The latest MaxPreps High School Football Rankings top 100 national poll was released Monday, naming Buford High School’s football program as the No. 22 program nationally. Suwanee’s Collins Hill was ranked No. 7. The top 25 includes high school programs from California, Florida, Texas, Alabama, New Jersey, Nevada, Indiana, Maryland, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Utah, Oklahoma, as well as these two schools from Georgia — both of which are in the northern suburbs of Gwinnett County.
Other Georgia schools in the top 100 include North Cobb (Kennesaw) at No. 32, Milton at No. 46, Cedar Grove (Ellenwood) at No. 49, Westlake (Atlanta) at No. 56, Walton (Marietta) at No. 60, Lowndes (Valdosta) at No. 73, Warner Robins at No. 76, Lee County (Leesburg) at No. 78 and Colquitt County (Norman Park) at No. 82.
Additionally, in Georgia Public Broadcasting’s weekly top 10 ranking, Collins Hill, a 7-A powerhouse, is currently ranked first, and neighboring Mill Creek High School is ranked sixth in the top 10 7-A schools. Similarly, GPB has ranked the perennial juggernaut, Buford, as first in this week’s Georgia standings in 6-A.
Having been nationally ranked prior to this 2021 season, Buford is the defending state champion in GHSA’s Class 6-A, with a current 2-0 record.
Collins Hill, with its current 1-0 record, was bested by Grayson in the 2020 GHSA State Championship at Georgia State Stadium, formerly Turner Field. Fans note that Collins Hill’s program is strengthened by most of its 2020 team returning, whereas Grayson had many seniors on its team last year and graduated most of its starters.
Coach Dexter Wood, who presided over the program at the inception of Buford’s modern football dynasty, remarked about Buford’s latest achievement: “We are honored that Buford Football has gained such national recognition with this ranking. It certainly makes our community so proud that our football team is known nationally. The ranking speaks to our long tradition of Buford Football success. However, we know the most important ranking occurs after the season ends, so that our players and coaches are working towards that ultimate goal.”
