SEASON OUTLOOK

Linebacker Kevin Mouhon
Photo by Dennis Carter
Toughest game: Like Grayson a year before, Norcross will represent Georgia in a marquee game against a Miami opponent. It hosts the nation's No. 9-ranked team, Booker T. Washington, on Aug. 24.
Question mark: Will Myles Autry come back 100 percent healthy and will the team find a quarterback it can trust?
Local outlook: Norcross is the clear favorite in Class AAAAAA, but Sandy Creek, only a AAAA school, could lay claim to being the state's top team. North Gwinnett, Colquitt County, Camden County and Lovejoy will also be strong in AAAAAA.
Overall outlook: It's extremely difficult to win a state title in Georgia's largest classification two years in a row. However, it's not impossible. Norcross is going to wear teams down this season with a physical defense and a grinding offense. It will need playmakers on offense to get past some of the state's heavyweights. If a quarterback emerges and Autry is the Autry of old, Norcross very well may repeat.