6A

Buford’s Alejandro Mata kicked a 26-yard field goal in overtime and the Wolves forced a fumble near the goal line to earn a hard-fought 34-31 win over Lee County in the Class 6A championship game.

Lee County’s Caleb McDowell ran the ball up the middle but had it stripped and recovered by Buford’s River Wilson to end the game.

The victory gave Buford its 13th state championship, its second straight and made the Wolves the first school to win a title in six different classifications. Buford also won the Class 5A title against Warner Robins in overtime.

Click here for the official boxscore.

The game went to overtime when Lee County’s Chauncey Magwood scored on a 21-yard run with 1:58 left in regulation, only to have it matched by Buford with 48 seconds remaining on a 16-yard pass from Ashton Daniels to Isaiah Bond.

Buford (13-1) was led by Daniels, who completed 13 of 17 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns, both to Bond, who had four catches for 91 yards. Gabe Ervin Jr. led the Wolves on the ground with 62 yards and Victor Venn rushed for 59.

Lee County (12-2) got a stellar effort from Magwood, who has signed to play receiver at Kentucky. He ran for 91 yards and one touchdown and completed 9 of 11 passes for 183 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

McDowell, a South Carolina signee, rushed 14 times for 92 yards and one touchdown and caught three passes for 58 yards. He also returned a kickoff for a 95-yard touchdown.