Rematch of 2024 Season Opener to Showcase State Title Contenders in Buford’s New Football Stadium
ITG Next is previewing some of the best Week 1 matchups that will start off the 2025 Georgia high school football season. Last time we took a look at the season opener between state powerhouses Benedictine and Colquitt County. This time we’re breaking down the 2025 Milton Eagles and Buford Wolves, who will open the season on Aug. 15 at Buford. It’s the second game of the two-year home-and-away agreement between the two schools, and it will be one of the more anticipated rematches to kick off the 2025 season.
Milton Hoping for Repeat of 2024 Season Opener
In 2024 the two schools met at Milton’s Eagles Nest, with the host Eagles winning a close 13-10 contest.
Both teams entered the Week 1 matchup as the top ranked team in their respective classifications, with Buford the No. 1 team in Class 6A and Milton the preseason No. 1 team in Class 5A.
Milton ultimately won the 2024 GHSA Class 5A state championship, finishing with an undefeated 14-0 season. It was the second straight state title for the Eagles and Milton head football coach Ben Reaves.
Milton started and finished the 2024 season as the No. 1 team in ITG Next’s Georgia high school football rankings for Class 5A.
Buford avoided an 0-2 start to the 2024 season with a thrilling come-from-behind win in their next game against Benedictine. The Week 2 victory put Buford back even on the season at 1-1 and seemed to kickstart head football coach Bryant Appling’s Wolves, as they went on to win 12 straight games.
Buford’s streak and season ended with a 30-17 loss to Carrollton in the Class 6A semifinals. Buford finished with a 12-2 record and as the No. 3 team in ITG Next’s final 2024 Georgia high school football rankings for Class 6A.
Buford Ready to Unveil New Stadium With 2025 Season-Opening Showcase
Phillip Beard Stadium at Dexter Wood Field Welcomes Buford VS Milton in Week 1 Clash
Not only will Buford versus Milton be one of the most anticipated matchups of the early 2025 Georgia high school football season, but it will also give fans a look at the brand new, state-of-the-art stadium that will serve as home for the Buford Wolves.
Construction on the $62 million stadium started with an August 2023 ground breaking and is expected to be finished in June 2025, according to Tony Wolfe, Buford’s longtime athletic director.
“The stadium will seat 10,000 fans, including 7,000 on the home side and 3,000 on the visitors side,” Wolfe said.
Wolfe explained the different amenities the new stadium will offer to attendees.
“It will have 15 luxury seats, and each suite will seat 16 people,” Wolfe said. “Each suite will be climate controlled with windows that can be opened and closed.”
He said that TVs will be located in each suite, at the concession stands, and in locker rooms so that fans, parents, stadium workers, players, and coaches can keep up with what’s happening on the field no matter where they are in the stadium.
“Each of the concession stands will include a walk-in refrigerator,” Wolfe said.
Wolfe said the home side will include 1,200 backed, stadium-style seats for reserved seating.
Wolfe said there will be a two-story field house, with the first floor housing locker rooms for the football team, cheer squad, and officials. A warming kitchen will be part of the second-floor banquet room.
“The stadium will include a 60-by-90, two-sided video scoreboard, along with a digital display ribbon running along three sides of the stadium,” Wolfe said.
If you’re looking to tailgate before the Buford-Milton game, Wolfe said that should be available too.
“My understanding is the parking lot will have tailgating areas, but I’m not yet certain what that will look like,” Wolfe said.
2025 Season Outlook for Buford
Key Players Returning for Buford in 2025
Buford will return starting quarterback Dayton Raiola, a rising senior, as the centerpiece of the offense in 2025. The pro-style QB threw for 1,953 yards with 19 touchdown passes last season. He has committed to Nebraska, where he’ll join older brother and former Buford quarterback Dylan Raiola.
The Wolves will return several playmakers who could see time all over the field, including Tyriq “Ty Boogie” Green, who is the definition of an athlete. He’ll see time on offense, defense, and special teams as a kick returner.
The Buford backfield will be in good shape with a handful of playmakers led by running back Dylan McCoy, a rising senior, who will split time with a couple of highly touted backs.
Watch for Keshon Blow to emerge as a go-to back in his sophomore season in 2025. Blow was featured earlier this year in our list of “Georgia High School Football Players to Watch in 2025 and Beyond.”
Running back Silas Nuckles, a rising junior, will also get plenty of carries, giving Buford several ball-carrying weapons for defenses to worry about in 2025.
The wideout spots will have a couple of younger guys stepping up with rising sophomores Kevin Hughes Jr., Cameron Hurst, and Braylon Williams all set to see action. Williams is an explosive kick and punt returner also.
Up front the Wolves will return four-star offensive lineman Graham Houston and 6-foot-3, 290-pound rising junior Noah Nixon, who can play guard and center.
Buford will rely on several key returners on defense in 2025.
Middle linebacker Kanon Nelson, a rising senior, emerged last season as a defensive leader for the Wolves. He’ll be counted on as a main run-stopper in the middle of the Buford defense.
The defensive backfield could be the strength of this talented Buford team, and that’s saying a lot. They’ve got defensive back Jax Pope, a rising senior and the cousin of former Buford safety Jake Pope; four-star safety Nassir McCoy, a rising senior; and safety and athlete Ethan Hauser, a rising junior.
Athlete Jameer Cantrell, a rising junior, has offers from several major college programs and is a next-level talent to watch in 2025. He’ll likely serve as a shutdown corner, with the Wolves solid at safety with Pope and McCoy.
The Wolves are loaded at defensive end with three dominant difference-makers lining up on the edge this season. Christian Webb-Scott, a rising sophomore, will be a major disruptor for Appling’s defensive unit this season and is one of the top underclassmen in the country. He’ll see time at tight end too. The likely starters will be rising seniors Bryce Perry-Wright, who is a four-star recruit, and James Morrow.
Buford Skill Positions, Linebacker Corps Hit Hard By Graduation
The Wolves must replace several key players from the 2024 season. That list includes a lot of talent that has contributed over the past couple of seasons.
Gone are several top skill players, including wide receivers Jordan Allen, Jayvin Bennett, Kyle Carpenter, and Sam Harkness; running backs Ethan Ervin and Justin Baker; and tight ends Hayden Bradley and Cooper Berry.
The offensive line will be without Marcus Major and Brayden Burton.
Defensively, Buford’s linebacker corps was hit hard by graduation. They’ll sorely miss standout Jadon Perlotte, who is now at Tennessee. Perlotte was a vicious attacker and the spirit of the Wolves defense. Fellow linebackers Kenyon Rivera, Mantrez Walker, and AJ Holloway will also not return.
The secondary will be without defensive backs Devin Williams, Chris Garland, Demarious Nibbe, and Bryce Joiner. Defensive lineman Nicco Maggio has graduated. All are now playing college football.
Gloryland lost some talent, but this will give a few of the younger guys the opportunity to show what they are capable of.
2025 Season Outlook for Milton
With three state championships in the past seven seasons – 2018, 2023, and 2024 – the Milton Eagles have established themselves as a contender for the 2025 state championship.
However, they have some big time holes to fill.
Milton’s Key Losses
It starts with quarterback Luke Nickel, who was the biggest star on a Milton team full of big-time talent. He’s off to Miami after leading the Milton offense over the last three seasons with over 10,000 yards passing and 107 touchdowns. Nickel’s skill set is over the top, but the Eagles will miss his poise and leadership as much as anything else.
Some serious playmakers who were major factors in Milton’s back-to-back state titles are gone, including All-State running back TJ Lester, four-star wide receiver CJ Wiley, wideout Tristen Payne, and tight ends Ethan Barbour and Hayden Tumminia. That’s some major talent that will have to be replaced.
Offensive linemen Riley Rushing, JP Katzmark, Garrett Heinecke, and Clemson commit Brayden Jacobs will all be missed up front.
Defensively, the Eagles graduated defensive backs Tyler Redmond and Ma’khi Jones.
The defensive line will be without Arkansas signee Caleb Bell and Ottawa University committ Terence Spencer Jr..
All-American kicker Alex Nover will not return, and his production will be missed. He connected on 19-of-24 field goal attempts and 108-of-110 extra point attempts over his high school career.
Who Will Replace Luke Nickel at QB?
This is the question that Milton fans and, really, high school football fans around the state want the answer to.
Right now, it looks like there is a battle for QB between two players who transferred into Milton this offseason: rising senior Brayln Albritton and rising junior Derrick Baker.
Albritton played at Milwaukee Academy of Science in Wisconsin last season, throwing for 2,830 yards and 29 TDs.
Baker played for St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida last season. He currently has over 15 Power Four collegiate offers.
Baker may be the leader in the fight to replace Nickel, but you can bet Reaves will let the battle play out over this offseason before making a decision.
Key Players Returning for Milton in 2025
Milton has done a good job utilizing the tight end, a position not usually counted on for a lot of offensive production. Despite losing Barbour and Tumminia, the Eagles will return Class of 2027 tight end Grant Haviland, who already has several collegiate offers.
The rest of the interior offensive line will have rising seniors Madden Mones, who currently has an offer from Penn, and Caleb Bizzell, who has offers from Liberty and Miami (Ohio). Bizzell will also see time on the defensive line.
Wideout Jordan Carrasquillo is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound rising junior with offers from Kentucky, Indiana, and Cincinnati. He’ll likely be a top passing game target in 2025.
The running back group will feature rising senior Bentley Hickman, who transferred to Milton from Homestead High School in Wisconsin this offseason. Hickman had over 1,000 all-purpose yards last season for Homestead despite missing three games.
Rising senior Walker Davis and rising junior Sheldon Atchison Jr. will also be in the mix at running back.
Returning to the defending state champions’ defensive unit will be defensive lineman Christian Hunter, a rising junior; defensive lineman Gage Lawrence, a rising senior with offers from Miami (Ohio) and Liberty; linebacker Michael “MJ” Krak, a rising senior; and linebacker Blaize Battaglia, a rising junior.
Athlete Ayden Williams, a rising senior, could fill several roles for Milton in 2025, primarily at wide receiver and defensive back. He has offers from Georgia Tech, South Carolina, and UCF.
Another Class of 2026 player returning on defense is outside linebacker Billy Weivoda, who has over 20 Division I college offers heading into the spring.
Defensive back Lawson Estes, a rising senior, is one of the best ball hawks on the Milton defense and an excellent open-field tackler. He’ll partner with fellow defensive back Tristan Lester, also a rising senior, who is another solid striker on the defense.
With Nover gone at kicker, Milton will look to either Rex Ambrose or Ciaran Meenan to fill the role. The rising juniors have each kicked previously for the Eagles. Meenan also handled some of the punting duties last year.
Milton lost a lot, but they will reload with a ton of talent.
Milton Head Coach Ben Reaves Welcomes the Big Stage
Reaves said he loves the fact that his Milton team is playing in a game that garners national attention.
“My goal at Milton is to stay nationally relevant and to always put our program on the biggest stage possible,” Reaves said. “Part of doing that is you have to play the best (teams) in and out of the state of Georgia. Buford is definitely one of the best in the state and also nationally, and anytime you play them, you know the stage and the attention will be huge.”
When asked about the importance of getting off to a strong start, especially when the early part of Milton’s schedule includes such tough competition, Reaves said it’s more about finishing strong.
“Our goal is to do everything we can do to win every game, including Game 1,” Reaves said. “Every coach and team loves that 1-0 feeling, but, more importantly, our main goal is to win Game 15, so we use this tough schedule to develop and find out who we are as a team. We need to know going into region play what our strengths, weaknesses, and other areas of concern are so that we are ready to compete for a region championship and then a state championship. So win, lose, or draw, Week 1 will not define our team or our season, but we do know it will help mold us to be the best team we can be.”
