The 0-3 Alpharetta Raiders host Duluth at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, in their first home game of the season. The USA-themed Week 4 matchup is head coach Danny Carlisle's best chance yet to find a win.
Alpharetta has dropped all three contests by double digits. The Raiders fell 23-37 at Kennesaw Mountain on Aug. 21, 19-38 at Denmark on Aug. 28 and 24-42 at Centennial on Sept. 4, according to MaxPreps.
All three losses came on the road. The Sept. 11 game gives the Raiders a chance to play in front of their own crowd for the first time this season.
The Class AAAAAA program entered 2026 facing roster turnover. Quarterback Matthew Schletty, who started the previous two seasons, transferred to Roswell along with three-star edge Jaxon Holly, Appen Media reported. Both played key roles in Roswell's season-opening win over Walton.
Carlisle, who took over the program this year, has leaned on junior running back Nick DePietro as the offensive centerpiece. DePietro transferred from Johns Creek, where he rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a sophomore and earned 2024 Region 7-5A second-team honors. He sat out varsity last season to comply with GHSA transfer rules.
At a July 24 Fulton County Schools media day, Carlisle called DePietro the team's "workhorse," according to an Appen Media preview published Aug. 11.
Junior offensive lineman Calvin Landy Jr. gives the Raiders a building block up front. Landy holds Power 4 offers from Georgia, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia Tech and North Carolina, per the same Appen Media report. At the July media day, Landy said he wants college scouts to know he is "very coachable and very versatile" and able to play "all five" spots on the offensive line.
The Raiders also dealt with construction at Alpharetta High throughout the summer, forcing the team to hold all workouts outdoors. Carlisle told reporters at media day that setup and teardown added an hour and a half to each practice.
Friday's non-region game precedes the start of Region 7-AAAAAA play. The Raiders travel to Gainesville on Sept. 25 before hosting Riverwood on Oct. 2.
Kickoff against Duluth is 7:30 p.m. Friday at Alpharetta High School. The game streams on the NFHS Network.
