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By DON DELCO ThisWeek Staff Writer

CANTON — It looked as if the Grove City High School football team would be without a touchdown for the second consecutive week.

The Dawgs scored with 21 seconds in the game as Tyler Jenkins connected with Jordan Sturgell from 27 yards out.
But by then, the game was not in doubt as Buford (Ga.) won 34-7 in the Kirk Herbstreit Classic at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Field at Fawcett Stadium.

Grove City had a chance to tie the game at 6 in the first quarter as the Dawgs faced a first and goal from the Buford 2-yard-line. Two runs by Brandon Sharron resulted in a loss of minus-1 yards and an incomplete pass from Elijah Smurthwaite put Grove City at fourth and goal from the 3-yard line.

Smurthwaite fumbled the snap and when he regained possession he was hit by a Buford's Omar Hunter, causing a fumble that was recovered by Tyler King at the Buford 27-yard line.

"They started driving on us and they are really good," King said. "We were like all right, it's time to step up. Our strongest point of our defense is our inside and stopping the run. Omar got him, I saw the ball come out and I just ran as fast as I could to get it."

With 2:23 before halftime, Buford quarterback Twoey Hosch connected with Cody Gets on a 27-yard touchdown reception. With 6:05 left in the third quarter, Getz returned a punt 37 yards for the score and a 20-0 Buford advantage.

Grove City, which fell to 0-2, was shut out in its opener against Worthington Kilbourne 28-0 on Aug. 24. Once again the offense struggled as the Dawgs finished with -12 yards rushing, fumbled three times and threw one interception.

"In the first half we competed really well," Grove City coach Scott McIntire said. "In the third quarter, things steamrolled with the turnover then the big punt return for a touchdown and bing, bang, boom."