Andy's Take: Buford-Carrollton lived up to the hype

The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Class 6A state championship between Buford and Carrollton had everything you could ever want between two national football titans.

If you’re someone who yearns for a good ole defensive stalemate, Buford-Carrollton had it. If you’re someone who loves offensive fireworks, Buford-Carrollton had it. If you’re someone who likes to be at the edge of your seat in the final minutes still wondering which team might win the game, Buford-Carrollton had it.

Two undefeated nationally ranked teams going at it and it walking off the field up to the press box, I thought it’s a shame someone had to lose that game because it was that good.

Some people around the country had this game dubbed as a de facto national championship game, which for a tilt to unfold the way it did at the end of the season in a state final is very rare. For all the fanfare surrounding the game on a national level, all Buford head coach Bryant Appling cared about afterwards was the feeling of winning the GHSA Class 6A title.

“I’m so proud to win a state championship right now and that’s all I’m worried about right now,” Appling said after the game. “If that happens, it happens. I can’t control that. I can’t control pundits and all y’all guys who votes. I’m not worried about that right now. It would be something special. Not saying it’s not. Not going to downplay anything like that, but I’m just so happy we can walk off this field champions tonight.”

The Wolves waited three years after notching a 3-peat (2019-21) to raise a GHSA state championship once again, so one can blame Appling for feeling the way he did right after the game. For those that believe this was the ultimate decider when it comes to the all-mythical national title, it would be hard to argue with one that it didn’t check off all the boxes.

Both teams being evenly matched was evident after one quarter of play as the two squads looked like boxing heavyweights trying to figure one another out in the early rounds.

The second quarter featured both teams taking some bigger jabs, with Carrollton landing the first blow via a Nick Archer 1-yard touchdown run to give the Trojans a 7-0 lead heading into halftime. It was coming out of intermission where all the scoring would take place between the two squads to the tune of 42 points as the two teams went back and forth blow for blow.

Proving to be the ultimate difference maker between the two teams was Georgia signee Tyriq Green, who finished as the game’s Most Valuable Player after finishing with 185 yards on just 11 carries and scoring two touchdowns. Green’s second score with 2:37 remaining on a 82-yard scoring run would prove to be the knockout blow as Buford’s defense would hold strong in the final minutes to clinch the all elusive 15-0 season paired with state title and in some people’s opinion, a national one.

After the game, Green was asked about his thoughts on the team winning a state championship and for those dubbing it a national title, the future Georgia Bulldog who will begin his college future in Athens this weekend, he acknowledge the meaning to the city of Buford.

“It means everything,” Green said when asked what it means to bring a championship back to Buford. “We’ve been in a drought for four or five years. It really means a lot. I just can’t wait to get back (to Buford) to ring that bell. We’re number one in the world.”

For the national high school football perspective of things, the debate and arguments will rage on when it comes to who thinks who is the best in the land. With rankings abundant across the country, some folks will say Buford, others will say St. Frances Academy and there will be cases made for Santa Margarita Catholic, IMG Academy and even Duncanville to be in the conversation.

It’s too bad Buford and St. Frances Academy couldn’t square off again, but the way the 2023 matchup ended, it’s probably best to not revisit that.

Circling back to the Tuesday night showdown that lasted well past midnight Eastern Time, Georgia high school football got to be back on the national stage featuring their best two teams.

No matter your thoughts on who the ‘real’ national high school football champion is, there’s one debate that doesn’t need to be had and that’s if Buford-Carrollton lived up to all the hype. That answer should always end with a resounding yes.

How to Follow National High School Football

For high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the gridiron excitement across the country.