Buford inching closer to another state title amid usual high expectations
Bryant Appling began his head-coaching tenure at Buford with a state-championship three-peat, becoming the first coach in GHSA history to win state titles in his first three seasons. But since Buford’s move into Georgia’s highest classification for the first time in 2022, the challenges have grown.
Even still, the Wolves have been slowly inching their way back to the top. Appling has gotten Buford one step closer each of the last three seasons – second round, quarterfinals and semifinals.
Appling says the expectations surrounding the program, from the past and present, don’t bother him and, most importantly, can’t bother him.
“I’ve been here for 21 years,” Appling said. “I know a lot about it — been in the middle of all that. It (high expectations) is there, and I know it’s there. But if I focus on that, I can’t focus on the next thing I’ve got to get done.”
Appling is focused on this year’s team. He says each year it’s a new team and a new situation, but this year’s team is trying to tap into what made Buford, Buford.
That’s winning state championships — something this year’s class has yet to do. The seniors could be the first class never to win a title since 2018 and the first not to make a title game since 1999.
“The bottom line is, you want to focus on game 15,” Appling said. “It’s a bunch of games before that. You probably won’t even make it to 15 if you focus on it like that.”
Buford continues to send players to top college programs and remains a magnet for recruiters — a reflection of the program’s deep-rooted success.
The 2024 team had nine players sign with Power 4 conferences. This year’s team might top that.
They include defensive lineman Bryce Perry-Wright (Texas A&M), running back/defensive back Tyriq Green (Georgia), edge Dre Quinn (Clemson), offensive lineman Graham Houston (Georgia), defensive back Nascar McCoy (uncommitted), offensive lineman Ben Mubenga (Arkansas), tight end Dream Rashad (Purdue), running /defensive back Dylan McCoy (N.C. State), safety Jax Pope (Mississippi State), quarterback Dylan Raiola (Nebraska) and linebacker C.J. Sibley (uncommitted).
At Buford, players are pushed to play multiple sports. Appling wants his players to improve themselves constantly and believes that playing multiple sports helps build the “total-athlete.”
Green, McCoy, Pope, Torre Costin, Jordan Allen and Ethan Hauser are on the track-and-field team. Pope is a wrestler. Costin and Braylon Williams are basketball players. Kanon Nelson and Ian Chafin play baseball.
“We want our kids running track, playing basketball, playing baseball,” Appling said. “When I was young, you played football, you went to basketball, you played baseball, you ran track.”
He says this is how Buford has approached the offseason for over 20 years, and college coaches want to know what other sports kids are playing. Colleges evaluate how players perform in multiple sports to gauge their athletic versatility.
Appling knows his team is talented; that’s never been a question. Many say the game of football is more mental than physical — a game where decisions are made in seconds, with impressions lasting for years.
Appling says in the past he may not have pushed the right buttons at the right time, saying, “That’s on me,” but this year’s team senses the need to be great and has stepped up to the challenge.
“Only time will tell, as far as the rest of the summer and what happens when we get into fall, if we’re really doing the right thing and trying to get it back to where we want it to be.”
Whether this group restores Buford to the top remains to be seen — but under Appling’s guidance, the foundation remains as strong as ever.