Georgia High School Football Spring Preview AJC 30 In 30 Series: Buford Wolves
Will Buford coach Jess Simpson be celebrating No. 4 this year? (AJC)
(This is part of the AJC’s “30 in 30″ series — with quick hits on top high school football teams across the metro area and state during spring football practice. We’re doing 30 football teams in 30 days. Click here for a master list. Hey AJC, what about spring sports? You know, the non-football sports? Go here)
State championships are always a topic at Buford, which kicked off spring practice on Tuesday.
The Wolves have won three Class AA championships in a row. Last year’s was perhaps the most fulfilling, as Buford won a rematch against Calhoun (13-10), holding the state’s No. 1-rated prospect Da’Rick Rogers to 69 yards on 10 catches.
Why does Buford have a chance to win a fourth consecutive title? Four starters return in the offensive backfield, including QB Alex Ross and running backs Eric Barr and Seon Jones. The defense welcomes back its entire secondary, including Ryan Dillard, C.J. Moore, Jamal English, Paris Head and Eric Barr.
Most importantly, the Wolves return coach Jess Simpson, who has directed the current dynasty — the second stretch of three consecutive championships.
“We are talking about our process [of competing for the state championship] and the work we need to get done,” Simpson said. “We don’t ever talk about last year.”
YOU make the prediction: Which fellow Class AA team will threaten to end Buford’s streak this year? Please list your team below and state your case.
Team: Buford Wolves
Spring practice dates: May 4-18
Last year’s record: 14-1
Starters lost: 12
Head coach: Jess Simpson
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87 comments Add your comment
Stinging Jacket
May 7th, 2010
10:37 am
All you Carver fans you are in for a rude awakening. AA isn’t a cakewalk as you seem to think. Just for a little perspective, Calhoun has handled Ridgeland the last two years, giving up a total of 7 points. That same Ridgeland team has challenged Flowery Branch and came withinin inches of beating them. You guys know about Flowery Branch, right? As for AA teams being a one-man band, I can’t speak for everyone but we all know Buford isn’t, Calhoun has sent something like 14 guys FBS and a bunch of others FCS in the last 5 years. Same thing with Charlton. I can’t wait for Buford to roll down there, smack you guys in the mouth like no one in AAA could, and then hear the laundry list of excuses. It’s May 7th and Carver will get handled by Buford in September, mark my words. Welcome to AA Carver!
BW
May 7th, 2010
11:15 am
What most people do not realize about BHS is what goes on during the off season in terms of strength and conditioning. As a former coach that has observed BHS and their program from the outside for the past seven years, it is the real deal. Because of all their success, they are able to take those players to a different level of commitment and dedication. What they do in the off-season could not be done at many other places…the players would quit!
C-town
May 7th, 2010
1:04 pm
To be the man , you got to beat the man.The great Ric Flair said that, so when Carver beats Buford on Sept 3, maybe AA will know Carver is the real-deal……….wooooooooooo
kramers2009
May 7th, 2010
5:05 pm
Playing Da’Rick man to man was mistake. I still can’t belive it.
That being said I still thoroughly believe Lovett has the best offense and defensive coaching staff in the league. I also think “The Riverbank” is the best place in the state to play.
Then again, I was once called bias.
WILDCAT FAN
May 7th, 2010
5:33 pm
Its almost that time of the year,, I personally can’t wait. Go Camden lets try and 3-peat. Remeber what I said last year about all the sophmores and juniors that was ready to play. This class of juniors and sophmores, could be the best class in school history. Great players at every position on defense. On offense lets just say its scary.
joe
May 7th, 2010
7:48 pm
Does BHS recruit? I don’t know…but the quarterback lives in alpharetta and was the qb on the AHS undefeated freshman team 3 years ago. I’m sure he is the only exception.
SouthGARules
May 7th, 2010
10:29 pm
Say what you want to about Buford, but their stadium is one of the nicest in Gwinnett county & would put several AAAAA schools in Gwinnett to shame. Now, if they could get the “recruiting” budget up for boys basketball…
kramers2009
May 8th, 2010
1:28 pm
Does Buford recruit?
Well its tough to say.. and im curious to what you Wolves out there have to say about this.
A- they straight up go out and recruit good players from out of their school zone to come to Buford and play football.. then yes they recruit. I dont know how much this happens or not.
B- Certain players decide themselves to move into Buford’s zone or apply for an exception and commute b/c they know what an excellent programs they have. So techinqually this wouldn’t be recruiting b/c Buford didn’t do anything themselves.
Either way – its a shame that the classification system is so cut & dry when it comes to who plays in what class. So maybe Buford has a small enough school to stay in AA, but if the they have an handful D-1 type football players each year (regardless of how those players got their), then they should play in a higher classification.
I mean, isn’t the point of seperating schools up into 5 classifications (with 5 state titles) to level the playing field and give certain schools a (better) chance of competing?? Why is the size of the student body the only measuring stick?
I dont care if Buford has 25 male students in each class, if 7 of them are going to play D1 football, then they should play in a higher classification.
If Buford wanted to really garner the respect as an elite GA High School program.. they would make the jump themselves. (For example, I believe Marist plays up in 4A by their own choice.) We all know how good Buford is year in and year out, I think they would fair very well in a high class.. and I would love to see what they would do in the playoffs.
Anyways.. I dont know why I am making a big deal out of this. Hell, Lovett beat em last year anyways.. and we beat them in every other sports.
In all honesty, I do like having Buford in our region, b/c it adds a lot of credibility to the region and our classification, and they act as a measuring stick to where we are at as a team. It only makes us better. If we can beat them, we can beat anyone.
Jon
May 8th, 2010
1:36 pm
Carver. Why don’t you ask Da’Rick what happened to him. Crowell will suffer the same fate.
bwolves
May 9th, 2010
12:20 pm
Kramers are you one of the 2 Lovett announcers that berated Buford the whole game a couple years ago? You sound like one of those losers. Lovett has a good coaching staff, best in the state NO WAY. Lovett out played Buford last year. Give them their props. They won a battle, they did not win the war. 3 in a row baby. Take your newspaper article and stick it your trophy case, because that’s all you got last year. Buford plays by the GHSA rules. If you don’t like the rules cry to them to have them changed. If you build it they will come, and they do. For the posters who says Buford won’t play anybody. None of the 5A teams will play us a home and home. Whose afraid of who?
DD795
May 9th, 2010
11:23 pm
Half of Bufords players home address is a PO Box.
steve
May 11th, 2010
9:44 am
Ross is perhaps the best QB in the country and is under the RADAR…he is surrounded by talent and coaching that enables him to do what he does best…WIN. There is no I in TEAM but it sure helps to have a GAMER show up on Friday night.
Stinging Jacket
May 11th, 2010
10:24 am
Best quarterback in the country steve? Come on, Buford is great but don’t be a homer, even if he is your own son.
steve
May 11th, 2010
10:54 am
Prove me wrong….
wolfman
May 14th, 2010
9:11 am
@kramers
ok so you beat us but you couldn’t beat anyone westminster or calhoun ring a bell. when it is big nite the wolves show up such as westminster, fitzgerald, and calhoun. this year the wolves will do the same
kramers2009
May 14th, 2010
7:39 pm
Lions dont show up on Big nights?
que?
The Buford game was perhaps the biggest night the Riverbank has seen in a long, long time. Calhoun? i Wouldnt say we didnt show up. We were neck & neck with them through the majority of the game.. Went down the the Swamp in Charlton Co and won.. that was a big night.
Our QB Jonathon Carkhuff (and last years senior class) won 9 playoffs games in 3 years.. most of those on the road.. So i wouldnt say that Lovett doesnt show up in big games.
Listening to Buford people boast is like listening to a 16 year old on steriod brag about beating up his 9 year old brother. Great! you are supposed to beat them.. but pound for pound you are no better.
cane fan
May 18th, 2010
5:09 pm
FITZGERALD PURPLE HURRICANES!!!!!!!! WE WILL MEET AGAIN, FITZ IS STACKED BETTER THIS YEAR, AND OUR QB IS ALL AMERICAN 10TH GRADER, MY SON PLAYS FOR LOWNDES 9TH GRADE AND I BELIEVE THEY CAN TAKE BUFORD.
Double Down
May 18th, 2010
10:53 pm
At Buford, how many out of area students re-locate or pay money to attend, e.g., Storm Johnson, Ryan Dillard, etc. etc. You can call it recruiting or being a magnet or whatever, but there isn’t much difference between this practice at a so-called “public school” and what happens at a private school like Lovett. Granted, Buford is good, but would they have the same record in 4A or 5A as they do in 2A? Would they win as many championships? There ain’t no way. If Buford is so good, instead of waltzing to their 18th title or whatever, why doesn’t Buford step up to play some real competition in a higher classification? It’s been done. For example, Marist is a 2A school that would own the 2A division in Georgia, but they opt to play up at the 4A level and even play 5A teams. You have to respect that decision. No other school steps up to compete at 2 levels above their true classification. What about it Buford?
CarlyleJones
May 19th, 2010
4:23 am
Double Down, FYI, Lovett doesn’t do anything remotely close to recruiting. Outside of our football coach, no one in the entire school seems to have any interest in bringing in talent from outside……. and it drives some of us fans nuts!
Double Down
May 19th, 2010
11:19 am
CarlyleJones, the main comparison between Buford and Lovett I was making was in the context of students being able to pay to attend either school. And some of those students are not necessarily from the immediate neighborhood of the school. I happen to know of athletes that Lovett dads/boosters have “facilitated” and “encouraged” to attend Lovett and for which the school has offered to help with substantial financial aid assistance defraying tuition. Recruiting? Nah! ;o)
cane fan
May 19th, 2010
3:36 pm
I asked lowndes mcpherson about playing buford in a scrimmage, he just laughed and said that buford could not get past their jv.
iCrAzYmAnI
May 20th, 2010
10:43 am
lolZ HAHAH GAC CARVAR GAINSVILLE AND WHO EVER ELSE WANTS TO NO #6 IS BACK AT BUFORD AND HAS 2 YEARS LEFT SO WHEN YOU SEE A FULL MOON DONT BE SCARED OH I LIED YOU REALLY SHOULD BE CUZ THE WOLVES ARE COMING TO TOWN
Wuffy
May 24th, 2010
8:26 am
As Michael Carver pointed out, Buford does have a great feeder program. It’s the best in Gwinnett County because it is Gwinnett County. And it’s growing….expanding into Hall and Forsyth County. I will say however that Buford does not recruit. They have the best coaches and facilities of any high school in the state. That’s why parents and kids want to move to Buford and play for them. They are not recruited, they make the choice on their own. It’s no different than the way the private schools work. So people can whine to the GHSA who makes up the rules. Buford plays within the rules setup by the GHSA.
Tim Shaw
May 24th, 2010
12:03 pm
You read it hear 1st – GAC has reloaded – they not only wanted to start their playoff streak over, but they want to will it all – so what do they do, they hired probably one of the top high school coaches in the country – the country! And rumor has it that they have made him the highest paid high school coach in GA – but he comes with several top assistance coaches – so #1. they will return to the playoffs, #2. they will go deeper and #3. they will win the football state championship within 3 years (probably 2011) – oh and they will go undefeated in 2011.
kramers2009
May 24th, 2010
1:28 pm
Wuffy – If Buford has the best “best coaches and facilities of any high school in the state” then why dont they go play the best by electing to move out of AA??
As for recruiting, I would like some to take a look at Lovett roster last year and tell me which player was recruited to the team. The majority of the roster is made up of kids who have attended the school since they were 5 years old and live within 10 miles of the campus. Their is a reason we are consistantly “smaller” and “less atheletic” than all the teams we play in the playoffs. I wish we recruited.
Bago Hammers
May 24th, 2010
3:09 pm
With the addition of Sequoyah transfer Dominique Swope to the Buford football team, they may have the top backfield in the South. I would give them a huge edge in the race for the state title once again.
bleed red
May 24th, 2010
10:26 pm
Dont worry SWOPE will get busted be for the fall. he just cant give it up thinks his abilty to play footbal gives him apass.
FOOTBALL
May 25th, 2010
3:34 pm
carver-columbus duh carver won the state title two years ago
and they have been in the final four in the last two years in a
much harder classification and they have the best RB in the nation
sorry buford time to face an actual team
golden lions
May 25th, 2010
3:41 pm
GAC is a joke. we put up i think 56 on them. and Buford recruits so congrats on that
BW
May 26th, 2010
1:49 pm
All this talk about Buford moving up classifiacations…why would they? There is a reason the GHSA has these classifications and they are based on student enrollment and not the amount of athletes. Buford has proven through the years that they can compete with the best of the best in this state and the nation…Texas and Ohio! The 2008 team was the best in the state in any classification. But to move “up” would create a depth issue and then there is not a level playing field. As far as 11 on 11 you are not going to find better athletes anywhere.
kramers2009
May 27th, 2010
5:30 pm
BW – HAhahaha…. so your telling me that you have the best 11 players in the state but you cant move up becaseu you dont have the depth to compete with teams outside of AA?
Hmmm… thats funny.. how does a team get the best 11 players in the state but then their is a massive drop off after that? I guess your little community just has a knack for producing 11 great players a year and nothing else. Sure is strange that this little AA school is consistanly blessed with the “best 11 athletes” in the state year after year but yet doesnt have any quality depth after that.
Natural phenominom I guess.
wolfman72
May 29th, 2010
5:23 pm
Buford is great for 1 main reason-PRIDE,its a small town where players Dads were players,and winning begets winning.Once you finally get the taste,you dont let go,its like a football army-Be all you can be,and never settle for less than best.Buford is admired by alot of larger schools,and like an old saying,Everybody loves a winner,except losers.
tomdawg
July 27th, 2010
8:37 pm
If you were born and raised in Buford, you should not even acknowledge these championships. They were won with other peoples kids not yours. The same could be said for Wesleyan in class A.
ForestStreetShawty
August 9th, 2010
10:54 am
Dude I really get so tired of hearing this 5A crap, we can make the school get bigger, and for all of the Carver fans, you all should be hopein y’all lose this reagular season game because if y’all win there’s no way you will beat us twice…….. Lol
ForestStreetShawty
August 9th, 2010
10:57 am
Don’t we play Gainesville in the first game of the year 3A preseason #1. watch how they get beat down
ForestStreetShawty
August 9th, 2010
11:01 am
And Jess Simpson was at Buford in 97, it had to be after 99 when he left!
Superstar17 THS
August 30th, 2010
9:01 am
A im not talking down on any teams but since we moved down to region aa i feel sorry for ya’ll other teams. Therrell High football has changed alot. With us under Coach Rambo And our coaching staff and the leadership we plan to play hard nose team football. EXECUTION OFFENSE AND SHUTDOWN DEFENSE…. and we plan to be STATE CHAMPIONS!!! just to let you know we’re gunning for Lovett, West Minister, Blessed Trinity, AND BUFORD! -fgKB-