YORK COUNTY — “Friday Night Lights” is a series looking in on area high school football programs ahead of the 2025 season.
The York High School Falcons started out 2024 with a 3-1 record before injuries and adversity set in for the group. After that 3-1 start, the team lost every game, ending with a 3-7 record.
“Two years of being young and inexperienced got us pretty good. The teams before those were really good and really experienced. These guys kinda had to wait, and it really came back to haunt us,” explained Head Coach Doug Pereria.
Pereria enters his 19th season at the helm, and 2024 was the first time he has had back-to-back losing seasons with his program.
Twelve seniors have since graduated. Returning are senior offensive lineman Dylan Read, senior offensive lineman Ryan Berube, senior offensive lineman Brendon Day, junior tight end Jordan Smith, senior running back Seamus Cassidy, junior running back Evan Muangkhao, junior wide receiver and running back Anthony Custis, senior wide receiver Brayden Lemonds, senior linebacker Carter Ward, senior linebacker Ben Ward and senior defensive lineman Brandon Overton.
Pereria hopes to break out of the slump in 2025.
“Our hope is that the guys that we have know believe in their abilities and believe in the experiences they have had to endure to make them stronger. If they play well as a team, if they do all those things, we’re going to be fine. We’re talented. It’s a matter of these guys believing they can do it, and just going out there and playing ball,” Pereria said.
Pereria kicks off the season with a big rivalry matchup.
“We open with Poquoson and they are always a challenge. They are a deep rival with us so that’s challenging and they are getting a lot of guys back from their state championship semifinals team. Without knowing all the details of all these other teams, I know Lafayette is always going to be good for sure, and I would assume Smithfield is going to have some guys as they always do. Warhill is in a position now where they are always a challenge. It could be everybody we face this year,” Pereria said.
After practices, Pereria has been stressing one word: Relentless.
“Whatever it is, relentless effort, relentless pursuit of excellence, just whatever they are doing, do it 100 miles an hour and with everything you’ve got and expect to have positive results out of it. The thing that we can build off of from last year is that as the season spiraled down, some guys just hopped into the pool and went down with it. What I’m hoping for is that these younger guys saw some of that, that this year they are realizing that it won’t happen again,” Pereria said.
The York High School team will open its season at home on Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. against Poquoson High School.
2025 York High School Football Schedule
- Aug. 29 — home vs. Poquoson High School
- Sept. 5 — home vs. Grafton High School
- Sept. 17 — away vs. Smithfield High School
- Sept. 19 — away vs. Gloucester High School
- Sept. 25 — home vs. Warhill High School
- Oct. 3 — away vs. New Kent High School
- Oct. 10 — home vs. Tabb High School
- Oct. 23 — away vs. Lafayette High School
- Oct. 30 — home vs. Jamestown High School
- Nov. 7 — away vs. Bruton High School