Kendrick Leads South Pointe Past Buford 33-27

Derion Kendrick threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more to lead No. 20 South Pointe (SC) past Buford (GA) 33-27 on Friday night.

Sep 16, 2017 by Kolby Paxton

Kendrick Leads South Pointe Past Buford 33-27

BUFORD, GA -- Derion Kendrick threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more to lead No. 20 South Pointe (SC) past Buford (GA) 33-27 on Friday night.

The host Wolves, playing their first game in two weeks, wasted no time in getting on the board. South Pointe punter BT Potter made a rare mistake on the first drive of the game after the snap sailed over his head and into the end zone. Potter attempted to corral the football and run but was unable to find the handle. Buford fell on the ball for the touchdown and led 7-0.

Kendrick's huge night began one possession later, as the human highlight reel followed a 39-yard run with a 38-yard touchdown pass to Scott Robinson to knot the game at 7-7.

On the following possession, it was Kendrick again, leading the Stallions on a 77-yard drive during which he accounted for every yard -- capping the march with a 10-yard touchdown run that put South Pointe out in front 14-7.

After Buford's Eli Turner blocked a Potter field goal attempt early in the second quarter, the Wolves finally found their footing on offense. Anthony Grant capped a lengthy drive with a 3-yard touchdown plunge and the teams reentered their respective locker rooms tied 14-14 at the break. In the first half alone, Kendrick accounted for 110 rushing yards and 101 passing yards for South Pointe.

Jaylen Mahoney kick-started the Stallions' second half with an interception, which led to another Kendrick-to-Robinson touchdown strike -- this one from 36 yards out -- to put South Pointe back on top 21-14.

The South Pointe defense did well to keep Buford in check for much of the evening, but the Wolves kept things tight via special teams. After the both offenses traded empty possessions, Buford struck back with a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown by Anthony Turner. The extra point failed and the Stallions maintained a 21-20 lead.

Potter, who'd endured a rough night, righted the ship with a field goal on the next possession, and South Pointe took a 24-20 lead into the fourth quarter.

Buford would finally reclaim the lead, 27-24, on another Grant touchdown run, but the advantage would be short-lived, as Kendrick and the Stallions had plenty more in the tank offensively. After a touchdown was called back, Kendrick responded with a 15-yard touchdown run on the following play to put South Pointe back on top for good 31-27.

Buford would get one final shot after a bizarre sequence that saw a South Pointe player fumble the game-clinching touchdown short of the goalline, but the Stallions defense was again up to the task, forcing Aaron McLaughin into intentional grounding in the end zone -- a safety by rule -- to set the final margin.

Derion Kendrick finished with 211 rushing yards, ran for two scores and threw for two more. Scott Robinson was on the receiving end of both Kendrick touchdown passes.