On November 9, 2019, the North Atlanta football team beat Chattahoochee on a last-second fourth-down sack, sending the Warriors to the playoffs for the first time in 25 years. The class of 2023–as freshmen–eagerly watched from the sideline or at the top of the packed student section as chaos and celebration ensued. 

Gridiron success was few and far between for North Atlanta, consistently being at the bottom of the standings every year in one of the most competitive regions in the state. The culture of mediocrity that seemed inevitable year in and year out changed. The class of 2020 changed the identity of Dubs football. The newfound culture and standard of excellence is something the 2022 squad put on full display this whole season. Countless dominant wins and hard-fought battles put the Warriors in the heart of playoff contention. 

Heading into the season, the Dubs had their eyes set on a seven-win season and a playoff berth, two feats exclusive to the 2019 team. North Atlanta came out of the gates hot with a dominant sweep of their first four games. Despite their strong start, the Warriors fell short in three of their next four, putting their playoff hopes on life support. “I think we showed a lot of people what we were capable of in the first couple of games,” said senior captain tight end Randolph Smith. “Despite our mid-season struggles, we knew we deserved to be in the playoff hunt.”

The Dubs’ season came down to the final two games. As visitors, North Atlanta had to take on a struggling South Cobb team and the Dunwoody Wildcats. With a playoff berth on the line, the Dubs went to South Cobb and took care of business, obliterating the Eagles 51-7. Senior quarterback Trey Lennon totaled five touchdowns and over 300 all-purpose yards in the 44-point win. With the win, the Dubs clinched their second playoff berth of the century. The Dubs were now playing for favorable seeding against a hungry Dunwoody team that needed to beat the Warriors by ten to make the playoffs. Despite the situation, the Warriors’ mentality remained unchanged as they came out hot, dominating Dunwoody 45-6 to knock them out of playoff contention and lock up the third spot in the Warriors’ region. “We knew we had to go out and perform at a high level,” said junior safety Connor Hughes. “We came out strong and did just that.”

Finishing third in Region Four, the Dubs will play Lovejoy in round one, the runner-up of their respective region. Lovejoy boasts an identical 7-3 record and runs through senior quarterback Malachi Lightfoot and senior halfback Trevon Kinchen. Despite the tough competition, the Warriors are ready and fans are eager to support them even in enemy territory. For the first time since 2019, North Atlanta is in the hunt for their first-ever playoff win. To get it done, the Dubs will need playoff-caliber performances from everyone, including the student section. Go Dubs and beat Lovejoy!