Class 5A Blog: Dunwoody heading into season defining stretch

Dunwoody is heading into the biggest two-game stretch of the 2025 season. The Wildcats enter this week’s matchup with Tri-Cities at 1-2. Both of their losses have been competitive. Week One saw Dunwoody fall to St. Pius in a close 15-12 game that came down to the wire. Their second loss was a 32-24 battle with Lumpkin County that was competitive throughout.

Dunwoody’s defense has shown remarkable improvement from last year. Through three games in 2024, the Wildcats gave up 97 points, over 30 points per game. This year, they have allowed only 63, good for 21 points per game. If they can keep this pace, it would be their second-best total since the 2011 season.

Offensively, the team has taken a step back from the previous two years. Over that span, the Wildcats averaged 26.7 points per game. This season, they are averaging just 20 points per game and have yet to score more than 24 in a contest. By this time last year, their lowest output up to this point in the season was 24.

The next two games may define the 2025 season. Last year, the Wildcats lost both, but late-season struggles by other region opponents allowed them to sneak into the playoffs. This week’s matchup against Tri-Cities is especially important. Tri-Cities made the playoffs last season after defeating Dunwoody and nearly kept the Wildcats out. A win here could set Dunwoody up for the No. 3 seed in Region 4. Two weeks from now, they’ll face Lakeside-DeKalb, a game that could be even more crucial. Last year, the Vikings defeated Dunwoody 34-31 and put themselves in position to grab the No. 3 seed, though upset losses to Chamblee and Shiloh ultimately kept them out of the playoffs.

If Dunwoody can start region play 2-0, it would be a huge boost to their playoff odds. The Wildcats need to start at least 1-1; with the region just as competitive as last year, the chances of making the playoffs with four or more losses are slim. Starting region play strong is always important, but for Dunwoody, it may be absolutely essential.

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