There are just 33 days remaining until the kickoff of the 2024 high school football season. But make no mistake, preparations for the upcoming campaign got underway months ago. And teams throughout northeast Georgia already are in full countdown mode.
With that in mind, we spent the last couple of weeks catching up with programs around our area to get a feel for how spring practice went, how the summer is going, and what coaches believe the fall will look like. Our "Two-a-Days" series honors those old-school grinding sessions that lead us out of summer and into fall, asking each area coach two key questions about the state of their respective programs.
Over the next two weeks, AccessWDUN's Friday Game Night will get you prepped for the start of gridiron action with responses from coaches throughout northeast Georgia.
(Teams run in alphabetical order)...
BUFORD (11-2 in 2023; lost quarterfinals of Class 7A playoffs)
For a second straight season, the Wolves were knocked out of the playoffs early, by their standards, falling in the quarterfinals in Class 7A. But while 7A is no more, they are still in the state’s largest classification (6A) as the 2024 campaign gets closer.
They will have several new key pieces on offense, including at quarterback, while the defense returns the bulk of a unit that got better over the course of 2023.
But Coach Bryant Appling knows nothing is a given and we asked him about the changes, especially at quarterback and along a rebuilding offensive line, on offense.
QUESTION: For the second consecutive season y’all are breaking in a new starting quarterback, no matter who wins the job between junior Dayton Raiola and senior TJ Wilcox (a move-in from Collins Hill). How have both looked so far in the summer as they battle for the job?
A: Both players have looked solid throughout the summer and have a good competitive relationship going. They both have great skill sets that are different that could be used at various times. But it is a competition and we will go with the one that wins it and gives us the best chance to win. Everyone knows leadership is key in that position and the ones that figure that part out early have a good chance to lead this team to special places. They both have a good control of the huddle and will improve in that area as we get closer to the season.
Q: Y’all are also rebuilding along the offensive line. Who has stood out so far in the offseason?
A: We’re very excited about this group! Braden Jacobs, and Preston Clark are the two returning starters, and are solid players at their positions but Braden Burton, Graham Houston, have been bright spots throughout the spring and summer. We are also looking at Marcus Major and Ben Mubenga being big-time contributors for us on that side.
BONUS QUESTION: The defense, especially at linebacker, should be a nasty bunch. What has been fun to watch about this group so far this offseason? How good can this group be?
A: We still have a long way to go, but we could be really good at all four spots. We’re returning a lot of experience plus the strength and athleticism this group possesses needs to be a serious strength for us on defense. Everything starts with our defensive line and this group would not be that good if they weren’t as exceptional as they are. But the guys on the second level of the defense must enforce their will for us to be a high-level defense like we strive to be each and every year.
- Up Next in Two-a-Days: CHEROKEE BLUFF
- Previous Two-a-Days: BANKS COUNTY
