BUFORD — If the Buford defense is high school football’s version of the immovable object, then the Fitzgerald offense might qualify as the irresistible force.

So, something has to give when the No. 3 state-ranked Wolves travel to southeast Georgia to take on the second-ranked Purple Hurricane in a Class AA state semifinal game tonight at Jaycee Stadium.

Buford (12-1) comes into the game with one of the top defenses in the state, having posted a school-record eight shutouts and allowed just six points per game.

On the other side of the line is a Fitzgerald offense that averages an astounding 47 points per game, and has scored 42 or more points in 10 of its 13 games — including three games of 50 or more points and two of 60 or more.

In fact, the Purple Hurricane’s 35-point effort in last week’s quarterfinal win over Callaway was their second-lowest output of the season.

“You look at them and you don’t see a weak point,” Buford coach Jess Simpson said. “They play great defense. They’re really special on offense and they’re dangerous on special teams. It’s a semifinal game. They’re a good team.”

They’re also a balanced team.

Nick Williams has 1,140 yards and 19 touchdowns to lead a three-headed monster in the running game that includes three running backs with 750 yards or more on the season.

That ground attack is complemented by the arm of quarterback Kaleb Nobles, who has 116 completions for 1,959 yards and 21 TDs.

Perhaps the biggest catalyst, however, is H-back Trenton Pruitt, the son of Fitzgerald coach Robby Pruitt, who has combined for 2,083 all-purpose yards and 25 TDs.

“He’s their version of Cody Getz,” Simpson said of Pruitt, comparing the Purple Hurricane senior to the former Wolves star, and now Air Force freshman. “We know him from last year. We know what that looks like. He’s every bit as polished at running back as he is at receiver.

“He runs great routes. He catches the ball. He runs the ball tough. He looks like he was born with a football in his hands in his dad’s offense. He just knows the game.”

At the same time, however, the elder Pruitt knows what his son and the rest of the Fitzgerald offense is up against.

He saw this time last year, when the Purple Hurricane entered Tom Riden Stadium for a semifinal game with an equally prolific offense and left with its third-lowest output of the season in a 44-21 loss to the Wolves.

He’s most concerned about large defensive linemen like Kolton Houston and Mitchell De-Walt or hard-hitting linebackers like Jessel Curry and Andrew Swope.

“It’s the same old Buford,” Robby Pruitt said. “They’re giants. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a collection of large human beings in one place like that. What separates them is that they’re big and athletic.

“We’ve just got to be balanced. You can’t throw on them every down, and I don’t think you can run on them every down either. They’re just so hard to move. We’ve just got to do what you do against a team like that.”