With the 2023 football season finally coming to a close with their crushing first round playoff defeat against Houston County, it’s time to look back on a season for the ages. One that may go down as the greatest season in North Atlanta history. A season that saw record after record shattered as the Warriors left opponents battered and bruised in their wake.
For a program that has historically been poor since its creation in 1991 the recent success has been astounding. With an all-time win percentage of 36% and an all-time point differential of -94, there has never been much excitement around the program. However, since 2020 and the promotion of James Aull to head coach, the Warriors have flipped the script on the program’s trajectory. This included an illustrious 2022 campaign where the Warriors finished with an 8-4 record, which was good for the most wins in a season in program history. That season also saw the first playoff win and playoff home game in school history. Thus, the bar was set, and the question remained of how the 2023 squad would surpass the legacy of that 2022 team and surpass they did. The Dubs jumped out to a 7-0 start, the longest undefeated season in program history. In fact, they did not score under 30 points in any game during that stretch, the longest in school history. The team rode this momentum to a 9-1 finish in the regular season, the most wins in a season in program history thus officially cementing this team’s legacy as the greatest team in school history. This also led to a second seed in the region, for the first time in the school’s history, and the first ever home first round playoff game. “We played our hearts out every single game,” said junior quarterback Ian Reynolds, “we gave our all for the coaching staff and our brothers we care so much about and it’s an honor to be a part of this special and record-breaking team.”
The win-loss record was merely the start of a long list of records broken. The 2023 season is undoubtedly the most dominant season in program history. The Dubs didn’t just win games, they dominated opponents. The Warriors recorded their best ever offensive season scoring 423 points during the campaign and scoring 38 points a game, both school records. On the defensive end the Dubs once again dominated only allowing 155 points and 14 points per game, once again school records. In fact, the defense was so dominant they only allowed above 20 points just three times all season. With this record breaking offensive and defensive statistics, it has also led to the highest point differential in school history at +268. “We’re proud of our boys for an amazing season, but we aren’t satisfied with how the season ended. I can’t wait until we get back to the grind come January,” said wide receivers coach Javon Henderson.
North Atlanta football is on the come up and has transformed from a perennial APS weak link to a consistent competitor. The 2023 season thus gives the Warriors their third straight winning season, a feat never achieved in the program’s history. This sends out the 2024 class as the most successful class in school history. Yet, the warriors aren’t satisfied, with the Houston County defeat still fresh in their minds, and a new region to dominate, the warriors are out for blood in 2024.
