BUFORD, Ga. — The last ride at Tom Riden Stadium, home of the Buford Wolves since 1990, proved disappointing as No. 1 Carrollton beat No. 2 Buford 30-17 Friday night in the Class 6-A state semifinals.
Carrollton (14-0) advances to the Dec. 18 Class 6-A state championship game against Grayson, who beat Douglas County 35-28 in the other semifinal.
Buford has played in Tom Riden Stadium for 35 seasons. The stadium, named for Riden, who coached the Wolves from 1946 to 1960, has been home to 13 state championship teams. The Wolves will move into their new stadium across from the high school next season.
In 35 years, Buford only lost 26 games at the stadium while winning 240. The last loss was painful, as turnovers and penalties hurt the Wolves in the second half, and the Trojans took advantage.
Buford (12-2) led 17-14 at the half and seemed to be taking control of the game. The Wolves methodically marched 60 yards in 12 plays, taking 7:18 off the clock. However, Buford quarterback Dayton Raiola was stripped of the ball, and Carrollton recovered the fumble at its 20.
The Trojans drove 80 yards in six plays to take a 20-17 lead. Kimauri Farmer, who rushed for 114 yards, had the drive's key play. He broke free for a 47-yard run to the Buford 1. He scored from there, and Carrollton had a lead it would not give up.
The Wolves stopped the next Carrollton scoring chance when Demarious Nibbe intercepted Julian Lewis’ pass after Bryce Perry-Wright pressured Lewis. Buford could not gain a first down, and after a short punt from its end zone, the Trojans took over at the Wolves’ 28.
Farmer’s 11-yard run to the Buford 12 on third down set up his six-yard touchdown run for a 27-17 lead with 4:41 to play.
Buford’s offense was hurt by the loss of running back Justin Baker, who was injured late in the first half and did not play in the last two quarters. He ran for 99 yards on eight carries before the injury.
Buford jumped out to a 17-7 advantage in the first half. The Wolves took the lead 5:18 into the game on Tyriq Green’s 13-yard touchdown run. Carrollton answered on its next drive when Lewis hit A.J. McNeil with a 48-yard touchdown pass to tie the game.
Andrew Ivaniciuc kicked a 39-yard field goal as Buford regained the lead 10-7. The Wolves increased their lead to 17-7 on their next drive. Baker raced 75 yards on the first snap of the drive, setting up the Wolves at the Trojans’ 5. Two plays later, Raiola scored from the 2.
With the aid of three penalties, Carrollton drove 56 yards to cut into the Buford lead. Lewis, who left last week’s game with a throwing hand injury, connected with Peyton Zachary for a 22-yard scoring play. He completed 14-of-18 passes for 193 yards.
