In the first big high school football matchup of the 2022 season pitting MaxPreps Top 25 teams head-to-head, No. 11
Buford (Ga.) dominated No. 14
Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.) 38-7 on Friday at the Freedom Bowl in Milton, Ga.
Senior running back
Justice Haynes of Buford showed why Alabama worked so hard to receive his commitment. Piling up nearly 200 all-purpose yards, the 5-foot-10, 200-pounder scored twice in the fourth quarter, once on 95-yard kickoff return and later a 22-yard run to help break open what was a defensive struggle early between defending state champions.
Buford led 7-0 at the half thanks to a 28-yard touchdown pass from
Dylan Wittke to junior star
K.J. Bolden on its first possession of the game. The Wolves added slightly to that cushion with a 31-yard field goal by
Mario Ventura in the third quarter to extend the lead to 10-0.
Moments later,
Justin Baker of Buford intercepted a pass and raced 22 yards for a pick six to make it a 17-point advantage.
Thompson's lone trip to the end zone came early in the fourth quarter as eighth-grader
Trent Seaborn hit
K.B. Williams with a TD pass from eight yards out.
From there, it was all Haynes and Buford as the Wolves rattled off the last 21 points to give Thompson just its sixth loss since 2017.
Buford (1-0), 14-time state champions in Georgia including a three-peat in 2019, 2020 and 2021, won its 12th game in a row overall dating back to last season. The Wolves host
Mallard Creek (Charlotte, N.C.) next Friday.
Thompson (0-1), which is also riding a string of three straight state championship seasons in Alabama, will look to regroup against head coach Trent Dilfer and
Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, Tenn.) next Saturday.
Justice Haynes evades a Thompson tackler during Buford's 38-7 win Friday.
Photo: Michael Mixon
Buford head coach Bryant Appling talks with his team after an impressive season-opening win over Thompson.
Photo: Michael Mixon
Junior K.J. Bolden hauled in a 28-yard touchdown pass on Buford's first possession.
Photo: Michael Mixon
