Ten state titles does a lot for a high school football program over a 20-year span.
It has allowed for Buford to have more resources, including the ability to hire a deeper support staff and build a state-of-the-art football stadium. It makes for higher expectations around the team’s success.
Those championships also bring more recognition.
Buford, entering its sixth season under head coach Bryant Appling, opened the leader’s tenure with three-consecutive state titles despite falling short of the big game in each of the last two seasons.
According to a ranking on MaxPreps, Buford ranked as the most-dominant team in the state of Georgia since 2004. With Buford atop the list, the prep company’s top-10 includes three other Gwinnett County schools — Grayson (third), North Gwinnett (tied for sixth with Northside) and Mill Creek (10th).
Along with the three-straight titles to open Appling’s tenure, much of Buford’s top ranking comes from the success of former coach Jess Simpson — recently named defensive line coach at nearby Georgia Tech. Simpson won seven state championships over an eight-year span.
Buford, after losing many players to Division I programs after the 2023 season, Appling and the Wolves are starting anew. Buford held spring practice before the school year ended, and held a number of sessions throughout the summer.
In order to contend for another title in the state’s toughest classification, Appling shared his approach at the end of April.
“I’m trying to make them uncomfortable everyday by putting them in competitive situations where they have to win and beat somebody,” Appling said. “If they don’t, they won’t get where they want to get.”
Buford opens the football season at Milton Aug. 16. The Wolves hold a home scrimmage against Langston Hughes Aug. 8.
FEATURED PHOTO: David McGregor
