It is the final week of high school football 2019! Three Central GA teams have gone all the way this year, but the Finals highlight game has to be Warner Robins vs Buford in Class 5A. This Friday will mark the first time these two teams have met on the field. Both schools are powerhouses in their own right, and this should make for a very close contest.
Buford enters the Finals following last week’s 29-0 shutdown road win over Jones Co in the semis. The team is 13-1 overall in 2019. The Wolves have accumulated a scoring average of 35.36 points per game on offense, while only allowing 12.71 ppg on defense. Buford last made the Finals in 2016, and their most recent state championship victory was in 2014. The team has been a major powerhouse for the last twenty years. The school’s won 11 championships overall, 10 of which were obtained between ‘01 and ’14. The Wolves hold the record for longest winning streak in GHSA and won three consecutive championships in ‘01, ‘02 and ‘03. They’ll certainly make for fierce competition this Friday. The team is led by first year head coach Bryant Appling.
Warner Robins comes into the championship following last Friday’s 55-3 home win over Starr’s Mill in the Semifinals. The team also holds a season record of 13-1 and like Buford, is led by a first-year head coach in Marquis Westbrook. Over the season, the Demons have scored an average of 35.71 ppg on offense and allowed 13.36 on D. This marks the third consecutive year WR has made it to the Finals. In 2017, the Demons lost in a shutout to Rome 38-0. In 2018, WR rallied from 28 points down against Bainbridge and went into forced overtime. Despite the surge of momentum, the team still ultimately lost 47-41 in the 3rd OT.
Warner Robins is hungry for the crown this season. The school has won a total of 4 championships. Their last was all the way back in 2004. After being denied the last two years, the Demons appear to be on a mission to win it all. Still, Buford will present a real challenge. The teams are evenly matched on both sides of the ball and picking a favorite is difficult. This is a matchup that could go down to the buzzer, and the winner will likely be whichever team wants it more. The GHSA 5A State-Finals will take place Friday, December 13 at 4:30 PM and will be held at the Georgia-State Stadium (formerly Turner Field). This is not a game to be missed.