Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard

Franklin receiver Javier Buffalo keeps setting records

When Javier Buffalo was a freshman wide receiver at Ben Franklin High, he enjoyed playing football, but it wasn't that important to him.

When Javier Buffalo was a freshman wide receiver at Ben Franklin High, he enjoyed playing football, but it wasn't that important to him.

That is until he got a taste of something that would change his life, focus and the Public League record books.

"My first touchdown," Buffalo, now a senior, said in a telephone interview. "We played Dobbins Tech midseason at 29th and Chalmers, and I remember catching a screen pass that was probably 5 yards. But I just remember the feeling of teammates running over to me, hype about scoring. It was just a great feeling knowing that I could help the team put points on the board. And from there, I've been working to do that ever since."

In the Electrons' 46-18 clubbing of Lincoln last week, Buffalo tied the Public League record for career receiving touchdowns (32), which was set last season by Imhotep wideout D.J. Moore, now a freshman at Maryland.

Earlier this season, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Buffalo also broke Moore's league record for career receiving yardage (2,056). He has 2,212 yards with at least three games remaining.

He became Franklin's single-season receiving yardage king with 193 in a Week 1 win against Pottsgrove. But for Buffalo, one record stands above them all.

"Probably touchdowns," he said. "Yeah, touchdowns. Because yards might not help my team win, but scoring a touchdown would."

The defending league champion Electrons (5-1, 3-1) are in second place in the AAAA Independence Division behind undefeated Northeast (6-0, 4-0).

In trying to repeat as champions, Buffalo said he has felt the weight of leadership. Last year's offensive leaders, quarterback Kevin Caldwell and receiver Rafeal "Macho" Rodriguez, have graduated.

But Buffalo also relishes the opportunity.

"There is a lot of pressure knowing that everybody looks toward you and a few other players," he said. "It's a lot, but it feels good knowing that they look toward me and I can help them by never letting them down and trying my best."

His best has already set him apart in league history, but the Erie Avenue resident said he's focused on the present. Franklin coach Dave Carter makes sure of that. Buffalo said Carter will largely keep him in the dark about colleges interested in him until after the season.

Until then, Buffalo will continue on the path that started with one simple, life-changing touchdown.

"I had played football before that, but it wasn't that huge for me," he said of his first touchdown. But I played that freshman year and got a taste of it and I knew I wanted to keep with it."

Top performers. Mastery North's Yassar Windle rushed for 224 yards on 13 carries in a 54-6 win against Future. St. Joseph's Prep's D'Andre Swift rushed for 217 yards on 23 carries in a victory over St. Joseph's Regional (N.J.). Answered Gleplay had 209 yards on 17 carries as John Bartram beat Mastbaum, 40-6.

Episcopal's Dee Barlee collected 159 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-14 romp against Conwell-Egan. Prep Charter's Quadir Strothers ran for 177 yards on just four carries in a 40-0 victory against Strawberry Mansion.

Del-Val's Shaheed Brown caught four passes for 125 yards in a 37-29 win against West York. Imhotep's Nasir Lewis also snagged four passes for 101 yards in a 44-0 rout of Overbrook.

cartera@phillynews.com

@AceCarterINQ