No one expected Buford High School’s football team to adjust so well to playing in Class AAAAAA in 2020 when they were bumped up after reclassification. They had just come off of winning a state championship in Class AAAAA during head coach Bryant Appling’s first year at the helm of the program. Buford was able to turn around and secure two additional back-to-back state championships during their time in Class AAAAAA.
Buford once again finds themselves in a similar position of having to adjust to a higher classification. During the Georgia High School Association’s reclassification period in late 2021, Buford was bumped up yet again in classification to where they will compete in Class AAAAAAA during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years. Buford barely made the cut to be knocked into the higher class due to the GHSA voting to increase the multiplier for out-of-district students from 2.0 to 3.0.
Things should definitely be interesting once competition starts in the fall for all sports in the new classification but perhaps football most of all. Buford’s new region of 8-AAAAAAA consists of Buford, Central Gwinnett, Collins Hill, Dacula, Mill Creek and Mountain View. The Wolves are already familiar with Central Gwinnett and Dacula as they made the move up a classification with Buford. Look to defending state champions in Class AAAAAAA, Collins Hill, as well as Mill Creek to be the most challenging region opponents this upcoming season.
Buford will kick off their 2022 football season at Milton on Aug. 19 followed by three home games against Mallard Creek (N.C.), North Cobb and Roman Catholic (Pa.). The Wolves will travel to Marietta on Sept. 23 before returning back to Tom Riden to begin region play against Collins Hill on Sept. 30. After that, they will host Mill Creek and Dacula before finishing out the regular season on the road to Mountain View and Central Gwinnett.
Buford’s 2022 varsity football schedule
Aug. 19 at Milton
Aug. 26 Mallard Creek (N.C.)
Sept. 2 North Cobb
Sept. 16 Roman Catholic (Pa.)
Sept. 23 at Marietta
Sept. 30 Collins Hill
Oct. 14 Mill Creek
Oct. 21 Dacula
Oct. 28 at Mountain View
Nov. 4 at Central Gwinnett
Featured photo above: Scenes from Buford’s annual spring Green and Gold game on May 18, 2022. Photo by Alicia Payne
