Buford, Dylan Raiola survive scare from Norcross in Georgia 7A football playoffs

NORCROSS, GEORGIA – Buford was given a scare in its second-round match-up on the road at Norcross, as the Wolves see their big third-quarter lead disappear down the stretch.

The Blue Devils ripped off 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to trim the Wolves lead to three, but a failed onside kick attempt and a subsequent third-down conversion by Georgia commit Dylan Raiola and the Wolves iced a 28-25 victory in the second round of the Class 7A state playoffs.

It was a game in which the Wolves had chances to add to their lead, but failed to do so thanks to two fourth-quarter turnovers, as well as a failed fourth down conversion in the second quarter.

But despite the mistakes scattered about, Buford head coach Bryant Appling said that sometimes you have to win ugly, especially in the playoffs.

“I’m proud that we pulled it out,” Appling said. “There were so many situations where we could have taken over the game and finished it off and we just didn’t. Whether it was turning the ball over or third-down penalties on defense, it was just one of those nights.”

Raiola tossed four touchdown passes in the win, including three to Florida State commit KJ Bolden.

His first two came on the Wolves first and second drives of the night. Bolden caught his first of three on their opening drive, a 51-yard catch-and-run, and Cooper Berry caught the second, a 23-yard strike late in the first quarter.

The Blue Devils found the end zone on their first drive of the night, too, a 2-yard run from quarterback AJ Watkins, who set the score up with a long 67-yard pass to Jamari Harrold.

By the end of the first quarter, the Wolves led 14-7.

A low-scoring second quarter saw the Blue Devils cut into the Wolves’ lead with a 27-yard field goal, and that gave Buford a slim 14-10 lead at the break.

The Blue Devils very nearly trimmed the Wolves’ lead down to one point after lining up for another short field goal early in the third quarter, but the kick was blocked.

That sparked a long touchdown drive by the Wolves, and it was capped by a 21-yard touchdown pass from Raiola to Bolden.

With the lead extended to 21-10, Buford linebacker AJ Holloway intercepted Watkins, and returned it down to the Blue Devil 4-yard line just two plays into their ensuing possession.

That set up another touchdown pass from Raiola to Bolden, giving the Wolves a commanding 28-10 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter.

It was looking bleak at that point for the Blue Devils, who trailed by 18 points heading into the fourth quarter.

But things quickly changed when Raolia was intercepted for the first time this season on a pass that was dropped by Bolden. The pass was intercepted by Norcross defensive back Kenneth Clark, who returned it 30 yards for a touchdown.

A successful 2-point conversion cut Buford’s lead down to 10 points, 28-18, and they later cut the lead down to three, 28-25 after a Raiola fumble in the red zone sparked a long touchdown drive by the Blue Devils.

However, a failed onside kick, followed by a clutch third-down conversion, was enough to allow the Wolves to run out the remaining 3:38 on the clock and win the game.

Three Takeaways from Buford's win over Norcross

The Blue Devils had no answer for KJ Bolden

KJ Bolden could’ve donned the nickname “Waffle House” with how open he was on virtually every play Friday night for the Wolves.

The senior caught three touchdown passes and finished the game with more than 100 yards receiving, and the Blue Devils had no answer for him. Bolden got to show off his elusiveness on more than one occasion, and it was that which got the Wolves on the board first with his 51-yard catch-and-run touchdown.

He was Dylan Raiola’s favorite target Friday night and for good reason. If Bolden continues to play like that, it very well could lead to a Class 7A state championship for he and the Wolves.

Buford is the favorite to win the Class 7A State Title

Class 7A in the state of Georgia is absolutely loaded, and while the score of Friday night’s second-round matchup between Buford and Norcross was close, they’re still the favorites to win it all.

Why?

There is no quarterback better in the state of Georgia than Buford’s Dylan Raiola. The senior showed off his arm Friday night, tossing four touchdowns, and was trusted to convert a big third-and-7 late in the fourth quarter with a chance to ice the game.

The Wolves’ defense is very good, especially up front. Their front seven did a terrific job shutting down a dynamic runner in Blue Devils’ quarterback AJ Watkins, who did not have any running lanes whatsoever Friday night.

Things won’t get any easier for the Wolves, who will travel to face Grayson next Friday night on the road, but given the talent on the field, it’s hard to imagine them getting beat again this season.

Ohio State commit Eddrick Houston collapses after the contest

The Wolves were not able to fully celebrate thier 28-25 win over Norcross Friday night after star defensive end Eddrick Houston, an Ohio State commit, collapsed moments after the victory.

With trainers working feverishly to care for the wellbeing of Houston, who laid on the ground for several minutes in front of a stunned-to-silence crowd who watched on in prayer, the senior was finally able to stand and sit on a cart that quickly whisked him away.

The reasoning behind Houston’s collapse is unknown at this time, and our prayers are with him and his family. It is in times like these that make wins and losses in the game of football meaningless.