The North Atlanta football team currently sits on a 6 and 0 record for the first time in school history. As much as the Warrior faithful are enjoying this feat, they are also taking time to savor the historical context surrounding this milestone. Longtime followers had not forgotten the not-so-distant dark days of the football program, a time when wins were rare and excitement around the squad was at an all-time low. Years of gridiron oblivion were evidenced by a grim win-loss of 0-10 in 2013. So, this season’s 6-0 start has North Atlanta football players and fans alike giddy at the thought of reaching new heights.
For much of North Atlanta football’s 32-year history, the program has often been seen as an afterthought. Despite the large student body, strong parent and community support, and a strong appetite for sports in the Atlanta area, the football team never seemed to break through and become a true power in the Atlanta Public Schools or Georgia football scene. From 2011 to 2019, the Dubs racked up a punishing 28-win, 68-loss record and a win percentage of just 29. These grim years saw multiple woeful seasons, including a 0-10 record in 2013. “When I think back on it, I think of it as positive more than anything else. It was our first year at the Northside campus, and there were a lot of moving parts that presented many challenges,” said current North Atlanta offensive line coach Jeremy Gainer, who has been a mainstay with the program.
Despite these recent woes, North Atlanta has turned a new leaf with its football program. Boasting a 22-15 record since 2020, good for a 60 percent win percentage, the turnaround has the high school gridiron taking notice. The current renaissance is generally tracked to 2018 with the arrival of coach Sean O’Sullivan. During his two-year tenure which took place during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, the team started accumulating more wins and saw the program reach the playoffs for the first time in the 2019 season. The program’s winning ways have continued under current coach James Aull who started in the 2020 season. Aull has continued to push the trajectory of the football program. In his first full season he managed to take North Atlanta to the brink of playoff football, losing out only to a point differential. Then, in 2022, he led the most successful season in North Atlanta history. The Dubs went 8-4 and won the first playoff game in school history and hosted the first home playoff game in school history. Now, in 2023, North Atlanta has yet another chance the school’s football rewrite precedent and send out the class of 2024 as the most successful class in school history. “Everyone on the team loves and Respects Coach Aull,” said junior Quarterback Ian Reynolds, “We’ve all bought into his culture, and we know what we can do if we follow his lead.”
Even with all this recent success, the Warriors aren’t done yet. Everyone surrounding the program knows what they can accomplish. After starting 6-0 for the first time ever, and securing a 12th overall ranking in 6A, the highest in school history, the Warriors approach region play with a revitalized mindset. One not just of survival, but of total domination, and leaving their region rivals in their wake.
