Xavier Crain could have pouted and splashed blame around to teammates. Instead, the Grovetown quarterback spoke clearly and took responsibility for his team's offensive struggles in a 51-0 road loss to Buford Friday night.
"I put this one on me," he said, after Grovetown finished with minus-13 yards of offense in the new Columbia County school's first football game. "If the offense isn't working, it's my fault."
Crain could have blamed his receivers for not catching a pair of well-thrown passes on the team's opening drive.
One would have been for a touchdown, the other would have given the Warriors a first down near Buford's 10-yard line. Crain, who was scrambling from defenders almost as soon as the ball was snapped, completed just one of nine passes. He was sacked or rushed for 0 or negative yards seven times. He also lost two fumbles.
"He's a cool kid, laid back with a good head on his shoulders. He's a leader and keeps them together," Grovetown coach Rodney Holder said.
Holder added about the offensive line: "I looked out there and a couple times and saw a couple of ninth graders and 10th graders sprinkled in playing guys, big old boys (like Buford senior Kolton Houston) that are going to the University of Georgia. They get to bang around with those guys, it's only going to make them better."
KIND WORDS: Buford coach Jess Simpson had some encouraging words for the Warriors after the game.
"For one summer of gathering kids up, having summer workouts, putting in the whole program, I think those guys are to be commended," he said.
"They looked organized and detailed."
Simpson has coached the Wolves for five years, winning two state titles. He said Grovetown should be patient while the team develops.
"It's going to be a process," Simpson said. "Not a one-year process, not a two-year process but three or four years of implementing your stuff and getting a freshmen class all the way through. I think those guys will do a good job.
FIRST SACK: Grovetown will go into its next game searching for memorable firsts: first touchdown, first turnover created, first win. Against Buford, Joe Cooper earned the team's first sack.
The Warriors forced Buford to attempt a field goal on its first possession of the second half, which was good from 40 yards.
LIONS SPOILED: Thunderstorms washed away Augusta Christian's season opener Friday night at South Carolina State.
The game against Orangeburg Prep was called after 11:30 p.m. at the start of the third quarter, with the Lions leading 7-0.
The game will not be made up and statistics will not be official.
Augusta Christian took the lead on a scoring pass from freshman quarterback Tyler Roberson to tight end Austin Lewis .
The game was part of a SCISA opening-week doubleheader at South Carolina State. Wyman King Academy beat Thomas Heyward 21-7 in the first game.
Reach Matt Middleton at (706) 823-3425 or matt.middleton@augustachronicle.com
WEEKLY LEADERS
| Name | School | Yds | Opponent |
| Aubrey Johnson | Aiken | 156 Rushing | Berkmar (Ga.), W, 40-28 |
| Cameron McConnell | Curtis Baptist | 91 Passing | Dominion Christ., L, 28-13 |
| E.J. Bijur | Curtis Baptist | 86 Receiving | Dominion Christ., L, 28-13 |
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