YORK COUNTY— “Friday Night Lights” is a series looking in on area high school football programs ahead of the 2025 season.
The Tabb High School Tigers have taken the practice field looking to improve on a 5-7 2024 record.
During the postseason, Tabb won its first playoff game in nine years in a tight contest against third-seeded Hopewell. In the next round against Norcom, the Tigers found themselves down 27-0 at the half. By the end of the game, Tabb had clawed its way back, but couldn’t get over the hump to get the win, falling 35-21.
“We lost four games last season by a touchdown or less. You can look at that both ways. You can look at it from a standpoint of a lot of missed opportunities but you can also look at that as us being a lot closer in terms of taking that next step of being a really competitive program,” Tabb football head coach John Byron said.
Byron enters his third season at Tabb.
The Tigers lost five starters to graduation. Returning to the 2025 team are senior linebacker and running back Sam Christophel, junior quarterback Corbin Eckert, junior tight end and linebacker Matt Adams, offensive and defensive lineman Javion Richey, junior wide receiver and defensive back Solomon Limehouse, senior wide receiver, defensive back, and kicker David Brooks, junior defensive end Amauri Lymon, junior offensive lineman Tyler Maddock, senior outside linebacker VJ Shandor, junior offensive lineman Ben Morgan, junior running back and defensive back Josh Guthinger, senior running back and defensive back Aaron Andrews, senior wide receiver and defensive end Micah Marbra, junior linebacker Kory Simak, senior running back and defensive back Domani Arizpe, junior outside linebacker Brian Moussounda, junior offensive and defensive lineman Jeremiah Jackson, and junior offensive and defensive lineman Logan Hendricks.
Byron is taking it week-by-week ahead of the 2025 season.
“Without being cliché, it’s always the game that’s in front of us. We certainly want to get back to the playoffs again. In order to do that, we need to be prepared each and every week against some tough opponents in our district. Priority number one is Aug. 28 versus Jamestown, and that’s the next one up for us,” Byron said.
Another goal would be to bring the Charlie Hovis Trophy back to Tabb. Named for legendary Tabb football coach Charlie Hovis, the trophy is given out annually to the York County football program with the most wins. In 2024, the hardware went to Bruton High School.
Byron has been stressing the importance of leadership.
“Every year, we give a wristband to our players on our motto or slogan for the year. This year, for us, it was, ‘players lead.’ We feel like average teams, you have that coaches lead, where great teams have players that lead. In order for us to be a great team, our players have to step up and be great leaders and hold each other accountable,” Byron said.
The Tabb Tigers open the 2025 season at home against Jamestown High School on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m.
2025 Tabb High School Football Schedule
- Aug. 28 — home vs. Jamestown
- Sept. 5 — away vs. Bruton
- Sept. 12 — home vs. Poquoson
- Sept. 18 — home vs. New Kent
- Sept. 26 — away vs. Grafton
- Oct. 3 — home vs. Smithfield
- Oct. 10 — away vs. York
- Oct. 24 — home vs. Gloucester
- Oct. 31 — away vs. Warhill
- Nov. 6 — away vs. Lafayette