The 2023 high school football campaign is just days away, and there are more than a few storylines to follow for the 26 Northeast Georgia-area programs we follow at AccessWDUN.
It was not a banner year for area teams in 2022, as only Gainesville and Rabun County made it out of the second round in the eight classifications of the Georgia High School Association playoffs.
The Red Elephants got all the way to the Class 6A championship game but dropped a 35-28 heartbreaker to Hughes. Region 8-A Division 1 champion Rabun County lost in the quarterfinals. Lanier Christian advanced to the GAPPS semifinals, but for the other 23 teams, it was a rough postseason, to say the least.
No Hall County teams made the playoffs; Buford saw its long quarterfinals streak upended by Walton in Class 7A in the second round; Region 8-5A, including region champion Jefferson, and Region 7-3A, including region champ Dawson County, both got swept out in the first round. Commerce also lost in the first round for a second consecutive season.
So what will 2023 have in store for area fans? That’s what we were wondering as well.
Here are perhaps the five biggest questions involving area teams we would love to know the answers to:
CAN GHS TAKE THE NEXT, FINAL, STEP IN 2023?
The Red Elephants were essentially just one bad minute away from capturing their second state title last season. A frustrating 35-28 loss to Hughes in the Class 6A finals denied them their first title since 2012.
After watching the program miss out on the playoffs in 2021 for the first time since 1999, Josh Niblett, who won seven state titles in Alabama, including six at national powerhouse Hoover, was brought in to turn things around. He did just that, guiding Gainesville to its first region title (8-6A) since 2013 and its most wins in a season since 2009.
Always seeking improvement on the season prior, as coaches and programs are apt to want to do, there’s only one step left for Big Red after last season: winning the title.
Several of the key pieces from that 14-1 team are back in 2023, including quarterback Baxter Wright (3,343 yards, 72% completions, 40 TD, 4 INT; 563 yards rushing, 9 TD), wide receiver Travien Watson (56 rec., 725 yards, 6 TD), tight end Sky Niblett (30 rec., 450 yards, 11 TD), and five along the offensive line that saw significant action on the offensive side. Throw in the additions of running back Gavin Hall, who rushed for over 2,500 yards last year for Hebron Christian, and three more on a defense that lost eight starters, and they could be set up to do just that.
Barring injury, Wright is expected to be even better in their up-tempo offense with just as many weapons at his disposal as last year. The defense may be the early weak link as they integrate several newcomers but should be formidable by season’s end.
They have more talent than anyone in 8-6A but should face stern tests from North Forsyth and Jackson County to close out the regular season trying to defend their region title. Among Class 6A, only Hughes, and maybe Houston County, are expected to be able to field the same talent level as Big Red.
Niblett would never say it’s Championship or Bust. But you have to figure that is the one goal left for a group of seniors who have been building toward the past two seasons.
CAN BUFORD COMPLETE THE GHSA CLASSIFICATION SWEEP?
The Wolves already have made history as the only program to win state titles in six GHSA classifications. It could one day be matched. Unlikely, but it could be done as long as they stay at six classifications.
But with Class 7A, where the Wolves are currently housed, set to be eliminated in the next state reclassification, they have a chance to build on something that most likely would never even have a chance to be matched: winning titles in all seven classifications.
Heading into the 2023 campaign, Buford is the overwhelming No. 1 choice in preseason polls. And with the addition of the nation’s top quarterback prospect in Dylan Raiola, they already seem to be the odds-on favorite to win the title. But 7A is like no other classification.
Perennial powers like Parkview, Grayson, Colquitt County, Westlake, Milton, North Gwinnett, Carrollton, to name a few, highlight by far the toughest playoff field in the state, if not one of the toughest in the nation.
Can the Wolves make history again? Indeed, they have the personnel to do it. Will they? Nothing is a guarantee in 7A. The pressure will be there, especially with Raiola at the helm.
In 2022, the Wolves were ranked No. 1 heading into the playoffs only to be stunned by Walton, 42-35, in a second-round shootout. After the first round, nearly every game, the rest of the way is a coin flip.
It may all depend on the matchup and the health of both teams. We won’t make any predictions here, but it will definitely be fun to watch while they try and pull it off.
WHICH HALL COUNTY PROGRAM CAN MAKE IT TO THE PLAYOFFS IN 2023?
The 2022 campaign was perhaps the darkest ever for the Hall County School District, as none of the seven system programs made the playoffs. Johnson was playing a non-region schedule in 2022.
It was the first time since 1999 -- when there were only four schools (North Hall, East Hall, Johnson, West Hall) -- that no one from Hall County advanced to the postseason. Will 2023 be better for Hall County teams?
Perhaps. Maybe? Finding a single guarantee is more difficult when you look at the regions where the Hall County teams play.
Flowery Branch in Region 8-5A may have the best road to the playoffs in 2023. The Falcons have several key returnees, including running back Malik Dryden, receivers Jeremiah Ware and Seth Larson, and Josh Oliver at quarterback. They also should be solid on the back end of an improving defense.
The four playoff teams -- Jefferson, Eastside, Clarke Central, and Loganville -- all graduated key elements, leaving the region's playing field much more level for the Falcons. But Branch went 0-4 vs. that crowd in 2022.
The Falcons lost a pair of close region games to Winder-Barrow and Loganville, and if they can flip just those two in 2023, they would more than likely get into the playoffs.
Cherokee Bluff, Chestatee, and East Hall, all play in Region 8-4A, considered one of the toughest in the classification, with North Oconee, Walnut Grove, Madison County, Cedar Shoals, and a quickly-rising East Forsyth all vying for four spots. With its numbers, Bluff may be in the best position of the three Hall County teams to break out in 8-4A.
But the Bears have questions at running back, linebacker, and secondary depth. The Bears went 1-4 against the teams outside of Hall County in 2022.
Chestatee has a new coach and is trying to develop a new offense. The War Eagles will be thin on defense. They also went 1-4 vs. non-county teams.
East Hall has talent on offense, especially with Jamarcus Harrison, who could be a breakout player to watch. But the Vikings also are trying to improve a porous defense from last season. They were winless in region play in 2022.
Depending on how quickly some young talent continues to develop, West Hall in Region 7-3A could have a shot at its first postseason under coach Krofton Montgomery and its first since 2017.
The Spartans were forced to play a slew of young underclassmen in 2022, but that group is making strides. Montgomery feels they have a chance to be competitive.
And the region will be in flux in 2023. Defending region champ Dawson County graduated almost all of its defense and is rebuilding that unit. Lumpkin County is coming off its best season since 1976 but will have a new quarterback and will have to fight overconfidence.
Gilmer and Wesleyan are still rebuilding. White County was decimated by injuries in 2022 and is getting almost everyone back. Pickens, who finished third, is expected to be better.
The Spartans could be poised to be this year’s Lumpkin County, which came out of nowhere to grab the No. 2 seed. But they will need to beat at least one, if not two, of the four playoff teams from a year ago to have a shot. However, they went winless in region play in 2022.
CAN LUMPKIN COUNTY BUILD ON LAST YEAR AND WIN ITS FIRST REGION TITLE?
The Indians had their best season since 1976 in 2022, winning eight games, setting a school record for most points scored in a season, making the playoffs for the first time since 2014, and hosting only their second home playoff game. It was a magical season for the Indians under new head coach Heath Webb.
When Webb arrived on campus last year, he immediately went to work on changing the attitude and the culture. He's known for building programs and has this Indian program believing again.
On paper, Lumpkin County is the favorite to win the region title. They have 16 starters returning. This team has it all. The only question is, can a team with very little success over the last two decades finish the drill in 2023?
They'll have an unproven quarterback in Cal Faulkner. Faulkner led the team in receiving in 2022. He's a dynamic player with the wheels to get out of trouble, but now he's behind the center. Webb says Faulkner is going to turn some heads with his throwing ability. We already know about his elusiveness but will playing your best athlete at QB pay off for the Indians? We think it will. Why? He's got a veteran wall in front of him returning, and all five linemen are back bigger, faster and stronger. He has Harper Davenport to throw it to and a few newcomers, including Nolan Matthews. Don't forget about Mason Sullens, who weighs in at 220 pounds. He's a load to take down to the ground and is poised to rush out of the stadium on any given night.
Defensively, they return a slew of playmakers, including leading tacklers Will Wood and Preston Cox. The defense gave up just over 20 points per game last season and should only be better in 2023.
The Indians have all the ingredients to win their first region title. The only question now is can they finish the job in 2023?
PLAYOFF STALWARTS COMMERCE AND JEFFERSON HAVEN'T GOTTEN OUT OF THE FIRST ROUND IN TWO SEASONS. CAN THEY IN 2023?
When you think of perennial playoff contenders, even state title contenders, you think of Commerce and Jefferson.
Commerce has made trips to the second round or better from 2014-2020. The last two seasons have been first-round exits for the Tigers.
Jefferson has a similar track record making the quarterfinals or better in six seasons between 2013-2020 and a finals appearance in 2020.
Commerce will have to knock off two behemoths in region play to improve its chances of advancing to the Sweet 16, Elbert and Rabun counties. The Tigers, however, have plenty of talent returning this season, including a three-headed monster of Jaiden Daniels, Jakari Huff and Tysean Wiggins. The trio rushed for over 2,400 yards last season. The offense won't have a problem putting up points. Defensively, however, the Tigers are a bit more inexperienced. How that side of the ball improves will be key in the Tigers' quest for the Region 8-A Division 1 title and a home playoff berth.
Jefferson does return the state's best linebacker in Clemson-commit Sammy Brown. Brown finished with almost 1,500 yards rushing and 113 tackles in 2022, but he will need some help if the Dragons expect to get past the first round.
The Dragons will have a new quarterback, a new defensive line and three new starters in the secondary. The good news, the Dragons have an experienced, huge offensive line. The O-line should help the Dragons' offense to fast-track the improvement early on, and by the time region play begins, they could be running like a well-oiled machine.
It'll be interesting to see how both teams progress throughout the season, but we have a sneaking suspicion both will get out of the first round in 2023.
