Buford won its 15th state championship on Tuesday and this one may yield the school’s first national title.

The Wolves defeated Carrollton 28-21 in the Class 6A final at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to finish 15-0 and claim its first state championship since 2021. The victory likely leaves Buford to finish No. 1 in the nation, a position the Wolves already hold in the ESPN and USA Today rankings. 

The decisive score came with 2:37 remaining in the game when Buford’s Tyriq Green broke an 82-yard run for a touchdown. Green finished with 184 yards rushing on 11 carries. He has signed with the University of Georgia. 

The game was tied 14-14 after Carrollton’s Cam Ward scored on a 3-yard run with 11:57 left in the game.

Buford took the lead when Deion Miller fell on a Dylan McCoy fumble in the end zone, but Carrollton squared the score on Jahmir Harris’ 23-yard scoop and score of Dayton Raiola’s fumble. Raiola had the ball knocked loose by Zykie Helton, another Georgia signee who finished with three sacks.

Carrollton (14-1) lost in the final game for the third time in the last four seasons. Wood, a Liberty signee, ran 24 times for 98 yards and caught three passes for 66 yards. 

Carrollton scored first on a 1-yard run by Nick Archer and its 7-0 lead held at halftime. Buford took the lead on a pair of field goals from Andrew Ivanciuc (44 and 39 yards) and a 19 yard run by Green. The two-point conversion pass left Buford with a 14-7 lead.