Region preview: West Forsyth tabbed to win a wide-open 6-6A

Last season, the writers and guests at AccessWDUN Sports correctly picked four out of eight region champions that involved northeast Georgia teams in the Georgia High School Association. Fellowship Christian (8-A Division 1), Gainesville (8-6A), Jefferson (8-5A), and North Oconee (8-4A) all captured titles in 2023. 

We also nailed 26 of the 32 playoff teams in the eight northeast Georgia regions in the GHSA.

The 2024 campaign will certainly be different as the GHSA dropped down to just six classifications. However, despite the smaller number of overall classifications, there are now 10 new regions among six classifications housing area teams that should bring some exciting action this fall.

A 13-person panel, made up of media members from Blitz Sports Georgia, Friday Game Night, Gwinnett Daily Post, North Georgia SportsLink, WDUN AM/FM, White County News and WRWH AM/FM, cast their votes during the offseason for who they think will win the 10 area regions.

We will look at two regions each day this week, starting with Class A and finishing with Class 6A.

REGION 6-6A -- Defending champion: Rome (now in 5-5A)

This region ranged from northern Cobb up to Rome and over to Woodstock the last two years. Now it’s basically the old Region 6-7A, mostly an All-Forsyth County region, with Alpharetta, North Forsyth and North Atlanta, minus Milton, added in this reclass cycle.

Milton won 6-7A last season and went on to win the state title so having the Eagles move down to 5A this year immediately makes this a wide-open region. West Forsyth finished second with Lambert third and Denmark fourth in 2023 in the old 6-7A. Add in the fact that the three new teams to mix -- Alpharetta, North Forsyth and North Atlanta -- all made the playoffs last season giving the region six of eight teams coming off playoff appearances.

West Forsyth brings back the bulk of their offense, including junior quarterback Max Walraven, who threw for over 1,200 yards and 14 TDs. Senior running back Foster Orris (1,098 yards, 12 TD) is back as is five of their top six receivers, who combined for over 900 yards and 11 TD catches last season. They graduated five starters on defense but do return a trio of younger starters that combined for 185 tackles and 23 TFL in 2023.

Lambert is coming off its best three-year stretch in program history, winning 25 games. And the Longhorns return almost everyone from an offense that averaged over 32 points/game in 2023. They did graduate two of their top three defenders but senior linebacker Branson Brooks is back after recording 146 tackles, 8 TFL, and 6 sacks last season.

North Atlanta’s only two losses in 2023 were to Marist and Houston County. The Warriors lost some key personnel on both sides of the ball but also return nearly half of their starters from a group that won 17 games over the past two seasons.

North Forsyth is poised to challenge for its first region title since 2001. The Raiders return their entire secondary, which hauled in 16 interceptions a year ago. Senior safety Colter Vela had two picks. Safety CJ Lenyszyn had 4 INTs, four, Parker Smaltz picked off two passes. Corner Colton Constable also had 4 picks and corner Zach Alvarez had three INTs last year.

On offense, NoFo Starting has senior quarterback Eli Seaney back. Seaney set the school record for completion percentage at 60 percent to go with 1,713 yards and 19 TDs. Junior Darren Parry is back at running back after rushing for 850 yards and 5 TDs. And the Raiders have a deep receiver room with three starters back as well.

Alpharetta may have the top quarterback in the region in junior DJ Bordeaux, who threw for 2,466 yards, 26 TDs, and just 5 INT in his first varsity season.

Denmark had its worst season in its young season (4-7) but still managed to make the playoffs. The Danes return a slew of younger playmakers but will be breaking in a new quarterback.

West Forsyth may be the consensus pick to win its first region title since 2020, but look for North Forsyth, with perhaps the most experience returning, to make a serious challenge despite not being projected as a playoff team by the panel.

But one thing is for sure, it should be a wide-open race the entire season. With most of the region having clear strengths and flaws, every game will be important.

But West Forsyth and Lambert open region play at West Forsyth on Sept. 13 and that could be an early indicator of which teams will be contenders. North Forsyth plays host to arch-rival South Forsyth on Sept. 13 to open region. But the Raiders will have to travel to Lambert the following week and to West Forsyth on Oct. 18 in what should be a pair of key matchups.