On Friday, North Gwinnett and Buford will face off in the Class 6A quarterfinals of the high school football playoffs. This marks the first meeting between the two teams in 25 years. North Gwinnett is undefeated this season, while Buford, with one loss, is looking to return to the semifinals, according to Atlanta News First.
North Gwinnett coach Eric Godfree praised quarterback Ryan Hall, a Georgia Tech baseball commit, saying, "He’s probably our most overall productive football player." Hall has thrown for nearly 1,800 yards with a 65% completion rate and also contributes with his legs. The offense includes wide receiver Jordan Allen, a Georgia Tech commit with almost 800 receiving yards. North Gwinnett’s defense is strong, with several players committed to top colleges. Buford’s offense, led by junior Dayton Raiola, is expected to play a big role in the game, as reported by Atlanta News First.
North Gwinnett’s offense is strong, averaging over 38 points per game, while Buford’s defense, led by AJ Holloway, is looking to stop them. Meanwhile, Georgia is focused on their rivalry with Georgia Tech before the SEC championship. Coach Kirby Smart said, "My thoughts are on Georgia Tech," and added, "I mean, it’s a great honor to be able to play in the SEC championship game. ... My concern 100% is with Georgia Tech because of what that game means to so many in this state, so many on our team, and what it means to this season and these seniors playing at home. So that’s the focus." North Gwinnett is focused on keeping their perfect record, while Georgia is focused on Georgia Tech, as stated by FOX 5.
