BUFORD — Out of the hundreds of programs throughout the state -- many as storied as they come -- which high school team is the face of football in Georgia?
Older fans probably immediately think of Valdosta. The Wildcats were long the premier gridiron power, piling up a whopping 24 state titles -- the most by far of any state program -- then or now. They played for 10 titles in a 15-year stretch from 1956-71 going 9-0-1. They played in 11 more title games from 1978-98, winning eight more.
Valdosta won three straight from 1960-62 but never played in more than three in a row. And the Wildcats have not won a title since 1998.
How about Lincoln County? The Red Devils have won 11 titles overall and played in the title game eight of 12 years from 1984-1995, including four straight finals from 84-87 and 7-of-8 from 84-91. Thier last title came in 2006.
But since that last Lincoln County title, a new player has taken center-stage.
Buford.
The Wolves and Red Devils are currently tied for the second-most titles in state history, and Buford can claim second place outright on Saturday afternoon if it can find a way past Cartersville in the Class AAAA title game at 4:30 p.m. at the Georgia Dome.
(NOTE: We will publish our championship video preveiw on Saturday morning, as the Wolves prep for their big showdown.)
The Wolves have won seven titles since 2006, including four-straight from 2007-10, as part of 10 overall titles since 2001. They have become the new standard of excellence.
Saturday’s final will mark their ninth consecutive trip to the Georgia Dome -- a state record.
The original architect of the Wolves historic run, Dexter Wood, coached Buford for a decade before handing the reins to Jess Simpson. When presented with the eye-popping stats, Wood was a little taken aback.
“I had no idea about that kind of a record or anything,” Wood said. “I think it’s really more of a testament to the support we have from the (school) board, the administration, the coaches, and the kids who all buy into the program.”
Wood said his time at the helm was about setting the stage for the coach that he considers “the best in the state” in Simpson. It took Wood seven years to nab his first title. It took Simpson just three.
“He learned a lot when he was my assistant.," Wood said. "It takes every coach a few years to grasp all the things you have to do to run a team. I thought he has done a magnificent job. We were fortunate to have the right guy with us and he has really put his mark on things.”
Despite the pictures of each championship team hanging on the walls of the Wolves football offices, a key element to the Wolves’ success is Simpson and the coaches treating each campaign -- and the seniors that will lead it -- as if it is the only one that matters.
“We try to make each season for the seniors a special one. We don’t talk about the past. We just focus on getting better each day, each week,” Wood said. “We want the seniors to enjoy their final year. I think they want to try and keep whatever streaks going that they can.”
Buford’s four straight titles from 2007-10 matches West Rome, which won four straight titles from 1982-85, as the most consecutive titles in any classification. They can tie both of those marks with another win on Saturday.
It is heady stuff -- yet it is also stuff that you won't hear bandied about the lockerooms and coaches' offices. Again -- it's all about the next game. And the next game is intriguing indeed.
Among the other finalists on Friday and Saturday, here is how they stack up of late and overall (number of titles, last year, classification):
Class AAAAAA:
-- Colquitt County, 2 (2014, AAAAAA)
-- Roswell, 3 (2006, AAAAA)
Class AAAAA:
-- Glynn Academy, 1 (1964, AAA)
-- Allatoona, 0
Class AAAA:
-- Cartersville, 2 (1999, AA)
-- Buford, 11 (2014, AAAA)
Class AAA:
-- Blessed Trinity, 0
-- Westminster, 2 (1978, AAA)
Class A Private:
-- Eagles Landing Christian, 2 (1948, A)
-- Aquinas, 1 (2013, A Private)
Class A Public:
-- Clinch County, 5 (2010, A)
-- Irwin County, 1 (1975, A)
Most titles overall (any classification):
-- Valdosta, 24
-- Lincoln County, 11
-- Buford, 11
-- Carrollton, 7
-- Hawkinsville, 6
-- Clinch County, 5
-- Lowndes, 5
-- West Rome, 5
-- Thomas County Central, 5
-- Thomson, 5
-- Parkview, 4
-- Clarke Central, 3
-- Cartersville, 2
* - Much of this information courtesy the excellent work of the Georgia High School Football Historians Association -- www.ghsfha.org
