Preview: State heavyweights set for slug-fest in trenches <b>(VIDEO)</b>

BUFORD -- If Buford's linemen took an extra helping of turkey on Thursday it's because they knew they were going to need it tonight.<br /> <br /> The Wolves are set for a war in the trenches with Marist -- as two teams that pride themselves on running the ball and stopping the run face off in a Class AAAA quarterfinal at 7:30 p.m. at Tom Riden Stadium.<br /> <br /> And while each team attacks its opponent via different styles -- the Wolves in a power-I and the War Eagles in a triple option -- the idea is the same: control the clock and the line of scrimmage.<br /> <br /> "It's going to be a war. For the guys up front it's going to be a dirty work game," Buford senior defensive lineman Quay Picou said. "The excitement for this game is going through the roof. It's time to strap it on and get ready."<br /> <br /> <b>(To watch a video preview of Friday's game simply click "play" in the box to the right.)</b><br /> <br /> The War Eagles (11-1) too are prepping for their toughest battle of the campaign.<br /> <br /> "I haven't found (a weakness) yet in watching film on them," longtime Marist coach Alan Chadwick said. "They don't do anything complicated -- they run a lot of sets, but they do pretty basic things out of those sets. They just execute so well and make you play perfect. <br /> <br /> "We have to be able to get them in some third and mediums and third and longs to have a chance."<br /> <br /> Thanks to a run game averaging 267 rush yards per contest, that isn't an issue the Wolves (12-0) have faced much this season. <br /> <br /> Four backs have rushed for over 300 yards this season -- Xavier Gantt (671 yards, 10 TDs), Joshua Thomas (623 yards, 13 TDs), Evyn Cooper (442 yards, 2 TDs) and Martin Mangram (333 yards, 6 TDs) -- while nine have over 100 yards for Buford.<br /> <br /> "We like to be good up front, but a lot of times our backs make us look a lot better than we are," Wolves senior offensive lineman Nick Polino said. "We like to be physical and get a surge, and they turn it into a long run. It's fun when you're making gains on the run and controlling the game."<br /> <br /> Thanks to that dominant offensive line and talented backfield, Buford has also been deadly with its play-action passing game, quarterback Luke Humphrey throwing for 939 yards and 15 TDs -- tight end Isaac Nauta leads all Wolves receivers with 247 yards.<br /> <br /> Marist may not throw it as much -- averaging just 3.3 completions per game to Buford's 5.9 -- but the War Eagles have been effective when they have gone to the air. They just haven't needed to very often thanks to a rushing attack averaging 283 yards per game.<br /> <br /> Led by running backs Ian Gipson (871 yards rushing, 9 TDs) and Griffin King (515 yards, 11 TDs), quarterback Sam Phelts (703 yards, 4 TDs) the Marist triple option has been a handful for opposing defenses. Even just prepping for its idiosyncrasies is tough, as it requires defenses to play with the utmost discipline and patience -- and even then it can still gain yards.<br /> <br /> "It's hard to simulate what they do. Our kids have worked hard to get that in practice. But us doing it in practice and that translating on the game field will take some time," Wolves coach Jess Simpson said. "It's a question of us being patient; hey they're going to get some first downs. They'll fall forward for that two-and-a-half yards yards to keep a drive going. When that happens we have to get back to business and try to win the next series. We need to get them behind the sticks and win some third downs. That will be the difference in the game."<br /> <br /> "If you peek in the backfield even once, boom there's a hole. And these guys are coached up to take advantage of that," Picou said. "Three yards a pop for them is like a touchdown. It's worse when they get more. You've got to stay focused."<br /> <br /> Both squads are saying that should not be much of a problem come game time -- not while facing an opponent that has their full respect and with good reason: Buford has 10 state championships, Marist two. A win for the Wolves would make it eight straight state semifinal appearances, a win for the War Eagles their third.<br /> <br /> "This time of year our kids have tremendous respect for who we're playing and they know it's a one-game season," Simpson said.