YORK COUNTY — “Friday Night Lights” is a series looking in on area high school football programs ahead of the 2025 season.
The Grafton High School Clippers are on the hunt for a winning season in 2025. In 2024, the Clippers earned a 3-7 final record, winning back-to-back games to end the season.
Coach Corey Hairston is entering his first season with Grafton football.
Returning to the Clippers squad are sophomore quarterback and safety Xzavieon Hendricks; senior running back and cornerback Makale Barnett; senior rover and running back Josh Lawson; junior offensive and defensive lineman Will Dickinson; senior running back and cornerback Harrison Kent Jr.; and junior athlete and safety Ananias Boyd Jr.
Hairston plans to come out swinging.
“We’re definitely going to have a winning season. The kids have really bought into what we’re doing, going all the way back to February, from the workouts in the weight room up to the preseason. The guys are very enthusiastic, attendance has been very good, attitudes have been very good, and we’re really excited for the 2025 season here at Grafton,” Hairston said.
Hairston said he is not focusing more on any particular game on the schedule.
“I’m the type of coach who takes things week by week. I don’t look ahead or focus on one particular team. Each week has its own set of different challenges. We’re going to be prepared for every game that we play,” Hairston said.
Coming off eleven years as the head coach at Warwick High School in neighboring Newport News, Hairston is bringing the same mentality to the athletes at Grafton.
“I’ve been coaching high school football for 28 years. Over those years, I’ve adopted a lot of different sayings. I don’t have one particular motto for this season because I give them so many little sayings that I say all the time. For them, I know that they know that this season is definitely different. That’s not a saying or a slight to previous coaching staff, but they know that this season is going to be different,” Hairston said.
That said, Hairston says that the team has fully embraced working hard.
“Working hard is the one thing that when I came in, I was adamant about. The kids have totally embraced it. It’s just like medicine, it may not feel good going down, but it’s good for you. They understand that we’re going to work hard and if we make a mistake, we’re going to do it again until it’s right,” Hairston shared.
Grafton High School will kick off the 2025 season away against Warhill on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m.
2025 Grafton High School Football Schedule
Aug. 28 — away vs. Warhill
Sept. 5 — away vs. York
Sept. 11 — home vs. Gloucester
Sept. 19 — home vs. Poquoson
Sept. 26 — home vs. Tabb
Oct. 3 — away vs. Lafayette
Oct. 10 — away vs. Smithfield
Oct. 17 — home vs. Jamestown
Oct. 24 — away vs. Bruton
Oct. 31 — home vs. New Kent