Pursued Wolves looking to stay on top of the 6A mountain

BUFORD — For the two years since Bryant Appling was named Buford coach, getting back on top of the football world was priority No. 1 for the Wolves after two lackluster seasons -- by their standards.

Buford was coming off a pair of quarterfinals appearances in 2017 and 2018, snapping a pair of long streaks into the semifinals and finals. That prompted the Wolves hierarchy to make a change.

“When I became coach (before the 2019 season) getting back to the standard of Buford football was our main focus,” Appling recalled as they got set to begin summer workouts for the 2021 season. “Rebuilding the mindset of the people in the program was the biggest challenge. It’s not easy trying to get back to a level where you feel you’re one of the state’s best. It’s really just one day at a time to try and keep that standard going.”

So far, mission accomplished on bringing the Wolves back to state prominence. Two seasons under Appling, two state titles. They captured the Class 6A state title last season after winning the Class 5A crown in 2019, both in dramatic overtime victories in the finals.

But now the focus is changing once again off Buford Highway. Trying to stay on top of the mountain has become the new mantra.

“Success ain’t easy,” Appling said. “It’s harder to stay on top than it is to get there. As a program, I think we’re in a great spot. We’re right where we wanted to be at this point. But of course, there’s always room for improvement.

“But we also know everyone wants to beat us and that we’re going to get everyone’s best game. Believe me, that’s all the motivation we need coming into this season.”

A key element for Buford as they try to defend their state title is that the road back has been paved with a plethora of young talent across the board. Yes, they did lose the likes of running back Gabe Ervin and linebacker Tommy Beuglas. But they also have 16 combined starters back from last season, including All-AccessWDUN first-team selection in wide receiver/cornerback Isaiah Bond (15 rec., 382 yards, 5 TDs; Florida-commit) and senior running back Victor Venn (1,211 yards, 18 TDs; Colorado-commit).

The defense, which allowed just 137 points in 2020 (9.78 points/game), is loaded with 16 players that all saw significant action in 2020 coming back. Seniors River Wilson and Josiah Wyatt, who combined for nearly 70 tackles and 7 sacks, will anchor a very experienced front line that also includes junior Elijah Williams and sophomore Eddrick Houston.

Senior Michigan State-commit Malik Spencer (44 tackles, 4 TFL, 5 sacks, 2 INTs) with fellow seniors Aubrey Smith (70 tackles, 11 TFL, 2.5 sacks) and V.J. Payne (63 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 sacks) give the Wolves one of the best linebacking units in the state. Bond, senior defensive back Jake Pope, senior cornerback CJ Clinkscales, and sophomore safeties KJ Bolden and Ty'Shun White will roam a formidable secondary.

“The defensive line is very experienced and I think that could be a tough group to go against for anybody,” Appling said. “And with guys like Jake and Malik and Aubrey and CJ and the young safeties, it should be a good group overall. They were tough last year but with another year of experience now, they could remind me of some of those defenses from 10 or 12 years ago.”

The offense is stacked with nearly half a dozen potential game-breakers in the skilled positions. The question will be a young offensive line that graduated center Caleb Archer and has just three starters back. Senior Jackson Favors returns upfront with three tight ends in seniors Peyton Rinker and Davis Peek and sophomore Eddrick Houston may be taking on other duties along the line.

The dual quarterback tandem of senior Ashton Daniels (49-of-76 passing, 670 yards, 11 TDs) and junior Dylan Wittke (54-of-88 passing, 1,041 yards, 10 TDs) is also back. 

Venn and Clinkscales (38 att., 360 yards, 5 TDs; 3 KO returns, 115 yards) bring back a solid duo in the backfield even with the loss of Ervin. Bond, Pope, and senior Tobi Olawole give Daniels and Wittke plenty of speedy pass-catchers. Rinker, Peek, and Houston also could figure prominently in the passing game as well.

The key for Appling and his staff will be building up the offensive line.

“That group is probably the youngest overall we’ve had in a long, long time,” Appling said. “There’s some talent there for sure. But early on during the summer and fall, that will be a huge focus area for us. But I do think we’ll eventually have it figured out, and hopefully by the start of the season.”

To help them try and continue to be among the favorites in an ultra-competitive Class 6A, Buford has put together a challenging non-region slate. Once again they will open the season against North Cobb, the only team to knock them off in 2020 (28-14), this time in the Corky Kell Classic. Then they travel to old region foe Clarke Central, who knocked off the Wolves in their 2019 meeting (31-28) in a showdown for the Region 8-5A title. Buford routed the Gladiators 47-0 last season.

They have their home-opener on Sept. 10 against Myers Park (N.C.) out of Charlotte, who went 9-1 and lost in the semifinals of the Class 4A playoffs, the largest in the Tarheel state. They close out the non-region schedule against Chaminade-Madonna, (Fla.) out of Hollywood, who lost to Trinity Christian in that state’s Class 3A title game in 2020.

The Wolves open their Region 8-6A schedule on the road on Sept. 24 against Central Gwinnett. They close out the season on Nov. 5 at Dacula in what is expected to once again be a showdown for the region title. But Appling said don’t expect another 35-0 blowout over the Falcons like last season’s finale.

“We wanted a tough non-region schedule and I think we put together a really challenging set of games,” Appling said. “North Cobb will be just as good, Clarke Central is always tough, Myers Park went deep in the playoffs in North Carolina, and Chaminade also had a big season last year in Florida. We’ll need the challenge and need to be tested to get ready for what I think will be another tough region.

“Dacula is good. We may have played our best game of the last two or three seasons in that game last year. It’s going to be at their place this year with a full stadium and I’m sure they’ll be ready. But overall I think our region will be just as good as last year.”

Appling stated that for the Wolves to try to hang on to King of the Hill status for another season, looking internally will be the key.

“Again, just taking things one day at a time and getting better each day than the day before. We just need to worry about ourselves and focus on ourselves. If we do that daily, things will work themselves out,” he said.