YORKTOWN — “Friday Night Lights” is a series looking in on area high school football programs ahead of the 2024 season.
The Grafton High School Clippers are on the hunt for another winning season.
The Clippers posted a final record of 6-5 for the 2023 season. After an impressive regular season run, the team earned itself a postseason bid, but ultimately fell in the first round to Heritage High School.
Ananias Boyd enters his first season at the helm for the Clippers. Boyd, who served as an assistant coach last year, already has the respect of his locker room.
“It’s an easy transition for me. It’s late in the offseason to have to switch to a new head coach, but I have a leg up. I was on the staff for the last three years, so I know the kids, I don’t have to figure out who the kids are, the kids know me, they know my style,” Boyd said.
Returnees this season include senior wide receiver, running back and returner Jaden Brown, senior linebacker and fullback Joey Foley, senior quarterback, wide receiver, and linebacker Koy Snyder, senior linebacker, defensive lineman, and tight end Keyshaun Breece, senior offensive lineman and defensive lineman Brennan Mills, senior offensive lineman and defensive lineman Aiden Mills, junior quarterback Luke Bryant, junior running back and defensive back Makale Barnett, junior defensive back, linebacker, and wide receiver Joshua Lawson, and sophomore tight end and defensive lineman Will Dickinson.
Boyd noted that some players to watch include sophomore wide receiver and defensive back Ananias Boyd Jr., junior defensive back and wide receiver Jaye Snyder, junior offensive lineman, defensive lineman, and long snapper Joell Brooks, sophomore offensive lineman and defensive lineman Noland Evers, junior running back, linebacker, and defensive back Harrison Kent Jr., senior linebacker, defensive back, and wide receiver Victor Jackson, and sophomore wide receiver Dakota Jackson.
Boyd has been focused on working on the little things as he heads into his first season as head coach.
“If you look at most of the big games from last year, we were in those games up until the very end. We would then make a lot of mistakes and those games got away from us. Taking care of the little things was something we did not do. Discipline, not shooting ourselves in the foot, penalties, you name it. We still have the talent and we’re not necessarily bigger than we were last year, but we’re stronger than we were last year. If all those things can work in our favor, taking care of the little things should come easy,” Boyd said.
While working on those little things, Boyd also made sure the team took advantage of the spring 7v7 season to get an early look at its fall competition.
“The kids have already been exposed to different situations and different levels of talent to where they have gotten out there and competed. I’ve told them constantly that if we are obsessive over the little things, we will be fine and be able to go out there and win games,” Boyd said.
Schedule-wise, Boyd is taking each week as it comes.
“We’re taking things one game at a time, but our opener will set the tone for the season. We’ll know what we have in a competitive environment. Opening with Norcom, that’s a little bit of a different talent pool, a little bit of a different style of offense than what’s typically played in the Bay Rivers. Our big game is Lafayette, but you can’t take anyone for granted. Every year is a new year, everyone has new talent coming in, so you can’t just think you’ll beat teams you did last year,” Boyd said.
As Boyd begins his first season at the helm, he’s been discovering who he will be as a coach.
“I like to run the spread, but I don’t necessarily stick to a specific style. We have a lot of speed, the entire team over the backfield, are track standouts. Speed is a point of emphasis for us this season. Defensively, we have speed and we are extremely strong up front. We’ll be a lot more aggressive than we have in the last two years by utilizing our speed to our advantage,” Boyd said.
After last season’s motto of “Burn the Boats,” Boyd has turned to “Anchor Down” to inspire the 2024 squad.
“When you anchor down, you take care of the little things, you plant your anchor, and the rest works out for you,” Boyd said.
Grafton will kick off the 2024 season at home versus Norcom High School on Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.
Grafton High School football 2024 schedule:
Aug. 29 — home vs. Norcom High School
Sept. 12 — home vs. Poquoson High School
Sept. 20 — away vs. New Kent High School
Sept. 27 — away vs. Bruton High School
Oct. 3 — home vs. Lafayette High School
Oct. 11 — home vs. Smithfield High School
Oct. 18 — away vs. Warhill High School
Oct. 25 — home vs. Tabb High School
Nov. 1 — away vs. Jamestown High School
Nov. 8 — home vs. York High School
