson Red Devils going up against Steve Fitzgerald.

Purple hurricanes and Sean Crowe a little bit later on.

And of course, tonight, the nightcap, the big five, a win, a matchup, stars bowl, Panthers the Cinderella story this year taking on the Harrison Hoyas first and ten for Buford on information from their own three this time oh little reverse here to Peterson but he is in trouble reverses field gets back in the middle.

Still on his feet 35 4045 to midfield and more down to the Buccaneer 30.

Six.

Unbelievable run that time by pick.

Sam and I, you know what.

We've been talking about.

I tell you what, that boy is special.

It's had a reverse going out to the left hand side over there for his side of the field.

It does a good job of he sees that he's got trouble in the backfield.

You see the offensive linemen pulling right there, got trouble waiting on it.

But you know what?

He never, never stops his feet moving.

And that's what makes him so special.

This this young man's going to be a great athlete, going to be a great player for Florida State.

You just see following his blockers right there and doing a great job.

Of like kind of like Peter Warrick on that one.

I'm sure that's what Coach Brown's hoping for, too.

The first down and ten from the 41 Buford Drive and once again, they're so short, the flat line saying it this time at the 30 and take it down that time by number two.

Richard Jordan, eight about five yards for Buford on the quick hitter.

You can just see the confidence in Buford right now, being able to just pretty much do anything they want to do.

Offensive line, does a good job quarterback here does a good job setting up and following through, catches the ball, which is the most important thing and protects it.

Another Sam getting into the arc here a little bit.

Lauren Sam not quite as many catches as Keke, but nonetheless still an important part of this offense.

Second down and a short five handoff.

Aiken That's back in the middle.

He's going to have about two yards to bring up, third down.

And about to Hobbs and.

McIntosh combining on the stop here.

There you can look at Ernest McIntosh, 35 tackles this year.

He's also got six sacks and.

It's been able to get back in the backfield and cause some problems.

But Buford kept them off balance and kept that defensive line on on their hills.

And it makes it a lot easier for the offense to operate when, you know, the defense didn't, you know, don't have a chance to pin their ears back and cause problems in the backfield twins.

On the short side of the field, toss Nathan Aiken left side driving towards that first down marker.

It's going to depend on the spot.

Third down he needed about a four to go.

Hard to tell from right here if he did get the first down there.

But you'd have to think that Buford will go for it on fourth down, considering that they have controlled the line of scrimmage most of the first half.

And in the process they've kind of taken the wind out of the Buccaneers defensive unit.

They're a little bit and it looks like they're going to be about an inch or two short and that's about it.

So I think you're right, John.

I think you'd have to assume that Buford, the way they've been moving the football will probably just line it up and go for it.

Well, the offensive line has been controlling the line of scrimmage.

So there's really no reason to get away from it.

Look for a quarterback, sneak right here because that's about the last thing that Buford has not done.

So put it up front with the offensive linemen.

These are situations, as an ex lineman myself used to love and embrace because we wanted to be counted on to get these short yardage situations.

And, you know, they have to be like goodness as well.

Buford breaks the huddle with twins to the right and I formation bucket here is going to put five guys up there and they give it to McDonald.

The fullback he's got the first down and more inside the 15 may have lost the handle on the football there.

Towards the tail end of the play, but I believe they're going to keep the ball with the wolves.

Brown can't cause the phone will right there and again go back to the offensive line.

Does a great job opening up the hole.

You'll see right up the middle here just just moves them off of the ball.

Right guard, right tackle, right up the middle right there.

He's not holding the ball like he should.

But you can see right there with the ground caused the fumble.

And as we know, the ground cannot.

Do that one on one with Antoine Armstrong there.

And Armstrong wrestles him to the turf.

First down, though, just inside the 15 to give and take it right side tries to turn the corner.

He's got the 15, ten, and inside the ten to about the eight and mark out there.

But quickly, throw it down to our sideline man, Ryan Salmond.

Thanks a lot, guys.

Almost a tough break from McIntosh there.

Well, McIntosh this half, they've taken a page out of or excuse me Buford this have taken a page out of Macintosh but running the ball with two running touchdowns right now it's 13 and nothing.

Take it back upstairs you guys.

With the wolves in the house.

Who let the wolves out?

That's what they ought to be saying today.

So far, it's been all Buford, 13, nothing driving again second down and five from inside the ten ache and toss away the left side drives down to the six and he just stopped there.

After a gain of about three tackle by Lewis once again leader is Lewis has been all over the along with that man right there number one roll Jones.

There he's doing a great job trying to be one of the leaders and bright spots on this Macintosh team right now.

But it looks like it's going to be third and yeah, third and short right here and obviously puts it back on the offensive line to be able to to get the first down.

But they've done a great job of playcalling and mixing up the run and pass the sweeps, the counter plays, the inside traps.

So it's a little bit confusing for Macintosh to be able to do that defense.

Buford Right now.

The Wolves call a timeout on offense.

Just a reminder, prep sports plus, Georgia's only state.

One high school sports and academics program returns to the TV lineup Saturday, January 20th at 11 a.m.. Join Jim Tanaka and the entire prep sports Plus team for a look at high school sports around Georgia.

That's Saturday, January the 20th, exclusively on Georgia Public Television.

Good look at the defensive huddle there for McIntosh, trying to rally, trying to somehow hold this hot Buford offense out of the end zone.

Nice aerial shot there of the dome.

Third down and short.

Big play here.

For both sides.

Twins left formation McDonald five inside the 5/1 down to the McIntosh two and a half.

Jeffrey Taylor making the stop for the Buccaneers players on McDonald.

He's got some size, that's for sure he.

Donald's definitely been the workhorse this drive and doing a good job protecting the ball and just lowering his head and going and trying to pick up as much as he can.

Got a good situation here on the two yard line.

Look for Aiken to maybe get it to pad his touchdown stance.

He's had plenty this year in capital still very good game.

First and goal from the three on the left side driving towards the goal line but McIntosh defenses are not.

On this boil at all it's Lewis making yet another stop and continues to wind down inside a minute now.

Stay right here.

McDonald going through the Darius just throws his blocker down, throws the tackle down and does a good job locking up with him to allow his linebackers and the other defensive players to get there to help him tackle them.

Think I might be running away from him?

He's been all over the field tonight.

Second and goal from a yard and a half away I formation give McDonald once again right side into the end zone for the touchdown Joey McDonald with his second TD of the morning and Buford is up in a big way 19 to nothing and Kevin markers will look to add the extra points.

It's it's got to be extremely happy right now.

Kick is up this time missed the second one and he's going to miss this one too.

It bounces off the right upright so the score remains 19 to nothing to missed extra points for the bulls and hopefully for their sake, that won't come back to haunt them.

Great clock management right there.

23 seconds left again, one dimensional teams running the ball.

It's going to be hard for them to to have a chance to score a touchdown unless they could possibly break a long run.

You'll see right here.

Offensive line again, does a great job.

A little inside trap right there for McDonald.

You know, basically just picks his whole runs on into the end zone for a second score this morning.

You could look at it from another angle up top from behind the end zone McDonald just drives is way over that goal line can't talk about the blocking enough either for the Buford Wolves it has been unbelievable.

Jeff Marrow, Calvert Rogers, Young Scranton, they've all got the job done today.

Well, I know we've been talking about him a lot, but I tell you, when you control the ball and control the line of scrimmage like they have, you know, you need to give these boys as much credit as you possibly can this time.

Number three, David Pollen sack, the senior kicker will handle the kickoff duties for Buford.

It's a low liner with just 23 seconds remaining picked up by Edwards at the 16.

Edwards trying to get to the left side, but he is tripped up after 28.

Nice job that time by the wolves.

Jimmy Stewart on special teams.

Stewart is a guy who's quietly made a big impact on this ball game defensively.

Special teams.

We've seen number 12 a lot today.

A great athlete, all the field, like you said, does a good job running down the field and kind of zoning in on the return man and puts him in the 20 yard line, which would be surprised right now if Coach Warren probably just run the clock out, get inside and try to regroup and get these boys coming out second half and trying to run their game plans.

Just 18 seconds remaining here in quarter number two.

Gilbert rolling right, though, maybe trying to throw, but he's just going to keep it.

He's going to take it on a 40 yard loss back without the 15 Aaron Sprint and Jimmy Stewart once again Stewart in on another hit and the final seconds are going to tick down here in the first half.

And the Buford Wolves from Buford, Georgia, with a 19 to nothing halftime lead over McIntosh County Academy from Berry in Georgia and the Buford faithful going absolutely nuts as they have reason to.

Buford dominated the whole first half.

After the first couple of drives by each team, they kind of settled down and got into the game plans and Buford coach was got to be extremely happy with the way his team's come out and and really dominated both sides of the line of scrimmage and puts them in a good position to come back the second half to to continue on and try to move to the next step.

It was, of course, for the big first half.

And with that, we will go down to our man, Brian is standing by with Coach Wood.

All right, Coach.

All right, coach, we know that you're primarily a passing team, but you guys ran the ball very well in the first half.

Let's talk about that.

Well, you know, we believe it to be physical.

You got to be able run the football.

And I think our line of scrimmage is doing a great job.

They're tough up front, though, and we've mixed in a few passes, which I think has kept a little off edge.

But that's the thing is our defense has got to shut out there.

And we controlled Austin for the most part.

So that's something I wanted to comment on your defensive team up huge so far in the first half setting down off is that primary focus for you guys coming into the game?

Well, we've been pretty good defensively all year and we try to take away what the other team does best.

You know, they've been a come from behind team all year.

We know we've got a great challenge, but we're playing well right now.

All right.

Thanks a lot, folks.

Back upstairs.

You all right there?

You have a 19 to nothing.

Our score at halftime, Buford over McIntosh County Academy, the Buford Band of Walls getting ready for the halftime show.

In the meantime, we'll take a timeout and be right back to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

You're watching the Georgia High School Association Football Championships on TV.

They're going to look at their halftime score here in the first of two single, a semifinal matchups 19 Irving Buford all over McIntosh County.

Right now let's go in for one field side, the Band of Wolves marching band from Buford.

High School and you need anything good to go back on right here, right at the right hand.

Here with band director Freddy Martin.

High School, for one.

It's got to be great that the team is just kind of kicking butt here at halftime for two to have their Band of Wolves here.

Tell me about the experience of the students in the community.

All the school's been electric all week.

Our kids have had such a wonderful time.

The people here at the dorm, the GHC people, everybody's been so kind.

I think the thing that we're all the most excited about is next year with our head football coach is such a wonderful man and it's so great to see him in this position and the team doing what they're doing.

It's really exciting for all of us.

Well, that's the way it is, is a very happy man right now.

Now, this piece that you guys are performing here, tell me, how long did it take you to get this piece in the choreograph and everything else?

Our first band rehearsal was in July and we weren't basically every day from the end of July until the middle of October.

On marching band and marching.

Band music.

Then after the middle of October, we play a concert.

By Tuesday night was our Christmas concert.

So the students are doing double duty.

They're getting ready for a concert and making certain that we're prepared to support our team.

Well, you've got to be you got to be very pleased with the performance of your band out here.

Now, one other thing.

Do you have a prediction for the end of this game?

I it's going to start.

It looks like they're.

Going, oh, Dexter seems always like veterans.

But I can tell you they always play better in the second half, even when they're ahead.

So I expect, you know, very positive plays for coach good in the home everybody in Buford because we're all totally involved in this.

All right.

All right.

Thank you, Mr. Martin.

Right now it's 19 zero, Buford High at the half.

We're going to go to a break.

Stay with us.

Thank you very.

You're watching the Georgia High School Association Football Championships on TV.

Well, they're going to look at our halftime scored 19 to nothing.

Buford on top of McIntosh County Academy.

Dave Gardner, along with John Davis, bringing you all the action right here on Georgia Public Television, a John that was a first half totally dominated by the wolves of Buford High School.

I'll tell you what, Buford came in with a great game plan.

They've really mixed it up really well.

They've run that this throw.

Threw the ball and run the ball.

Excuse me, get that out.

But they've really dominated the line of scrimmage and that's one of the things that I know Coach was really extremely happy about.

And what they need to do is they need to concentrate and come back out in the second half with that same intensity.

If they can, they're going to go home with a win and play for the state next week.

Meanwhile, McIntosh County Academy flip side for these guys, they've struggled a little bit in the first half.

They've got to get something going here and probably early on in the third.

Quarter, well, it is the complete opposite for them and their offensive line really hasn't done a very good job and they're not a passing team and that hurts you when you run the ball 95% of the time.

As we've been talking about, it's hard to come back from a three touchdown lead.

So, you know, I don't know what he's doing in there right now to change the game plan.

But if if they don't try to get the ball up in the air a little bit more, it's not really going to matter.

All right.

Now let's go ahead and check in with some more halftime festivities.

Let's throw it down to the field.

You guys okay in here with the coach for McIntosh High School?

Now, Coach, it's got to be a bit of a disappointing first half.

What kind of justice is going to have to make the second half?

We got to come back out and play basic football.

We were down like this against Points County and we're just a little nervous, a little scared, if will calm down, we'll be back in football game.

Okay.

Were there anything specific as far as like defense or offense are you going to maybe try to throw the ball a little bit more and just continue to pound the ball down to throw with this big deficit.

We're going to try to score in all the way we've scored all year.

Okay.

Thanks a lot, Coach.

Back upstairs to you.

For your listening to Team.

McIntosh County Academy.

Man all they're 20 or 19 or nothing or halftime score.

Buford on top right now just wow that's quite a quite a piece of asset right there.

I tell you what, I don't think I've ever seen anything like that, John.

You know, that's one of the nice things about high school again, is you get to enjoy the band and they really work hard.

My nieces in the band and they almost go through the same type of training camp.

We used to go through where they get up in the morning and work for about three weeks straight and prepare their sets.

And really you can tell by watching them on the field.

And keep in.

Mind, they also had to travel up from Bury in Georgia, run us out of Brunswick.

So they're just as much traveling as the football team.

They also had to be here early in the morning as well.

As you get a look at the smoke far, though, the smoke has come from the Buford High School offense.

So they have really done an excellent job.

Let's go ahead and listen in now.

This solo.

Was a great performance by the McIntosh Buccaneers.

Now, right here I have Todd Ebert, who is the band director for them.

Could you tell me this piece that you guys just performed?

Oh, we did Son of a Sailor, The Music of Jimmy Buffett.

Okay.

Okay.

Now, could you tell me, how did you guys come about choosing this performance?

As you said?

Well, we live in a coastal community.

All of my parents are shrimpers and I've always loved Jimmy Buffett.

The show just seemed to fit with our atmosphere in the air, in the community.

And I just like to that was a great volcano action that you guys had there.

And right now we're going to go ahead and go to break.

So I appreciate you talking about these 19 zero at the half you fired up on Macintosh High School.

We'll be back after a moment here to go through all your weapons.

You're watching the Georgia High School Association football champions, chips on TV.

You stop by 19 over McIntosh County Academy as we get ready for the third quarter kickoff.

What a D-Day big first half by Buford they move the football up and down the field, particularly as the half went on.

And they seem to have worn out that buccaneer defense.

One of the things that Buford really has to be not concerned, but they don't want to have a letdown.

And we look at the stats right here, 19 to nothing, 9/1 downs, 46 yards rushing or 164 yards rushing, 46 passing for 210 total yards versus 74.

McIntosh No turnovers has been pretty much an error free game.

One of the things that Buford really has to pay attention right now not getting overconfident.

This team from McIntosh can score.

They've got 53 rushing touchdowns.

And you look at the stats right now are the highlights and he starts out with a nice pass play, does a good job bringing it in, and he really had a great balanced attack.

That's where to watch Webb Aiken here a little bit, some nice carries by Webb.

He was certainly a workhorse in the first half.

Offensive line, does a great job opening holes and then you can choose your holes like that.

It sure makes it a lot easier for him.

We're also going to see Joey McDonald here, too, who has two touchdowns in the first half.

Does a great job just lowering his head and following his blockers up the offensive line.

Can't say you know so much about them doing a great job of dominating.

You see Sam turning something into nothing and does a great job just following his blockers right there.

And he's a he's a terrific athlete.

He's going to be special.

You're going to look at the second touchdown run by Joey McDonald, which put Buford up 19 to have a nice little run by Jermaine Austin here.

Not a whole lot of highlights for McIntosh in the first half, but it's.

Certainly a nice run there.

Well, they've had two runs of over 25 yards and that's really been their whole offense.

So depending on what Coach Warren does and the said to him in the locker room, we might see a whole different ballgame in the second half.

Looks like Jermaine Austin, the go to guy will kick it away for McIntosh.

Pick Sam back deep for the Buford Wolves.

Also it looks like Webb can standing back there with him.

There you go.

Look at P.K.

standing at his own ten yard line.

We are set and ready to go here.

The third quarter officially underway from the Georgia in Atlanta, taken out the sixth by Webb Aiken.

Across the 20, finds a little seam and gets up to about 423.

And Buford will have the football and on offense to start the second half.

Very important right here for McIntosh to try to set the tempo on the defensive side, get the ball back as soon as they can.

It's very important that when they do get the ball back, they're really got to try to get in the end zone.

One of the things you might also see is going after the ball and trying to call some turnovers and get some big plays so the momentum can change.

Back over to McIntosh side.

Robert Brown with the tackle on the kickoff for the Buccaneers and Buford will take over here to start the third quarter.

Travis Payne, the quarterback and it looks like we've got a timeout called on the field here an early timeout called by McIntosh.

So a little confusion perhaps they didn't like the set that they saw, maybe didn't have the right folks in.

Well, the problem there was I think they only have nine players on the field.

Couple of them come running on to the field.

So you hate to you hate to lose a timeout but kind of it kind of shows me right now, Dave, if their mind is not in the ballgame and whether they're a little shellshocked or what it might be, but hopefully they'll be able to get thing turned around and play the type of football they're used to.

It looks like there is a problem with the clock here in the stadium, so we will try to keep it as best we can here.

It's like showing 1154 as we get underway.

Travis Payne on that formation, they give us to McDonald straight up the middle on first down.

He's going to have about a yard, yard and a half maybe as he tries to get up close to the edge, 24.

Now what you're going to see, you're going to see Buford just come back with the same game plan they did in the first half.

They're going to run the counter plays where the left guard are, the guards and the tackles pull side and run a bootleg off of that, a variation inside traps.

And you're going to see him pass the ball and try to get P.K.

the ball.

Big play receiver average in about 30 yards and they will try to get the ball in his hands when they have the right opportunity.

Second, down in about nine and four and a quick hitter there complete to the 37 yard line.

That's the number 19 for a for that would be Matt what do you see split in four of Buford he makes his first reception of the afternoon and it's a first down for the wolves.

Nice quick pass right here.

And good job bringing it in.

You see a little play and throws it right over the linebacker's head right there, does a good job protecting the ball and picks up the first down.

Buford once again moving the chains, picking up right where they left off in that half.

Doing a great job as they have, just mixing it up.

Keep it.

McIntosh on Hills.

Twins laugh now Sam goes in motion to the right side with it on five in the box for McIntosh Payne looking to throw this around the flat He's got them in Oh drop that time intended for a number 22 Johnny McDonald out of the backfield but couldn't quite hang on to it.

You know Dave, you go back and we've talked so much about PK and his athletic ability.

What you're seeing right now is that they're kind of using him as a decoy, trying to get a couple of guys to cover him, and that would open up the running back coming out of the backfield or a tight end or the other wide receiver.

So doing a good job using PK and always, you know, not just throwing on the ball but using them as a decoy as well.

1046 Showing here in the third just underway, second down and ten for Buford wins.

Right.

Once again, nothing is in motion out-of-state naked Whiteside tries to bust through there still on his feet going nowhere may have got a yard or so on forward progress a nice job that time by McIntosh good pursuit by.

The linebackers going in there and filling up the hole and not allowing Aiken to get forward momentum right here you can see that the linebacker comes through and just made some right in the hole and stands him up so as other defensive guys can come around and try to get as many guys on him and try to, you know, there's got to be a little tension and gouging and they're trying to get that ball cost up to create a turnover.

Javon Howard making now the last stop at an unheard of ten tackles for Howard coming in third down and nine wins left Payne looking to throw being pressure throws he's got.

Saying oh ball pops loose at the 48 picked up by Charles Edwards 45 and is tipped up at the fourth 40 and finally down at the 38.

But a big play and that's what the Buccaneers needed right there.

Exactly.

We talked about the four calls, the turnover.

K did a good job bringing it in.

It looks like the DBS for McIntosh did a good job of just going in and hitting on the ball right there and stripping it just like that.

Really.

That's a tough play for a pick.

Did a good job, picked it up, was aware.

McIntosh was aware where they were, picked it up and got a good little gain out of it, but a nice little pass and just McIntosh able to get in there and strip the ball and hopefully turn turn the momentum.

And you can see right there taking a big shot Payne did.

Quick handoff there.

Oh, my gosh.

That's Austin about three yards.

John Howard was the guy who put the pressure on Payne and then Antoine Armstrong stripped it loose.

I mean, Edwards, of course, ran it back inside the big four forties, so maybe that'll get something going for McIntosh.

Now they've got an excellent bill position here.

Changes the momentum a little bit in the second half.

McIntosh needs to get the ball in the end zone, obviously being down 19 to nothing, but that's exactly what they wanted.

And I'm sure that's one of the things that Coach Warren said in there was try to close the turnover and give herself a chance, especially in Gifford's territory.

Versus is a team that had been down before in the postseason and into the rally.

He was off to the left side.

He's got 30, 25, 20, ten, 15, five touchdowns.

Jeremy Austin and the Buccaneers are on the board.

Great job with Jermaine getting outside on the corner right there.

I saw P.K.

come through and just couldn't quite take the right angle to pick him up.

And again, Dave, two big plays in a row and that gives McIntosh a little bit more confidence coming out in the second half.

35 yards on the run for Austin.

He's on the board.

And now Robert Brown with a temporary extra.

Points straight on kicker and this one's going to be shakes off to the right side no.

Good so neither team able to hit the extra points today and the score remains 19 to 6 but McIntosh was, if anything, a confidence booster on that.

Drive.

Well, two nice plays right there, the turnover, and then turn around and get Austin the ball.

But you'll see right here fooling around just coming off the ball in tight end does a good job and the running back right there does a good job that just allows Austin to turn up field and nobody was their pursuit was a step or two behind then really didn't challenge Austin to get into the end zone and great confidence booster for him and what they need to do now as a defense this needs to go back out there and try again to close the turnovers.

But on the other side, Buford just needs to settle down and continue to run their game plan as they did in the first half.

And actually that drive they were moving the ball pretty well, that drive.

So we'll see what happens.

Coming up.

Panel, Jermaine Austin will handle the kickoff duties right off the bench there.

So not much of a breather for Mr. Austin.

He will be to the way he had 49 carries last week in that game against Athens Academy.

And he will take it away Sam and.

Webb back inside the ten for Buford and a straight on a.

Low liner this time is going to be handled by the up pass Lewis who carries across the 35 up to about the 37 Jamie Stewart rather number 12 on the return.

Other games coming up today of course, the big Double-A match up, the Charlton County Indians, last year's single-A champ taking on the America's Panthers, triple-A Jackson Fitzgerald going at it.

That ought to be a good one there.

And of course, a little bit later on today, you've got the quarter in 20 match ups, if you will.

Shaw out of Columbus, taking on the Caro Serra makers and five a stars Mill Panthers taking on the Harrison Hoyas out of Kennesaw.

That ought to be a good one.

Their first down and ten for Buford from the 38 information give OCC and left side not much there nice job by the Buccaneers and all of sudden John, the momentum seems to be turning a little bit in favor of Macintosh.

Yeah.

One of the things you're going to see Macintosh do right here is they're going to try to bring their linebackers up and fill the gaps and not let they can get up, get started downhill.

And that's exactly what they've got to do.

They've got to make the big plays and you see them come here, do a good job taking on the fullback.

It allows the other defensive players to get around and game tackle.

So a short game that time, any second down a long nine was right this time as Henderson and Warren Sam off to the right Haynes going to take it look at the throw out the flat He's got Warren Sam at the 44 dives across the 45 and it's going be a pick of about eight yards.

Charles Edwards making the stop and the secondary.

Charles made a nice effort.

Open field tackle right there.

It's allowed to get the first down puts him in third down situation believe what you're going to see Macintosh try to blitz and fill the gaps up so they can't get the yardage the middle but as you can see right here does a good job wrapping up and not allowing them to get the first down and putting them in that third and short situation.

That's Lawrence second catch the afternoon, third down and a long yard yard and a half gray boy to the right side stack that way and the game is taken right side first down a more cross midfield 4540 still on his feet to the 35 and finally driven out.

We're going to call him back at the 37 I believe are the 30 actually the 33 yard line.

We're going to give him the 33.

But a first down here the way.

Offensive line picked it up a little bit more right here gates open that opens the hold the tight end and tackle right there taking the linebacker off the ball defensive end just does a good job keeping his head down and thinking up the first down and protecting the football.

We saw the highlights of the first half a and he was certainly on a flier and a big run there puts Buford deep into McIntosh territory they going to look at it a 17 carries for 117 yards already and a touchdown first and ten ball on the 33.

And formation once again Foster Aiken left side gets back in the middle.

No game this time, though, maybe a couple of yards drives down close to the 31, but a nice job up front.

Good pursuit on the backside by McIntosh not allowing Aiken to cut the ball back.

Go down the middle of the field.

There is Lewis.

Once again.

And on the stop.

See right here, he doesn't have a hole and he tries to cut back in right there.

The Darius does a good job just going down the line and playing his keys and staying disciplined and waiting for him to come back and does a good job taking him down.

Second down in about eight formation.

Once again, receivers left.

Right this time draw, but going nowhere.

Aiken caught in the backfield.

And dropped for a five yard loss.

Mark Underwood, number 50, coming in there.

Underwood in midair.

Is that a good job of sniffing that one out right there?

Does a good job being a sinner and going back untouched and but Darius won't let him get out either.

So good.

Good play right there by big number 50.

Mark Underwood for the Wolves.

Faced with a third and long third down about 13 ball back out to the 36 they've got to get inside the 25 for a first down came looking to throw looking long being pressured just hit throws it up for Sam and knocked away by Charles Edwards Nice coverage once again on Sam by that man right there.

Number 34.

He has stepped it up big today.

That might be why they're not throwing the pig here.

Charles has done an excellent job staying on him and covering him all day like a blanket and quarterback.

Never really got a chance to get his feet set to be able to get a good throw on that.

But Charles, don't take anything away.

He did a great job of you know, he's risen up to the challenge.

He's heard a lot about, P.K.

and he's really taken on the challenge head on, done a very good job.

P.K.

Sam stands at Midfield Hill, booted away and try to pin McIntosh deep.

Charles Edwards inside the ten Going to let this one bounce and it does so inside the five and oh the wolves nearly kept that one in but it will come out to the 20 carbine right there.

Number nine had a shot at it, but unable to keep it out of the end zone.

So 551 to play here, a third quarter, 96 Buford still on top of Macintosh with a big defensive stand.

And now to get the ball back.

Another good effort for McIntosh.

Nice stuff.

And you're exactly right.

Come up with the big play with Charles Evans knocking down the pass.

They've got a chance to get the ball now before it's got to get their composure back a little bit from that first drive and just stay disciplined and stay to the game plan that's given them, not let them get the big yardage.

Well, this time Steve Austin lights out across the 2025.

And his hips just shy of the 20 65k Sam but a nice run there.

They're going to have about five yards right now.

It gives you a little bit more flexibility as 19 to 6 middle of the third quarter.

Tell me you'll see him running right here.

You see the right guard pulling out right there.

And here you see fighting for those extra yardage.

You see PK coming up and making the play as well as number eight.

Stanley Great job by the.

Camera crew there.

524 remaining.

In the third.

As you can see, this, they fly off from the left side.

Sam breaking shooter on a safety blitz.

Austin breaks it 35, 40, 45.

Driving up to the 47 yard line is Jermaine Austin.

What a run that time Ryan Carbine had to bring him down, too.

But all of a sudden that man is heating up.

Did a good job.

He so it's like there's a flag on the field right now.

Don't know what that does.

It looks like it's going to bring it back.

But he did a great job right there.

Jermaine did have a chance to see D.K.

come through there and he picked the wrong hole.

And that allowed Jermaine to get out on the outside and turn it up field.

But unfortunately, a penalty is going to.

Go to nullify that.

During the.

Run, we had holding on the offense.

Ten yard foul from the spot on the foul.

So Bradley Warren right there, the coach, not happy with that last call there.

And then it's going to back the Buccaneers up well inside the 20 yard line.

Wow.

Hurts to have a penalty, especially after a long run like that.

McIntosh Getting a little bit of momentum and it kind of takes it out of him a little bit right here.

Ball spotted all the way back to the 16.

And to go back to Austin once again, it's over one man and he's going to get about a. Yard or two of that back and that's although nice job in the middle by Buford Carbide Chandler and Stanley combining for the stop pass here you look at Joey McDonald who's had a big day on both sides of the football, two touchdowns on offense and numerous tackles on defense and special teams.

When you're playing against a guy like Jermaine.

And one of the important things to do, Dave, is not to over pursue because he has the cutback ability but looks like Buford kind of picked up the last couple of plays and.

Not over pursuing but.

Also making sure that they travel down the line of scrimmage to let him get on the outside corner.

Third down and 13 halfback pass Austin look at the thought.

Oh, it's rejected if you will Aaron Grant the defensive end knocking it away.

And that's a big play there defensively, they were looking for the home run ball.

They're trying to throw off balance right here to against Buford.

And it looks like the big tackle right there does a good job, gets his hand up.

He's about six, six, six, seven and does a good job and puts him in fourth situations.

So Buford steps it up on that series.

Will Jones number will put it away from his own five yard line, dangerous territory here, but Buford laying off of it, setting up for a return LO winner.

And it's going to be down to right at the 46 Ernest McIntosh with the football.

And it goes back over to Buford.

Good field position for Buford right here.

Try to get back in their game plan a little bit.

They move the ball pretty well, the second series of the second half and you can look for him to do that again, mix up the pass a little bit, see if they can get the offensive line to to pick up where they left off in the first half.

Before his offense has averaged run around 40 points in the playoffs, 47 to nothing over GMC in the first round, 40 to 12 over there as well, 35 to 18 over Miller County, a class they some.

Semifinalist last year first down a ten foot field position at the.

Macintosh forces hand on Aiken but how they lost a yard there nice job by Lewis up front once again.

Good penetration McIntosh had going through there driving through it you see right here a little misdirection handoff right here you know who's sitting right there waiting on him the Darius Battle.

Van Lewis, quite a ballplayer.

80 tackles coming in three sacks in the 92nd down.

And 11 wins right now this time of year.

As the Stanley the fullback he drives across.

The 45 to about the 42 Alphonso Stanley the sophomore 43 Taylor and Jones combining for the stop.

As an offensive lineman.

Well, Darius is one of those defensive linemen that you hate to play against because he's small and he's so quick.

You can never really get your hands on him.

And he's really made an impact on this on this defense so far in the game and really done a good job in giving these kids offensive linemen a lot of fits pocket.

To use to roll down to the 240 mark Henderson a motion to the right and they will to throw setting up.

Being pressured though avoids one tackle still on the floor long down the field he's looking for gray boy but.

Overthrows him incomplete.

Nice job by McIntosh on the coverage Richard Jordan back there number two they're going to look at him Daniel Colson with a pass rush.

See right there, you got four defenders for McIntosh it's like the overthrow of just a little bit C Payne set up thrown opposite foot and he takes a big shot right there.

You know, he's got a feel there.

Yeah.

Especially from what areas?

Lewis So fourth down now.

Buford Putting it away because Sam from his own 45 high kick but short off the side of his foot once again, and they're going to mark this ball out at about the 32.

For McIntosh as defenses doing everything they can do, especially the last couple of series.

They've done a good job.

Now it's time for the offense to try to step up to 22 left to go in the third quarter.

And there's going to be a point time, too, where the clock plays a factor, but offensive line needs to pick up the intensity a little bit and get the get the ball to to see if he can break along one get a score.

McIntosh breaks the huddle.

Quarterback Daniel Gilbert once again, six six 200.

He's a big boy I mean Austin is back and the against Austin screwed up a little background and we're going to have a couple of yards Aaron Scranton making the stop 2 minutes 10 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

And all of a sudden, John, time is going to become a factor here before you know it, especially the way that these two run the football.

That clock's not going to stop.

Well, one of the things that Buford is trying to do is establish their run and run the clock off because they don't want Jermaine Austin getting the football.

And another thing, McIntosh is going to run the ball something because that's what they do.

No passing really in their offense at all.

Second down now by Davis to Austin trying to turn the corner and not a lot.

And they have gotten a couple of yards.

But the defense stringing it out, Sean Strickland over there, he's just a sophomore.

Ryan Carr by the junior, also knocking Mount Heck.

Sam did a good job right there not committing to early and just as you said stringing the defense out or the offense out, Jermaine not allowing him to find a hole to run through the defense did a good job.

And that's what you've got to do to stop this team, not allow him to pick and choose his holes, but force him to run where he doesn't want to.

Jermaine Austin has been compared.

Monty Williams.

So we will see in tomorrow's other classes to the final.

Game as Thomas 40.

Nine here is against Athens Academy.

Robert Brown in motion left side.

This time we're going to throw a quick hitter looking for the tide in that time McIntosh but knocked down by the wolves that was Aron Scranton who got into the pawn and he knocked down that halfback fastball to go to.

Helps to be six six on the defensive line he did great job he didn't bite for the run and did a good job getting those long arms up and walked in the pass and that saved a possible first down simply because the tight end right there was open.

It's one of those little pop pop passes that they throw.

He's definitely been the leader with 121 tackles this year.

Will Jones will booted away on fourth down and seven you for bringing some folks but Jones gets it out of there a little bit better punt and a fair catch by Sam inside the 40 Let's throw it down to the sideline with Brian Salmon.

All right, thanks, guys.

I talked with Jeff Parnell, who is the chaplain of Macintosh, and he said that they gave a big pep talk at halftime for the team to kind of come back.

They were down two weeks.

They were down two weeks ago at 13 to nothing to our Clayton County.

So they're hoping they can come back and win the game like they did last week.

All right.

Back upstairs, you know.

All right.

Thank you, Brian.

Minute 35 to play here in the third quarter and Macintosh will certainly have their work cut out for him barring a turnover here.

We're going to go in the fourth quarter that way and the bucks will certainly have to play catch up in a hurry due for breaks the huddle first and ten ball just inside their own 40 and the give is to Stanley once again the fullback.

He's got room across midfield and Moore stumbles and finally inside the 40th spot from behind.

By Richard Jordan.

But Stanley a step or two away of taking it all the way.

Great quick hitting play right up Looks like his left guard and left tackle does a good job keeping his feet moving.

See right here, the center and backside and the left guard and left tackle.

Do a good job running up field, running to greener pastures.

And he does a great job keeping his feet there, breaking the tackle, most importantly, holding on to the ball.

Yeah, he almost lost the handle on it right there.

Did a nice job of switching hands once he got the football.

So first down for the wolves, this time to Aiken changes direction, but he is going to be caught by Ernest Macintosh, finally brought down all the way back at the 47 Aiken trying to break away.

But Ernest was hanging on for life there.

What about to let him get away?

Well, good players make try to make big plays.

That is sometimes that you got to try to get to try to take what you can get.

But you'll see right here, the defense does a great job and you can can tell that the over pursuing right there and then coming back and just not allowing him to get any any more yards.

Macintosh came all the way from the other end to make that play as well.

Do we get a look at it for the season?

35 tackles, six sacks for Mr. Macintosh.

Second down and 17.

Once an emotional and white puts it on how painful to throw.

Does so deep and the flat and at once complete the pick Sam at the 35 and he will have the 32 yard line so a nice gain there.

Charles Edwards making another stop.

It's good way to pick up the chunk of yardage right there knowing you can go back to Old Faithful.

He's got down there.

There, give him a lot of cushion down there on those type of passes on the on the outside and does a good job.

Well that's going to do it for the third quarter our score.

Buford 19 McIntosh County six.

We'll take a timeout and be right back for the fourth and final quarter of play from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

You're watching the Georgia High School Association Football Championships on TV.

Dave Garner, along with John Davis live at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

They're going to look at the scoring by a quarter of you for doing all their damage in the second quarter with 19 points.

McIntosh counting, trying to turn it off a little bit that third quarter.

But they're certainly in a hole here to begin the fourth 19 to 6.

Buford on offense and driving once again ball on the 32 Travis Payne the quarterback under center Henderson in motion to the left.

And in on this time dame looking to keep it and roll inside the 25 down to about the 20.

Three and a first down nice job there by Payne looked like they were going option that time Jeffery Taylor combining with Richard Jordan to make the.

Hit and again this is something new that we have haven't seen right here does a good job of faking the handoff and following his guard right out here haven't seen it all day and picks up the first down.

He's got that running capability and that's exactly what they needed.

Perkins only got to run around 200 yards rushing on the year, carried the ball about 45 times.

Got it down there, though, first down inside the 25 and Payne this time going to hand off to McDonald back over the middle and he the final D Russell down a couple of buccaneers Jeffrey Taylor on the stump Taylor with 102 tackles this year a sack of two interceptions and you look at McDonald who's had a big day.

You know, it's going to be frustrating for McIntosh County Center because they feel like they're doing a good job of stopping.

Buford Coatsworth comes back up with a with a different running game or running play and kind of confuses.

Him a.

Little bit and makes it that much more tougher to defend.

Second down the long he's there's less this time and.

Payne will pick it out.

There to make it trying to turn the corner bounces off of one tackle still on his feet to the ten and inside the ten to about the eighth.

What a run that time by Aiken once again, Jeffrey Taylor tripped him up.

That's just good hard running right there by Aiken does a good job You'll see this following his fullback out there you see a DB that commits and this fullback does a good job just paving the way.

The wide receiver right there does a good job blocking downfield and keeps his legs moving.

He's been the workhorse today and doing a good job of making some smart decisions on where he's running.

It was about a tackle away from getting into the end zone.

First down, a goal for the Buford Wolves.

Ball spotted on the air formation and with McDonald blindside.

Picking this hole inside the five down to the.

Three.

McDonald trying to get in the end zone once again as Taylor and Armstrong combined for the hit.

He's already got two touchdowns today.

Dave We thought that the momentum had turned a little bit towards McIntosh, a side that looked like Buford had a chance to talk with Coach Wood, had a chance to talk to his offense, to kind of straighten them out a little bit and get a look around the guys.

Numbers nine carries 36 yards.

They go second go Aiken right time bounces off one type of to the goal line loses the handle on the football I.

Believe the wolves got it back, but we'll wait and see here.

They McIntosh saying they've got it, Buford saying they have it.

But I believe it's going to be the Buccaneers football.

So no official indication.

But yes, now it will.

It'll will be McIntosh as football.

That's a big play there.

Buford looking to put this football game away, basically and a big play there at the end of that one.

Again, your great backs try to make something happen.

It looks like he just got stopped right there and he's just trying to make a play and he fumbles before he hits the ground.

But I tell you, Dave, if you're going to fumble the one yard line, it's not a bad place to fumble because that puts McIntosh 99 yards away from a touchdown and.

They're going to look at turnovers zero at halftime a Buford all the seventh two turnovers here in the second half McIntosh trying to capitalize.

Over look out of his own zone coach Bradley Warren looking on he.

Did this time handoff Austin strength a little breaks out of there punches out of the hole and gets up to about these seven.

Jimmy Stewart making another tackle Check out that block that was able to spring Austin that time right here.

The left guard and left tackle do a good job getting movement up there and that allows Jermaine just to follow him down field, gives him a little bit more breathing room.

He continues to roll, though, 915 to play in the ball game.

The winner, of course, advancing on to play tomorrow's winner between Thomas and Lincoln County.

Second down this time, Gilbert on The Keeper up to about the 12th.

And he's going to be awfully close to a first down, no chance making the stop here.

Jeff Buford hangs on to this football game.

It'll be a rematch next week either way.

Let's take a look at that last one.

Good fake in there to just see him running.

Trying to get that first down does a good job.

Looks like it's going to pick up the first down and keep the chains moving.

But more importantly, he got out of bounds and stopped the clock.

And that those seconds are getting precious now.

So Gilbert indeed picks up the first down Natchitoches Blues defense.

Still some hands.

Well, great handoff this time.

Not a lot of room there lost its number call and once again Elliott Vrabel with the stop as we mentioned if Buford can hang on to win this football game, it'll be a rematch next week for the state championship because they've already played commerce once this year.

And Lincoln County, they defeated Lincoln County earlier in the season.

But once again, another heartbreaking loss, the final week of the regular season to rival commerce.

Look at that helmet right there.

Boy, he's been making some hits.

Those are the kind of helmets we like to see on the eye on the line of scrimmage is doing a good job, but heads with him getting down low and causing a lot of problems.

And there second down a nine for the bucks Austin Boston left side.

Nice job though by the Buford defense they were all over that with Ryan Farb on his shots Strickland with the hits.

Did you see right there the linebackers coming through but you see the good pursuit there just stringing out the play to allow the defenders to get up there and make the play.

And they've done a good job with that throughout the whole game, except for one of the series in the second or the third quarter where Jermaine scored.

But the overall Beavers defense has played really well.

They've played real sound.

Disciplined football sounds good for a number six, a sophomore, cornerback for the Wolves Brown in motion this time quick give no Gilmore going to keep it looking to throw long He's got him in there Oh overthrows his target that was laborious Lewis couldn't quite handle that one though he was paired up with number six for Buford Strickland.

Dave, when you're a passing or a all running football team, one, the things that's hard to try to accomplish is your downfield passing game.

It's because you don't work on it that much.

It surprises me a little bit that Coach Warren would just try to throw some balls to the tight ends or maybe the running backs out of the backfield.

So now on fourth down and nine, McIntosh looking to put it, that's the goal.

Jones Once again, he was on 43, another liner.

This one may be returnable.

I'll say I'm going to let it go as it takes a bounce and a nice bounce of that touch to add about these 43.

So Buford will get the football back with 754 to play.

Good decision for P.K.

not to touch that ball is coming in there kind of hot and you don't know how it's going to bounce on that turf.

But Buford gets the ball in great field position and you're going to see him try to establish the running game again, try to get this clock, clock ticking down to wrap this thing up for him.

Buford is a team that's been ranked number one most of the season.

In fact, number one, all the way up until that loss to commerce, they dropped down to number four.

And they're trying to prove here today that they are indeed the number one team in the state of Georgia.

In class a gray boy, emotional sex and the give bacon is runs into a wall guys for may have got a yard on a nice second effort there but that's all it'll bring up second down to nine.

Macintoshes defense played the counter play right there real well right guard right tackle for Buford comes calling out there with the defensive linemen instead of getting a lot of penetration just kind of played down the line and a big old boy right there, it'd be hard to move wherever he was lined up on the field.

That's Mark Underwood, number 50.

Certainly got some size to him.

He's healthy just, simple right now for the Buccaneers.

They've got to come up with a stop here on defense and in a hurry, an under center.

Right this time center nine.

Give Aiken once again left side and puts it towards make up breaks.

One tackle still on his feet to the midfield and then they give him the 49 over there with Arius Louis with another stop at Aiken hanging on to the football this time.

Yeah, he's covering it with two hands.

And I'll tell you what, Stanley, number eight put a crushing block.

We'll see right here in the replay.

But you see him come through there, the linebacker blitzing, and he just lights them up and.

It allows Aiken to be able to get around the corner and pick up some extra yardage.

It will be third down, though, third in about two and a half games to the short side of the field.

The formation once again, long count by Payne and as a speed once again Aiken trying to get the first down he's got it more still on his feet 4045 and down for the Macintosh 33 yard line.

Geoffrey Taylor brought them down, but not before another first down by Aiken.

Good second effort right there by AKE and getting the extra yardage after the first down you'll see right offensive line does a good job pushing them off the ball fullback again good block good job picking his holes out and you see the offensive line, a big number 76 downfield.

BLOCK And you love to see that because nine times out of ten, you're going to win over a defensive back.

There is the numbers on Aiken today 26 carries 144 yards and a TD drew pretty impressive.

Good day's work for him.

So first and ten from the 33 and again Mr. McDonnell he's got plenty of room over there delivers a crushing hit on Richard Jordan who was limping right before that play started.

And he's that's certainly not going to help his cause there.

As you get a look at Jordan still down on the turf.

It looks like Jordan got hurt the play before.

Looks like he got rolled up on his ankle and kind of looking around and it's hard to get any made underneath you to try to make the tackle over over Aiken right there.

But it's got to make a comment earlier with big Scranton going down a block at down field, that kind of shows you the intensity level of this Buford team doing a good job, just laying it out on the line because they know what's ahead of them next week.

He will be replaced in the lineup by Brandon Anderson, a freshman.

So don't be surprised if Buford might try to kick on him over there on that corner.

For right now, though, all Buford needs to do is just run the football and run time off the clock down to about the six minute mark here in the fourth quarter.

Wolves trying to improve the 13 and one and trying to advance to the state championship second down and two.

McDonald left side spins inside.

The 25, I believe, is going to be just a little bit shorter with that.

First down, Daniel Colson, the sophomore with a tackle.

There's no better yard to go on third down.

I wouldn't be surprised to see number 22 McDonald get the ball right here.

He's done a good job running up the middle, lowering his head, keeping his feet moving and like you said, needs about about a yard, yard and a half to pick it up.

Keep that moving.

You look at a great shot right down the line.

Quinn's to the right and give it to McDonald, who has the first down and more diving to the 20.

A lot of blocking in there some big balls for McDonald on this series.

The offensive line, again, doing a great job.

A little quick trap right there.

And he just follows his guard, big number 53 right there, going through protecting the ball, making sure he doesn't fumble, moves the chains, more importantly, keeps the clock moving.

Javon Howard, the middle linebacker making the stop for Brad Aiken out.

Of the lineup here is to take a mental state in there.

Over the left side.

He got a couple of yards.

With some McDonald's having a lot of fun.

He just went out there lead block for Aiken and just put another another crushing block on number 40 out there the fullbacks and the other running backs, the blocking backs are doing a great job of getting on their man and opening up those holes.

So you can tell that Coach Woods stresses that because you don't see it every Friday night.

But they're blocking backs are doing a tremendous job tonight help helping now they can find his holes.

Second down and seven play and most of this time to the left.

They are going to keep this one and may have a yard or so if that is coming up.

Third down, Lewis and Howard combining for the stop there.

Good look at Javon Howard number 30 play Howard with a 3.0 GPA.

Darius future just wants to.

Be careful right here.

Don't make any foolish plays.

It's like they'll probably end up trying to run the ball unless they want to put piqué out there on the freshman number 40, Brandon Anderson, to see if they might be able to catch him falling asleep and maybe get the score this time.

We're going to put Aiken out there to the left.

But a timeout called by Payne and Buford will talk this thing over 3 minutes and 29 seconds remaining in the ballgame Buford, up 19 to 6 over McIntosh County Academy.

As you get a look at Coach Dexter Wood in its sixth season as head coach of course, last year, Buford ended their playoff run in the second round against Washington Wilkes and this year they were on a mission.

To get back to this point and to officially get to the state championship, it proves that they were indeed the number one team in the state.

Well, one of the things I'm impressed about Coach was he's very businesslike.

He's very down to earth.

He tells us kids exactly what he wants and he expects of all.

But take a look at the other games on tap for today in tomorrow on trials and county in Americas.

Coming up next, following this ball game a little bit later on.

And then, of course the Triple A game, Jackson and Fitzgerald going at it, of course, a little bit later on this evening, Shaw Raiders and Caro sirup makers going at it and stars Mo Panthers and Harrison Hoyos will cap off tonight's action.

Great ball is taking place today.

And of course, tomorrow we do it all over again.

Another fun day, five games.

Great to see a nice crowd out here supporting their team.

You see some of the other fans with the upcoming games start to file into the stadium before it's over with this lower section could be filled up tonight.

They could curse Charlton County coming up next.

And Double-A there were last year similarly champions third down and long twins left Houston trying to run out the clock, give McDonald's.

He spins to the 25.

He's going to have about two yards, but he will be shy of a first down, fourth and five.

Jim Vaughn Howard making the stop.

And you look at McDonald, who has certainly had a big day on both sides of the football.

Today it's good athlete that's as you said produced offensively running the ball blocking done a good job making some good hits on defense and blowing up some plays before they get started.

Don't let the clock run down as much as they possibly can.

Fourth down, they get a first down.

That's a plus.

If not.

Formation.

And this time, Cain going to be 15, tries to spin away, dives down to the ten.

He's actually going to be pretty close to a first down.

They needed a full five and he may have got it.

I don't know what's going to happen on the spot.

Once again.

Concerted effort spinning right there.

And it might just have bought him enough to get the first down.

We haven't talked about Travis Cain's running ability that much today, although he has had a couple of big runs.

And if he picks up the first here, add that to the list.

He has certainly been dangerous to the air this year.

He's thrown for well over 1200 yards on the season, 11 touchdowns.

Well, it brings another dimension to your offense when you know you have Aiken McDonald really being the workhorses, but you've got paint coming through there with the ability to run and kind of mix it up, gets the first down and you know that that pretty much wraps it up to being.

Take a look at it one more time.

Pain on the keeper.

You just see him lowering his head right there, does a good job spinning and just reaching out as far as he can to hopefully pick it up and does a real good job.

Second effort wise, he came with a good block up there in the corner.

Travis Payne with a 4.0 GPA and he is headed West Point.

The Army.

So the ball spotted just outside the ten formation.

Get Mr. McDonald back in the middle five touchdown McDonald the fullback with another touchdown for the.

Buford Wolves.

Nice comeback play by McDonald This phone is blockers then cutting back once he gets through the line of scrimmage McIntosh over pursues a little bit too much and allows him to be be able to go in there pretty much untouched.

We'll call it a ten yard touchdown run for Joy McDonald as you see his numbers 14 carries for 61 yards and three touchdowns for the full back.

Not a bad day's work markers looking to add the extra point and mills this one right down the middle 26 to 6 our score with 207 remaining in the ballgame.

Good concentration you'll see you'll see right here Offensive line coming off the ball low makes a good pack Really doesn't even get touched until he gets inside the end zone so it's just just smart play smart decisions and Embree in the holes look at it right there protecting the ball which is very important at this stage of the game.

You see right there the offensive lineman coming off the ball low smells that insult.

He's nobody is going to stop him.

Great line there a great cutback and he is fired up to 20 626 with 207 play.

Happy sideline over there.

Well deserving.

I tell you what they've really brought their A-game to the to the table today and very businesslike the coach was done a very nice job play calling and put him in great position.

David Holland second the senior will kick off for Buford and it's a low liner and it will go out of bounds.

Charles Edwards did a nice job of laying off that one and it will come out to the 35 coach, Bradley Warren, talking things over with his quarterback, Daniel Gilbert.

But it's pretty elementary right now, Jim?

We go back and we talk about the one dimensional offensive.

We said all game.

When you run the ball like they do and you really don't have a passing game, it puts you pretty much out of contention to make any big plays.

Right now, they they've got to have at least three scores to give himself an opportunity.

And with the offense.

We have legal procedure on the kickoff ball responded to 35.

Buccaneers 11 and two coming into this ballgame the number two team out of region three.

But it does look like their season will come to an end today.

But a great run and look at the throw this are short a little high that's on to to offer Edwards and you can see the frustration on Edwards face, but he certainly has one guy that should keep his head up.

He's had a great game.

Today, played very well offensively, defensively and Buford, you know, Buford doesn't really they're going to continue to play hard, not not give this one up simply because they've held opponents to ten points or fewer.

And doing a good job right now are average of ten points.

And they want to keep that average below whoever they played next week.

They want to make sure that they get the point across them that they're here and they're going to be ready for.

Second down and ten wing t Gilbert trying to set up the middle screen does so and oh off the fingertips of Edwards and he was looking up field before he brought that one in and a pretty good look at time to.

Do with frustration setting in right now you see him just dropping back and allowing the defensive line to come back through there that that planned and does a good job of getting the ball up there.

He really doesn't have much room to do anything with.

So that might have been a good, good play to go ahead drop the pass.

Buccaneers, of course, beat Wilcox County 48 to 12 in the first round.

We beat Blitz County 20 to 13.

And of course, last week that dramatic 34, 21 win over the Athens Academy.

GILBERT Looking to throw once again look at long being pressure this time gets it out of there pass incomplete nearly intercepted at the 40 and they were looking for Jermaine Austin out there.

But once again another great play by Jimmy Stewart to knock that ball away.

And Dave, what would have happened if Coach Warren would have been able to implement a few of those passes earlier in the game in the second, third quarters when they were scoring?

What that does is it opens up the defense and allows them to get that running game going.

But when you just run the ball, you've got you've got that box inside the tight ends, the defensive ends, you've got eight people in there and you're just not going to run, especially with Buford Speed.

They've got some great speed.

And they showed that today with T.K.

and the other DBS not allowing Jermaine to really break any long runs except for that one that he had on a touchdown.

They're going to look at Coach Dexter Wood.

And early on, we asked him what he likes best about coaching.

Here's what he had to say.

Watching kids take the competition and all the intangibles that you get through, having a quest for a goal brings you together and how they learn discipline, how they learn to sacrifice, how they learn to fight through getting knocked down and getting back up.

I guess it's the intangible rewards of seeing a young man grow through the competition and in the fun that they have with it.

Coach Dexter Wood and the door for bulls on their way to next weekend state championship game force down up coming for Macintosh after that timeout But whistles are going to blow the play dead.

We have a dead ball illegal procedure on the offense steal fourth down.

So that'll make this fourth down even longer was fourth and ten its fourth and 15 and coach Bradley Warren wants to come out and talk to his offensive.

They're kind of gave that play a little away a little bit, Dave, when the center snapped and he snapped it up to one of the up back.

So I don't know.

I don't know how they're going to get away with hiding a fake this time unless they snap it to one of the other up backs.

They're going to look at Coach Wood once again, big week next week with the state championships.

Buford, of course, will take on the winner of tomorrow's semifinal between Commerce and Lincoln County.

This is a rematch of last year's Saturday semi final between those two.

Lincoln County, of course, winning that ballgame and you could have two teams out of Region eight playing for the state championship.

Lincoln County may have something to say about that as well.

But commerce, certainly a good football team.

Good football coming out of that region.

And you can see how coach was happy right there with his players.

Face this one Austin looking to throw Anderson Evans is thrilled and he's 34 well short of a first down and that is pretty much going to do it for this football game 137 showing on the clock through 26 to 6 over McIntosh County Academy.

Let's take a look at it again.

See right there to the up.

Oh, the punter does a great job faking but really nobody downfield to be able to throw to in the DB right there does a good job coming up and making sure that he doesn't get away with no timeouts left for McIntosh.

Dave, I've said this before, we work together.

This is the greatest play that was ever invented in football is the old nailed down.

I've just got to make sure that the center quarterback has great exchange.

Kneel down and sure, if you're supposed to get out of here, get ready for next week's game.

And that's indeed what they look like they're going to do here.

Travis Payne will take a knee and they will try to run out the clock here.

That was McIntosh, his final time out a while ago, I do believe.

So this clock will continue to roll.

That's Dexter Wood on the Buford Wolves will improve to 13 and one on the season.

The number two seed out of region eight playing like the number one team in the state.

Buford came out a little bit flat in the third quarter, thought that the momentum might change a little bit after the fumble he had, and but they picked it back up and established the running game in the line of scrimmage.

He did a good job and pretty much took over this game in the fourth quarter.

Inside the final minute now and the Buford fans are on their feet and are excited without a doubt, all the way to state.

You still probably have to take a knee one more time here and there you get a look at a disappointing McIntosh sideline.

They had high hopes of making the championship next week, but either way, an excellent season for Coach Bradley.

Warren and the Buccaneers made a long trip up here from Darian, Georgia.

And that ought to do it.

First.

Wood doused with some water over there.

And the Buford Wolves are going to win this football game, 26 to 6.

The final score from the Georgia Dome, the first of two GHC single-A semifinal football matchups.

And of course, tomorrow we will know who Buford will play in the state championship and Thomas and Lincoln County get together for the second time in the state finals in as many years.

What he's got to be extremely happy with the way his team played and especially coming back in the fourth quarter after they kind of lost a little bit of momentum.

I think we actually have a replay of the the bucket coming over.

There are many buckets.

And bottles there.

I guess I'm in it.

But this got to be very exciting for those players and coaches.

Well, Coach Wood did a tremendous job and also Coach Warren did a tremendous job, get him getting him ready for the game.

But it just looked like intensity level at the very beginning.

Buford had it and they established the the line of scrimmage and did the things that they had to do and went up 19 nothing on him on McIntosh and pretty much set the tone for the rest of the game.

Those were the biggest roles, at least with are endorsers.

So that water didn't get to chilly.

I guess it's certainly cold outside right now.

This will be the matchup right here a single day.

The Buford Wolves are already locked up, one of two semifinal spots.

And then, of course, tomorrow's game, the Commerce Tigers and the Lincoln County Red Devils.

We're going to take a time out and return to the Georgia Dome right after this.

As the celebration continues for the Buford Wolves.

You're watching the Georgia High School Association Football Championships on TV.

Debut for Wolves Victorious, 26 to 6 over McIntosh County Academy.

The Buccaneers from Darian, Georgia.

The celebration here for the Wolves as we get ready for the contests coming up here momentarily.

It's gone down to the sideline.

Brian Salmon, stand by.

All right, Coach, I congratulate you on the victory today.

Well, thank you.

You know, to be in a state championship game, to play in the dome and all the things that you put into the course, one of those feelings you can't really describe and know.

These guys really play hard and prepared well, and I'm really thankful to be a part of it for so long.

I can understand that.

Now, Coach, you guys are you guys are generally passing team.

You guys got a lot of run today.

That's something that kind of shocked you as well.

I thought we were pretty wide open in the first half.

In the second half, I probably got a little conservative trying to run out the clock and doing some things there.

But, you know, McIntosh stepped it up in the second half and scored that first touchdown, and I kind of really turned it over to our defense and running game.

I'm an old percentage football coach, but we still like to think we can throw up when we have to.

But they took away some of that today.

Okay.

Now, I have to say that your defense did come up huge today.

You guys held their runner in check.

Was that something that was a big focus coming into the game today?

Absolutely.

That was the first key to the game.

You know, we rushed for over 2300 yards and then they had a track meet today.

I knew we wouldn't have a chance to win.

So absolutely.

The first game was the build our defense to keep him from, you know, getting too many yards.

And I thought we did that.

I know you don't want to look forward too much the next week, but What are you going to tell your team?

You get into the locker room.

Hey, guys, we get to play in the state championship game and it should be fine in here in the morning.

You know, 9:00 this morning.

I want to find out, you know, how it's going to go.

But 9:00 tomorrow, that's going to be real fun, what those other guys do.

One other thing, the championship game is going to be a rematch because you played both teams.

Is there something that you might change from the last minute that you had to switch depending on who you play?

Well, I think obviously there will be new little things you'll have to do.

I think all three of those things have improved since we last played each other and everybody's playing their best.

And that's what you want here in the final week of the season.

And, you know, we're glad to be there and we'll have a plan and it'll come down to blocking and tackling.

And who plays the best that night?

Because there are two quality teams.

Thanks for your time, coach.

Congratulations.

All right.

We're going to go back upstairs.

There you go.

Buford High School with the wind back there.

You got it.

Well, thanks, Brian.

They're going to look at final numbers, John, and a little bit lopsided, I guess, in the favor of Buford, respectively.

They really turned it on today.

Well, you look at the first down 17, and when you see the 17/1 downs, you see the clock management and staying on the field, 292 yards passing.

And that's what they really wanted to do.

They wanted to come out and control the line of scrimmage and they did they did have the two turnovers, but it ended up not hurting them.

They go away with the win 26 to 6 and I know they're going to be looking forward to in the morning, as coach would just said, saying who going to play in a rematch for the state championship.

So pretty much an overall dominating performance, except for a couple of times in the third quarter by Buford.

Well, there you have it.

Look at a Buford Wolves right there, winning today and of course, tomorrow.

Why coach would mention Commerce and Lincoln County going at it.

And of course, it'll be a rematch either way for Buford wins because they did beat they did play commerce and a Lincoln County.

They lost to commerce 1814.

And then, of course, they they beat Lincoln County during the regular season.

That's it for single play action.

Again, double play action coming up at the top of the hour.

Thanks for watching.

I'm Dave Gardner, along with John Davis and so on from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.