National champions? Buford makes its case by winning Class 6A state title.

“We can compete with anybody,” Buford senior lineman Graham Houston, a Georgia signee, said. “You could see that throughout the season how we got progressively better.”

It was the 15th state championship for Buford and ended a three-year title-free streak — its longest stretch without a title this century.

“After playing football for four years, this one’s very special,” senior lineman Ben Mubenga said. “Going out with a bang.”

After a defensive-heavy first half that Carrollton led 7-0, the two heavyweights exchanged blows for the final two quarters. The decisive shot came with 2:37 remaining when Buford’s Tyriq Green, another UGA signee, took a handoff and moved around the right tackle, cut back and raced 82 yards to break a 21-21 tie.

“I was so excited,” Houston said. “He’s a bad dude. He’s going to be good in college and he’s a great football player in high school.”

Green, an AJC Super 11 selection who plays both ways and returns kicks, ran 11 times for 184 yards and two touchdowns. He made five tackles from his safety spot.

Carrollton had one last chance to tie with 2:28 on the clock. A false start penalty put the Trojans into a third-and-16 and they failed on two pass attempts, turning it over on downs. Buford was able to run out the clock.

The Wolves needed everything Green could contribute since Carrollton never gave Buford quarterback Dayton Raiola a quiet moment. He was sacked four times and harassed all game and completed 11 of 20 for 142 yards — 75 of those on a long post route to Malikai Speed.

Carrollton was led by Liberty signee Cam Wood, who carried 24 times for 98 yards and one touchdown and three receptions for 66 yards. But the Trojans threw three interceptions with freshman CJ Cypher (11-for-18 for 107 yards and one interception) and Mason Holtzclaw (6-for-9 for 33 yards and two interceptions) sharing the load.

In addition to four sacks — three of them by UGA signee Zykie Helton — the Carrollton defense had 11 tackles behind the line, forced two fumbles, broke up three passes and had two hurries. Georgia Tech signee CJ Gamble had seven tackles.

The first half was a defensive battle. Carrollton missed a 40-yard field goal and threw a pair of interceptions, with Buford’s Jaden Davis and Nassir McCoy coming up with picks. Buford had only 52 yards in the first half — none of it on the ground.

“At halftime we just talked to ourselves and communicated with each other and said to stay with the game plan,” Green said.

Carrollton finally broke through late in the half, a drive that was part trickery and part power. The Trojans pushed the ball to the 3 on an option pass from Peyton Zachary to Cam Ward, who was dragged down from behind. Carrollton finally scored on fourth down when Nick Archer took a straight handoff up the middle, where he was met head-on by linebacker Joshua Echols but somehow managed to push himself into the end zone.

Buford took the lead to start the second half on a pair of field goals by Andrew Ivanciuc (44 and 39 yards) and a 19-yard run by Green. A two-point pass from Brayden Watson to snapper Dawson Wittke off the swinging gate formation gave the Wolves a 14-7 lead.

From there it was one big shot after another. Carrollton tied it on a 3-yard run by Wood, but Buford answered when Deion Miller recovered Dylan McCoy’s goal line fumble in the end zone. Carrollton tied it again with 7:01 left when Helton stripped Buford quarterback Raiola and Jahmir Harris returned it for a 23-yard touchdown.

The last teams from Georgia to win national championships were Colquitt County in 2015 and LaGrange in 1991. Valdosta is credited with at least six national titles, and the 1976 Warner Robins team was honored as national champions.

Correction

This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Nassir McCoy.