High School Football: Mallard Creek gives Dylan Raiola, nationally ranked Buford a scare
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A year ago, Mallard Creek High School went to Georgia to play national power Buford and lost by 49 points.
That Buford team didn’t have QB Dylan Raiola, the No. 1 quarterback and No. 1 overall player in the class of 2024.
So, on paper, Friday’s rematch in Charlotte looked like it might be lopsided again.
Somebody forgot to tell the Mavericks.
Mallard Creek took a one-touchdown halftime lead and battled the powerhouse Georgia team all game, before losing 10-7.
Mavericks head coach Kennedy Tinsley was proud of his team’s effort and resilience in the game. He knows there are areas that need to be improved, but he said it said a lot about his team to play a top-five team in the nation this close.
“This is a bought-in group,” Tinsley said. “They love each other, they are passionate about (playing) the right way and I still don’t know if this group is more talented than the one we had last year. It just shows the love they have for each other.”
Raiola rallied his team with a pretty third-quarter scoring pass to tie the score, and he directed another drive that ended in a game-winning field goal — after Mallard Creek sacked Raiola to force the kick.
But make no mistake, Buford — which plays in a $60 million stadium and has a monster fan following — had to sweat. Mallard Creek’s defense forced three turnovers and had four sacks of Raiola. Buford, No. 4 in America, beat national power St. Francis (MD) in its opener and St. Francis dropped from No. 3 to No. 8 in the national polls.
Mallard Creek came into the game ranked No. 127 in the national poll and No. 3 in The Observer’s Sweet 16. Mallard Creek took a 7-0 lead when Evan Rambert hit Benjamin Black for an 81-yard touchdown.
The Mavericks led at halftime before Raiola hit KJ Burton with a 41-yard score in the third. In the fourth, Mario Ventura made a 41-yard go-ahead field goal.
“We just had to get back to playing Buford football,” Raiola said. “We beat ourselves up all game. We grinded it out and got the win, but we have a long way to go.”
Mallard Creek had a couple of chances to win late. On the first, Rambert was intercepted with 2:26 to play at the Buford 15. The Mavericks’ defense stood up again, and Mallard Creek got the ball at the Buford 42 with 1:44 left, but on the last drive, Rambert was picked off to seal the game.
“We are obviously disappointed we didn’t get over the hump,” Tinsley said. “We had the chances. But just to have the opportunity and be in the position means a lot to me. Hopefully, it means a lot to our school, our community and our families.”
Three who made a difference
Benjamin Black, Mallard Creek: He got the lone score of the game for the Mavericks scampering away from several Buford defenders on a screen play that he was able to break for an 81-yard touchdown. Once he hit his next gear, he was a blur leaving everyone behind. He got a little extra attention from the Wolves’ defense for the remainder of the game.
Dylan Raiola, Buford: He is the top player in the nation for a reason. Despite only having 51 yards in the first half, he came back out in the second half poised. He was able to grind out drives and make some key passes leading to first downs and tossed a pretty deep ball on the lone Wolves’ touchdown of the game.
Mallard Creek Defense: You can’t really just pick one player from the Mavericks defense. It was 11-hats-to-the-ball mentality all game long, and they really gave Buford’s offense all it could handle. The Mavericks secured a handful of takeaways and sacked Raiola four times, as well.
What’s Next?
Mallard Creek will have a bye week before hosting South Carolina power Gaffney on Sep. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Buford will travel to North Cobb out of Kennesaw, Georgia, next week on Sep. 1 also at 7:30 p.m.
Scoring Summary
Mallard Creek: 7 0 0 0 – 7
Buford: 0 0 7 3 – 10
First Quarter
MC — Evan Rambert 81 pass to Benjamin Black (Zachary Moyer kick)
Third Quarter
B — Dylan Raiola 41 pass to KJ Bolden (Mario Ventura kick)
Fourth Quarter
B — Ventura 41-yard field goal
