Class AAAAAAA blog: Region 7 football preview

Archer – The Tigers have averaged 10 wins and won three state titles since 2013. They made the quarterfinals last season, losing to Parkview. They lost to Grayson in overtime in the regular season to finish as runners-up in Region 8. The 2019 team relied heavily on its senior class. Quarterback Carter Peevy, a four-year starter, is heading to Mercer. All-state center Ethan Lane signed with N.C. State. Returning is Renoldo Spivey Jr. a first-team all-region player who might be the new league's best running back. He's not big (5-8), but elusive, and ran for 841 yards in 2019. Defensive back Edwin Mangual will be a three-year starter. But unproven players must step up if Archer is to maintain its tradition as a top-10 program.

Berkmar – The Patriots had their best record (4-6) sine 2007, so the program is in much better shape than what third-year coach Willie Gary inherited in 2018, when Berkmar had lost 47 straight games. But it's fair to point out that three of those wins came against smaller schools in confidence-building affairs.  Berkmar has beaten Lakeside-DeKalb the past two seasons in region play but no one else its size. Two all-region players return. They are linemen Naasir Croskery and Dara Olonade. Berkmar last made the playoffs in 2005.

Discovery – The Titans are 6-34 in their four football seasons, 2-8 in 2019. Jibran "J.J.'' Hawkins, a defensive end, is the lone returning all-region player. He's also played running back. He's gotten several mid-major offers. Discovery likely would make the playoffs for the first time in history if it can repeat its 2019 victories over Meadowcreek and Duluth.

Duluth – The Wildcats are another long-suffering program that has a chance to make history, although Duluth went 1-9 and winless in Region 6 a year ago. But the 2019 team, under first-year coach Cam Jones, was looking toward the future. Rising junior quarterback Lonnie Ratliff IV passed for 2,396 yards and 14 touchdowns in 10 games. Leading receivers Jaiden Jones (888 yards) and Tyrik Sullivan (483) were juniors. So was leading rusher Nyle Ervin. Duluth can make the playoffs for the first time since 1994.

Dunwoody – The Wildcats were 3-7 last season in Region 7 of AAAAAA last season. Moving into the highest class is not fortuitous for a team that hasn't had a winning season since 2011. But there's some good news. Quarterback Davis Ledoyen led DeKalb County in passing yards last season with 2,707 for 19 touchdowns. He averaged 38 passes per game, completing about 24. His leading receivers are gone. Eight starters return on defense. Jordan Williams, a defensive lineman, had eight sacks and 11 tackles for losses.

Meadowcreek – After two winning seasons, the best two-year success since 1989-90, the Mustangs dropped back to 3-7 last season and must rebuild again after losing eight of its nine all-region players, but seven starters are back on defense. Second-team all-region linebacker Julien Patterson is among them. Another returnee,  6-4 defensive end/tight end Kristopher Cassel, is expected to have a big year. Trayvon Pack is a leader in the secondary. Latreveon ''Rock'' Gaither led the team in rushing as a junior with 922 yards and nine touchdowns.

Norcross – The Blue Devils finished strong after an 0-4 start last season, winning six of its last eight and finishing second to Parkview in Region 7-AAAAAAA. They also return more all-region players than the other six teams in the new region combined. Defensive lineman Kamren Lark, linebacker Jalen Garner and defensive back Josh Graham were first-team all-region as juniors. Garner probably was the best player on the team. He had 148 first hits and 32 tackles behind the line and now has some 20 scholarship offers. Six other Norcross underclassmen made second-team all-region. Mason Kaplan threw for 1,778 yards and 19 touchdowns with only three interceptions as a junior. Leading rusher Kaleb Jackson also returns.