WILLIAMSBURG — “Friday Night Lights” is a series looking in on area high school football programs ahead of the 2024 season.
The Lafayette Rams are hopeful for a successful season in 2024.
The Lafayette Rams saw a lot of success in 2023, losing just two games during the regular season against Warhill and St. Christopher’s. The season ended with the Rams losing a tight contest 28-14 to Liberty Christian in the state championship.
Andy Linn returns for his 27th season with Lafayette football as head coach.
Returning to the Rams squad this year are senior tight end and defensive end Daniel Jackson, junior nose guard Breon Stokes, senior running back and defensive end Tristan Harris, sophomore outside linebacker Baum Hogge, junior inside linebacker Obrian Canady, junior wide receiver and defensive back Nayron Hudson, junior defensive back Josh Simpson, sophomore wide receiver and defensive back Jael Love, senior offensive lineman Mason Mills, senior offensive lineman Anthony Consolo, junior offensive lineman Andrew Buckley, senior running back, kick returner, and punt returner Brayden Smalls, and senior defensive back Sebastian Nix.
Linn also mentioned that sophomore outside linebacker Andrew Cook, sophomore inside linebacker Camden Summers, junior offensive lineman Nate White, junior offensive lineman Yianni Kokolis, junior inside linebacker Jamir Nesbith, and junior kicker Aidan Gerda are players to watch in 2024.
Linn said his goal every year is a championship title.
“We really only have one goal, and it’s not to win in the district or the region, our goal is to be back in that state championship game. Especially when you get a taste like we got in 2023. You know what it takes to get there and that’s a small window in your team’s experience in getting to that game. We need to jump on that experience while we can now and get back to that state championship,” Linn said.
As the 2024 season gets underway, the rivalry games are already the talk of the coaching staff.
“For us, Warhill has become somewhat of a rivalry. The schools are only a mile apart, but we’ve played them 24 times and we’ve beaten them 22 out of those 24 games. They will probably be one of the better teams in the district. Two away games to start the season will also be interesting to see how this team travels and how they handle a little adversity, because traveling can be a lot on your team,” Linn said.
Linn chalks up the success the Rams have had to keeping things consistent year in and year out.
“My coaching style will always stay the same. I may adjust some of the things we do football-wise, due to the personnel you have, but the reason we’ve had the success we’ve had over all the years is we have a system, we stay within that system, and the kids understand and know the system. My kids will tell you that had played for me 24 years ago, they can come back and run the same offense because we don’t change,” Linn said.
Because of that, Linn avoids using team mottos for inspiration.
“I’m an old school coach and I don’t believe in mottos, we’ve never had anything on the back of shirts, none of that kind of stuff. The team is a family, we don’t have to put it on a shirt to know that,” Linn says.
However, Linn has been discussing the importance of leadership with his guys.
“Our leadership last year was so important to getting us where we got to. They refused to let that team fail last year. I’ve really been telling that to the guys this year, especially the seniors,” Linn said.
Lafayette will kick off the 2024 season on the road versus Spotsylvania High School on Aug. 30 at 7 p.m.
Lafayette High School football 2024 schedule:
Aug. 30 — away vs. Spotsylvania High School
Sept. 6 — away vs. Booker T. Washington High School
Sept. 13 — home vs. New Kent High School
Sept. 27 — home vs. Smithfield High School
Oct. 3 — away vs. Grafton High School
Oct. 11 — home vs. Warhill High School
Oct. 18 — away vs. Tabb High School
Oct. 25 — home vs. Jamestown High School
Nov. 2 — away vs. York High School
Nov. 7 — home vs. Poquoson High School
