WILLIAMSBURG — “Friday Night Lights” is a series looking in on area high school football programs ahead of the 2025 season.
The Lafayette High School Rams were undefeated in the Bay Rivers District in 2024 and the 2025 team is on the hunt for the same outcome. The Rams’ only loss in 2024 came in the state championship semifinals against Kettle Run High School.
“We ran into an injury bug towards the end and we were missing several starters in that state semifinal game. We finished 13-1 and had a very successful season,” said Andy Linn, Lafayette football head coach.
Returning to the Rams in 2025 are junior quarterback and inside linebacker Baum Hogge; senior running back and defensive back Josh Simpson; senior running back Tyree Wilson; senior running back Breon Stokes; senior wide receiver and defensive back Nay’ron Hudson; senior offensive tackle Yiani Kokolis; senior offensive guard Andrew Buckley; senior center Greyden Wilson; junior tight end Cyler Brooks; junior wide receiver and defensive back Jael Love; junior defensive end Andrew Cook; senior nose guard Mel Gray; senior outside linebacker Logan Oleksy; senior outside linebacker Talen Leach; senior inside linebacker Obrian Canady; and senior inside linebacker Jamir Nesbeth.
Linn is in his 15th year at the helm of the program and has his eye on bringing the state championship trophy back to Lafayette.
“We don’t have a goal to win the district, we don’t have a goal to win the region, we want to get back to the state championship. Since I’ve been at Lafayette, we’ve been there six times. It’s a tradition. Our ultimate goal is to be playing in that last game of the season,” Linn said.
To achieve that, Linn is looking at the 2025 schedule on a week-by-week basis. However, he noted that the away schedule may play a part in his team’s outcome this season.
“The Bay Rivers District is a pretty good district. Our schedule has a lot of idiosyncrasies this year as we travel as the away team to the four furthest trips. We travel to New Kent, Gloucester, Smithfield and Poquoson. That adds a little craziness to the schedule. But as for teams, I think Poquoson will be very good, I think Tabb will be pretty good, and I think Warhill will be good,” Linn said.
As training camp gets underway, Linn and his coaching staff have embraced a playoff or bust mindset; something Linn has had since the beginning.
“My voice doesn’t change year to year and the kids understand our goals. Our goals are pretty much the same. We have aspirations of going deep into the playoffs every year. We don’t have any goals smaller than that,” Linn said.
Lafayette will open the 2025 football season on the road at Smithfield on Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.
2025 Lafayette High School Football Schedule
Aug. 29 — away vs. Smithfield
Sept. 5 — home vs. Warhill
Sept. 12 — away vs. New Kent
Sept. 18 — home vs. Bruton
Sept. 26 — away vs. Poquoson
Oct. 3 — home vs. Grafton
Oct. 10 — away vs. Jamestown
Oct. 17 — away vs. Gloucester
Oct. 23 — home vs. York
Nov. 6 — home vs. Tabb