Veteran Buford squad ready for test against Cartersville rookie <b>(VIDEO)</b>

CARTERSVILLE -- Buford football may be gunning for an eighth straight title game appearance and feature a roster of postseason veterans, but the Wolves know that experience will count for little if they cannot find a way to contain a freshman tonight.<br /> <br /> Cartersville quarterback Trevor Lawrence is still in the midst of his first varsity campaign -- though his play on the field resembles that of an upperclassman -- and Buford knows it must bring its best if it is to halt Lawrence's first postseason foray in Friday's Class AAAA semifinals at Cartersville.<br /> <br /> "If you look at his tape and compare it with early in the season, he's not a freshman anymore," Wolves coach Jess Simpson said of Lawrence. "He's really grown up and is really playing well. He's going to be one of the better players in the state the next few years, there's no doubt."<br /> <br /> Lawrence has thrown for 2,908 yards and 26 touchdowns so far this campaign -- including a 305-yard effort that saw him lead two critical fourth quarter scoring drives in last week's 35-31 quarterfinal defeat of Sandy Creek. <br /> <br /> <b>(NOTE: To watch a video preview of Friday's Class AAAA semifinal, click "play" in the box to the right.)</b><br /> <br /> "He can step up in the pocket and make a play, and he can take a hit," Simpson said. "He's thrown the ball extremely well on the run. He's not one dimensional, so that makes it tough."<br /> <br /> Lawrence is also surrounded by an explosive supporting cast, including receivers Miller Forristall (six catches, 105 yards in the quarterfinal) and Terrius Callahan (four catches, 90 yards)<br /> <br /> "There's no doubt it's going to be another huge challenge," Simpson said. "(Cartersville) coach (Joey King) has got a great team, a very talented set of skill players on offense, and the offensive line is playing really well together."<br /> <br /> The Purple Hurricanes have yet to face a defense like Buford's, however.<br /> <br /> Cartersville's offense comes in averaging 41.5 points per contest -- the Wolves are yielding just 5.5, not to mention 110 yards per game.<br /> <br /> Something's got to give.<br /> <br /> "It's exciting. If you're a coach and a player it's all about big games and atmosphere and this time of year that's what you get to do, and we're looking forward to it," Simpson said. <br /> <br /> The Wolves defense is stacked with collegiate talent, including defensive tackles Quay Picou (senior, Tennessee commit) and Shug Frazier (junior, not committed yet), linebackers Austin Smith (senior, Tennessee commit) and Konnor Houston (senior, not committed yet) and defensive backs David Curry (senior, Virginia commit) and Martin Mangram (junior, not committed yet), amongst others. That doesn't include plenty of other talent that is being recruited for offensive positions, such as junior defensive end Isaac Nauta, who is the nation's No. 1 tight end prospect but also a beast in the defensive trenches.<br /> <br /> The unit is part of a team that has dominated throughout and, scarily, found an even higher level of play over the past few weeks.<br /> <br /> "This bunch, since about week eight -- we went through that kind of North Oconee, Madison, Stephens run at the end of the region then starting the playoffs these guys have had their second spike in improvement I really think," Simpson said. "Last week (in a 30-6 quarterfinal defeat of Marist) I thought particularly our defense played really really well and our special teams. Offensively we knew it was going to be tough to grind the ball out, but we ended up running it pretty good. And (quarterback) Luke (Humphrey) threw the ball pretty well, and the play action pass opened up for us."<br /> <br /> Buford's grinding style of offense is a perfect compliment to its imposing defense, and the group could play just as key a role in keeping Lawrence in check -- by keeping him on the sideline.<br /> <br /> "We're playing well right now. The coaches keep telling us it's going to break, keep pounding it and pounding it, it's going to break," Humphrey said of the Wolves rushing attack, which has broken every opponent so far, averaging 257 yards per game.<br /> <br /> Buford has split its gains between a number of backs, with Joshua Thomas (team-high 698 yards, 16 TDs), Xavier Gantt (671 yards, 10 TDs), Evyn Cooper (461 yards, 2 TDs) and Martin Mangram (346 yards, 6 TDs) leading the way for a group that is averaging 7.4 yards per carry. <br /> <br /> Certainly plenty of the credit for that production has to go to Buford's offensive line, which has manhandled a number of foes -- including last week's formidable counterparts with the War Eagles. And while Cartersville may not feature the same size as the Wolves, Buford is still expecting a challenge from an athletic front seven that includes 230-pound linebacker Tyler Reed.<br /> <br /> "They're long and tall. They don't give up the deep ball and they bring people up front," Humphrey said. "They're very explosive. We've got to work hard."<br /> <br /> That should be music to these Wolves' ears.<br /> <br /> "We try to work harder than everyone else," Buford senior offensive lineman Shane Robinson said. "We have competition every day, and we make it like a game every time we come out to practice."<br /> <br /> If the games are any indication, those practices must be something indeed.<br /> <br /> <b>BUFORD at CARTERSVILLE</b><br /> -- WHAT: Class AAAA football semifinal<br /> -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday<br /> -- WHERE: Weinman Stadium, Cartersville<br /> -- RADIO: AM 550<br /> -- BUFORD (13-0): Defeated Marist 30-6 in the quarterfinals.<br /> -- CARTERSVILLE (12-1): Defeated Sandy Creek 35-31 in the quarterfinals<br /> -- HISTORY: Buford is 3-0 against Cartersville, including a 21-0 win in the 2012 semifinals in Cartersville.<br /> -- WINNER PLAYS: St. Pius vs. Woodward Academy winner at 4:30 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 13). in the Class AAAA championship game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

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