There is nothing quite like a Friday night at Tom Riden Stadium, the home of the Buford Wolves football team, but nothing is quite as electric as Homecoming night at Tom Riden. The stands were packed out in kelly green and gold as fans watched the Wolves defeat the Shiloh Generals 37-0.

#99 Alejandro Mata lines up his kick and makes the extra point. Photo by Alicia Couch Payne

So many things went right for Buford in Friday night’s game — the defense was stingy and the offense was hot. Although the game got off to a bit of a slow start as Buford tried their running game, Shiloh was prepared for it. 

It would take the Wolves over six and a half minutes to take them within field goal range. Senior kicker Alejandro Mata lined up his kick and the 22-yard field goal was good. Buford was on the board 3-0.  Mata would end the night making 3 out of 4 PATs and the field goal.

With less than a minute left in the first quarter, Buford would score its first touchdown of the night as quarterback Ashton Daniels connected with Jake Pope for a 58-yard touchdown pass. Buford went up 10-0.

Malik Spencer caught a pass from Ashton Daniels to set up a two-yard touchdown run. Photo by Alicia Couch Payne

A short punt by Shiloh put Buford on Shiloh’s 32, where Daniels would find Malik Spencer open. Spencer got down to the two-yard mark, which set up Christian Butler for his two-yard touchdown run. 

The Wolves were able to score one more touchdown in the first half as Pope intercepted a pass from Shiloh quarterback Jeremiah Harden. Pope ran the ball 24 yards into the end zone. Mata’s kick was no good making the score 23-0 going into halftime.

The Generals still could not find any traction coming out of halftime. Buford’s defense only allowed Shiloh to get 85 offensive yards, 68 passing yards and just 17 yards on rushing.

Buford quarterback Ashton Daniels looks for an open receiver in the game against Shiloh. Photo by Alicia Couch Payne

Daniels completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Davis Peek at the 5:58 mark in the third quarter.  Daniels was 6-for-8 passing for 113 yards and two touchdowns.

Buford got its last touchdown of the night with just over three minutes left in the third quarter when quarterback Dylan Wittke ran the ball a yard into the end zone for the score to make the score 37-0. Wittke was 4-for-5 passing for 91 yards.

#6 Victor Venn rushes while #71 Jackson Favors attempts to protect him. Photo by Alicia Couch Payne

Victor Venn had the most rushing yards with 58 yards on 12 carries for Buford. KJ Bolden was the top receiver with 82 yards on two passes.

The Wolves ended the night with 335 yards of offense, 204 yards passing and 131 yards rushing.

Buford will host region opponent Lanier on Friday, Oct. 22, at Tom Riden Stadium.  Kick-off is at 7:30 p.m.

BUFORD 37,  SHILOH 0

SHILOH  0  0  0  0 — 0

BUFORD  10  13  14  0 — 37

FIRST QUARTER

BUFORD: 22-yard field goal by #99 Alejandro Mata, 5:26

BUFORD:  Jake Pope 58-yard pass from Ashton Daniels (Mata kick), 0:51

SECOND QUARTER

BUFORD:  Christian Butler 2-yard run (Mata kick), 6:03

BUFORD:  Pope 24-yard interception return (Mata kick failed), 4:21

THIRD QUARTER

BUFORD:  Davis Peek 10-yard pass from Daniels (Mata kick), 5:58

BUFORD:  Dylan Wittke 1-yard run (#97 kick),  3:11

FOURTH QUARTER

None

SHILOH          BUFORD 

First Downs  8  15

Rushes-yards  20-17  28-131

Passing yards  68  204

Comp-Att-INT  12-27-1  10-13-0

Fumbles-lost  1-0  1-1

Penalties-yards  8-50  3-30

Featured photo above:  Buford’s #32 Christian Butler barrels into the end zone for a touchdown on Homecoming night. Photo by Alicia Couch Payne