BUFORD — Lowndes’ football season came to an end Friday night, courtesy of a 42-7 score at the hands of Buford.

Both Wolves and Vikings came in with a loss apiece, but Buford’s depth was too much for the visitors. The halftime score at Tom Riden Stadium was 21-7, but Buford tacked on two third quarters scores and Lowndes couldn’t respond.

Friday spelled the end of the state tournament for all three remaining teams from Region 1-6A. Carrollton eliminated Valdosta, 49-13, and Collins Hill broke a tie to defeat Colquitt County, 28-14.

The Wolves went up 14-0 in the first quarter. Justin Baker opened scoring on a rushing touchdown. Lowndes pinned Buford at the 7 on a punt with 17 seconds to go, but Buford would not stay contained.

Ethan Ervin gained two yards on the first play of the drive. On the next, quarterback Dayton Raiola dropped back and found Jordan Allen on a pass. Allen turned on the jets and kept going, 91 yards for a touchdown.

Lowndes’ best drive resulted in its lone touchdown.

After stopping the Wolves in the second quarter, the Vikes got the ball pack at their own 28 following a punt.

Jayce Johnson immediately threw a 37-yard pass to Jaylin Carter, setting the visitors up at the 35. Johnson completed his first nine passes of the game. The ninth was to Aidan Sefa for a pickup of nine. Johnson used his legs to get a first down at the 20.

Lowndes used some trickery to get further into the red zone, an end around pass from Marvis Parrish to Sefa at the 13. Buford stuffed a run on third down, but Parrish kept the sticks moving by pushing through to the 9.

The ball was Parrish’s the rest of the drive. He ran for one, then powered through from the 5 for a touchdown at 2:36. Aiden Andrews’ kick cut the lead to 14-7.

Buford used two timeouts on the drive. They had one in their pocked for the final 2:36 of the half, but wouldn’t need it.

Tyriq Green ran for an immediate 10 for the Wolves to reach midfield. Lowndes almost had a pick on Raiola’s next pass, but it was complete and so was the next, 21 yards to Sam Harkness.

Now at the 29, Baker ran for his second touchdown, shaking off a Viking to go the distance. The drive took all of 90 seconds and disrupted any momentum Lowndes was seeking to have at halftime.

In the 56 seconds remaining in the half, Lowndes got to midfield on a 17-yard pass from Johnson to Aalim Brown, but couldn’t get closer than the Buford 46.

The Wolves not only scored on nearly every possession, they took their time doing so, further limiting opportunities for the Vikings.

Buford opened the second half by chewing up 5:17 of the clock, a 13-play, 80-yard drive resulting in a Green 3-yard rushing touchdown at 6:43. No play was longer than 17 yards.

Needing to try to get anything going, Lowndes lost the ball on downs at the 44. Three more minutes went off the clock before Dylan McCoy extended the lead to 35-7 on a 3-yard run.

Lowndes’ next drive was even shorter, one play and a Green interception at the 50.

Buford wrapped scoring on the next drive, which finished off the third period and extended into the fourth. Baker had a 21-yard rush at 9:59.

The Vikings punted on their next chance, but were able reach into Buford territory on their final possession. Brown had a first down run and the Wolves gave them 15 more yards on a pass interference.