BUFORD — Bryant Appling brought a small grin to his face when hearing the all-anticipated “quarterback” word brought up during Monday’s Gwinnett Touchdown Club football media day.
Appling, entering his sixth season at the helm and 21st year within the program, has a nifty idea tucked into his sleeve. He’s eager to show a different dynamic under center.
It has worked before in the heralded green-and-gold uniforms, after all.
“I’m going to go in with two guys ready to go,” Appling said.
Buford envisions itself running a two-quarterback system — at least to open the season, which begins Aug. 16 at Milton — with junior quarterback Dayton Raiola and senior signal caller TJ Wilcox. The Wolves have had success over the past 10 years in such a system with the duo of Montgomery VanGorder and Taylor Mitchell, then more recently with Ashton Daniels and Dylan Wittke.
Each of those four quarterbacks continued their playing careers collegiately, and three went on to Power Five programs. VanGorder signed with Notre Dame and Mitchell headed to Davidson after winning state titles with the Wolves. Daniels plays at Stanford and Wittke signed with Virginia Tech before transferring to Minnesota.
Appling showed favor to how a two-quarterback system can pose advantages to an offense. After the departure of Dylan Raiola, Dayton’s older brother, to graduation and the University of Nebraska, Buford had quarterback questions and it has found an answer that has won the program state championships before.
After his family moved from Arizona to Georgia prior to last season, became a viable option at quarterback. Buford then added depth with Wilcox, a dual-threat option out of nearby Collins Hill.
Appling entered spring practice with eyes on the quarterbacks to see if one would emerge. One never did, but in the way Buford hoped with upper-tier competition.
“They’ve taken it on as a challenge and have gotten closer for it,” senior defensive lineman Nico Maggio said. “I really like where we’re at. Hopefully, they’ll be rotating throughout the year. I’m completely fine with it, because they’ve both been showing they can do different things.”
Wilcox had full control of the Collins Hill offense a season ago. He threw for 1,861 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He led the Eagles’ offense in a 43-0 loss to Buford in 2023.
Raiola has less varsity-level experience while at Buford. He played some snaps while learning under his older brother. The younger Raiola threw for 60 yards and one touchdown on 6-for-16 passing as a sophomore.
“They bring different skill sets to the table. TJ has better running ability,” Buford running back Justin Baker said, offering perspective specific to his position. “Dayton knows the offense a little bit more and has been in there a little bit longer. Dayton can really throw it, and it keeps the box lighter when he can sling it. I think having a two-quarterback system is going to be a lot better.”
Similarly to any decision, there are pros-and-cons to running an offense while swapping quarterbacks rather than focusing on one starter. The duo of Mitchell and VanGorder epitomized the positives, while giving warning signs to the negatives.
Throughout their high school careers, the two built a strong on-field relationship. VanGorder could provide perspective on the defense to Mitchell, and vice versa as they alternated drives. The two communicated well, and it pushed them to perform better than the other in practice. Luke Humphrey, who learned under the two and later started full-time in his Buford career, said the play of Mitchell and VanGorder “made it impossible on the coaching staff to name a starter.”
All the while, the pace of high school football differs from a decade ago. The game carries a quicker tempo, egos are bigger (although Appling said the on-field relationship between Raiola and Wilcox is “not toxic”) and momentum can be challenging to gain.
Buford, however, mastered it in the newer age with Daniels and Wittke.
“With the right team, the right system and ultimately acceptance and collaboration between both players,” Mitchell said. “a two-quarterback system can be successful.”
After a season of being led by a five-star prospect, Buford offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Gus Condon has a different type of challenge on his hands.
For now, it’s one Buford embraces in a new-look offense.
“We always have given guys an opportunity to shine, and sometimes it shells itself out on Fridays and sometimes it doesn’t,” Appling said. “There might be a time where we say ‘We have to keep going with this thing and ride the wave.’ They both have great skill sets and complement our offense, their game and this team.
“We will see what happens.”
FEATURED PHOTO: Courtesy of TJ Wilcox and Dayton Raiola via X (formerly Twitter). Graphic made by Kristen Sampers.
