WILLIAMSBURG — “Friday Night Lights” is a series looking in on area high school football programs ahead of the 2025 season.
The Jamestown High School Eagles football team is looking to rebound from a winless 2024.
“Last season was filled with some highs and lows. Although we weren’t able to win any games, we were very competitive in a lot of games that normally would have been blowouts. It took us a while to come together as a team, but we left the season excited about the future of Jamestown football,” explained James Riley, Jamestown High School football head coach.
Riley enters his second season at the helm.
Six starters were among the 14 seniors who graduated. Returning to the 2025 team are senior athlete Vincent Creel; senior linebacker and running back Brayden Strouse; senior wide receiver and defensive back Mortima Goodridge; senior quarterback Ben Hanchett; and junior running back and defensive back Seth Nicholson.
Ahead of the new season, Riley is hoping to see the full potential of what he knows his team can be.
“I would really like for the kids to experience on-the-field success. We’ve had flashes and glimpses of when things were moving really well. We just struggled to put it all together consistently. I really want them to see what could be if we can play for four quarters,” Riley said.
When the season kicks off week one against Tabb High School, Riley hopes to get his first win as head coach.
“When I look at the Tabb game from last season, if we had one more quarter, we may have been able to pull that one out. We’re really excited about starting the season with them because I really feel like it’s a finish what you started kind of game,” Riley said.
With full practices underway, Riley has kept his message to the players short and sweet.
“We went very simple this year: win. We want to win, and we want to win in everything we do on and off the field. We want to win at practice, we want to win in serving our community. We want to look at what we do to win and bring those traits into everything else we’re doing,” Riley said.
Jamestown High School will open the 2025 season away against Tabb on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m.
2025 Jamestown High School Football Schedule
Aug. 28 — away vs. Tabb
Sept. 4 — home vs. Gloucester
Sept. 12 — away vs. Warhill
Sept. 26 — home vs. Bruton
Oct. 3 — away vs. Poquoson
Oct. 10 — home vs. Lafayette
Oct. 17 — away vs. Grafton
Oct. 24 — home vs. Smithfield
Oct. 30 — away vs. York
Nov. 7 — home vs. New Kent