Buford claimed its third straight region title and first in Class 7A last year. And the Wolves look even more loaded coming into the 2023 campaign.
High-profile transfer Dylan Raiola, a Georgia commit and the nation's top-rated quarterback, should help what was a good Wolves offense coming in have a chance to become prolific with the likes of receivers KJ Bolden and Tyshun White already in place.
They survived a shootout with Mill Creek in last year's region-defining game but will have to travel to Mill Creek Stadium this time around.
The Hawks lost a ton from their state championship team and are retooling at several spots, including quarterback and receiver. How quickly they integrate some young talent may tell if they will be able to challenge for a region title and beyond.
Mountain View and Dacula, the other two playoff teams, have plenty of questions coming into the 2023 season, while Collins Hill will be breaking in another starting quarterback. However, the Eagles have a solid defense that could keep them in every game.
It's probably Buford's region title to lose. But as the Wolves found out last season, Class 7A in Georgia is a different animal.
REGION 8-7A
2022 Champion: Buford
2022 Playoff Teams: Buford, second round; Mill Creek, Class 7A state champs; Mountain View, first round; Dacula, first round
2022 Region Standings: Buford (11-1, 5-0); Mill Creek (14-1, 4-1); Mountain View (5-6, 2-3); Dacula (3-8, 2-3); Collins Hill (4-6, 2-3); Central Gwinnett (5-5, 0-5)
What to expect in 2023:
BUFORD – The Wolves didn't exactly finish the 2022 season as they had hoped. Buford's first foray into the Class 7A playoffs ended with a loss to Walton in the second round -- the first time in 24 seasons the Wolves were eliminated in the second round. It also stopped the Wolves' bid for four straight state titles. However, the 2023 campaign has a chance to be a record-setting and historic season for the Wolves. With a roster filled with Power 5 talent, including recent transfer and the nation's top quarterback and Georgia-commit Dylan Raiola, WR KJ Bolden, LB Jadon Perlotte, DE Eddrick Houston, athlete Jordan Allen, RB Justin Baker and WR/DB Tyshun White, DB Devin Williams, linebacker Mantrez Walker, OL Brayden Jacobs, RB Kobi Blackwell, DE Martreece Dillard, OL Devin Forrester and CB Jaylen Neal, the Wolves have the tools in the box to make a run at the state title. The Wolves will look to be balanced on offense, and with the number of weapons all over the field, this could be the Wolves' highest-flying unit in quite some time. Defensively, they will be fast and physical -- most likely their quickest defense ever. KEY GAMES: As usual, the Wolves have a brutal non-region slate, including national powers St. Frances Academy (Maryland), Mallard Creek (North Carolina), and in-state elites North Cobb and Carver of Atlanta. But the game circled on everybody's calendar is an October 13 region bout at rival and defending state champion Mill Creek.
CENTRAL GWINNETT – Thanks to a favorable non-region schedule in 2022, the Black Knights finished with their best record -- 5-5 -- since the 2017 campaign, also 5-5. They were 5-0 in non-region, averaging almost 30 points per game. That output started to dwindle on Sept. 29 at Mill Creek, losing 58-7. That loss was the start to an 0-5 region record, while only scoring 5.4 ppg and giving up 36.6 ppg. A couple of positives for the Black Knights in 2023, they return junior quarterback Makhi Cunningham, who completed 84 of 127 passes for 874 yards, 5 TD and 4 INT. Also returning is the entire backfield, including leading rusher Carmello Jeffery (118-754 yards, 4 TD). Defensively, the Black Knights will struggle as they lost their top-three defenders. KEY GAMES: They'll open the region slate at home against defending state champ Mill Creek (Sept. 29). After that, they'll have a chance to grab three wins against Dacula (Oct. 13), Mountain View (Oct. 20) and Collins Hill (Oct. 27).
COLLINS HILL — The Eagles are less than two years removed from winning the Class 7A state title, and it may be a while before they are a real contender again. They were the worst offensive team in the region (14.0 ppg), and QB Mikey Sheehan graduated after a 1,300-yard season passing and was their second-leading rusher as well. As a result, they will be breaking in their third new QB in as many seasons in 2023. Jr. RB Jacarri Thomas, who led them in rushing with 340 yards in 8 games, returns, and Sr. Chase Nash and Jr. C J Hector both return at receiver, and the duo combined for 46 catches for nearly 550 yards in 2022. Holding onto the ball will be key, as they led the region with 22 turnovers last season. Defensively may be where they can compete. They were 3rd in the region in overall defense and return 4 of their top 5 tacklers, including Jr. LB Javyon Hatch (79 tkls, 11 TFL, 1 sack) and So. DE Deuce Geralds (66 tkls, 17.5 TFL, 10.5 sacks, 15 QB hurries), who has a slew of Power 5 offers (Ga. Tech, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Ole Miss, Ohio State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, UNC, Alabama, LSU, South Carolina, Miami). But they forced just nine turnovers in 2022 and will need to improve on that in a tough region. KEY GAMES: They get Buford, Mill Creek, and Dacula at home and may need to find an upset win in that group to make the playoffs.
DACULA — The Falcons are sporting their third coach in four seasons as Reggie Stancil, the former Peachtree Ridge head coach from 2017 to 2021, takes over for Casey Vogt. They had their worst season since 2012, posting a 3-8 season, but their win over Central Gwinnett in last year's finale ran their playoff streak to seven straight seasons, their longest in program history. KEY GAMES: The Falcons get the other three 2022 playoff teams -- Buford, Mill Creek, and Mountain View -- at home in 2023.
MILL CREEK — The Hawks finally broke through last season with their first-ever state title. It will be a more difficult road in 2023 as QB Hayden Clark (2,334 yards, 24 TD, 2 INT) and two-way stud Caleb Downs (Alabama) graduated, as well as 4 of their top 5 receivers. Sr. RB Cam Robinson, however, does return (1,802 yards, 21 TD rushing; 23 rec., 255 yards, 3 TD receiving). Robinson is the leading rusher and receiver returning on an offense that scored a program-record 712 points and averaged over 47 ppg last season. They will need to find a new signal-caller, help for Robinson in the backfield, and a new receiving corps as they rebuild the offense. The defense returns 5 of its top 9, including Sr. LB Josh Allen, who had a big year in 2022 (95 tkls, 13 TFL, 5 sacks, 11 QB hurries, 1 INT). But they will also have to replace 330 tackles, 47 TFL, and 25 sacks on that side of the ball. But the addition of Buford transfer King Joseph Edwards (LB) should help to make up for those losses. They have some good young talent, but how long it takes for them to integrate could decide if they can challenge for the region title. KEY GAMES: Some tough non-region games (North Gwinnett, Norcross, Archer, Cedar Grove) could help them prepare for 8-7A play. The key game will be Oct. 13 at home vs. rival Buford, which decided the region crown in 2022.
MOUNTAIN VIEW — The Bears have only missed the playoffs once -- 2020 -- in the last seven seasons. They have the opportunity to keep it going in 2023 as they return several key components to last year's Class 7A playoff squad. In 2022, the Bears' offense, although not explosive, only averaging 20 points per game, employed a dual quarterback system. Mason Kidd (64-122, 870 yards passing, 7 TD) graduated, but senior Jayden Dooley returns to take the reins of the offense. He completed 27 of 34 passes for 338 yards and six TD and rushed for another 350 and 3 TD. They return their top two wide receivers. However, the Bears will have to find some help out of the backfield as they lost four backs to graduation, leaving Dooley as the leading rusher. Defensively, the Bears should be OK. They return three of their top five defenders, including linebacker Jabari Spencer, who led the team with 89 tackles, 11 for a loss. Still, it'll be a tall task to finish higher than third with defending region champ Buford and state champ Mill Creek. KEY GAMES: The Bears have the opportunity to be undefeated by the time they travel to Buford on Oct. 27.
