As the sweltering days of mid-August settle in, three high school football programs—each donning the Yellowjackets moniker—are buzzing with anticipation and resolve as the 2025 season gets underway. From the sunbaked fields of Menard, Texas, to the tradition-steeped gridirons of Southeast Bulloch, Georgia, and the rolling hills of Winsted, Connecticut, these teams are writing new chapters after seasons that tested and defined them in 2024. With returning talent, shifting lineups, and lofty expectations, all eyes are on how each squad will respond to the unique challenges that lie ahead.
In Menard, Texas, the No. 19-ranked Yellowjackets football team is already making waves in their two-a-day practices, which kicked off on August 15, 2025. The echoes of last year’s impressive 9-2-1 record, including a perfect 4-0 run through District 15-1A Division I, are still fresh. The Jackets’ 2024 campaign ended in the area round of the playoffs, where they fell to eventual state champion Gordon—a loss that still stings but serves as potent fuel for the new season.
Head coach Clay Holland, now entering his second year at the helm, has reason to be optimistic. The squad lost just one starter on both sides of the ball, meaning the core of last year’s successful team remains intact. “Expectations are very high for 2025,” Holland remarked, noting that the team is even more comfortable in his system. As he put it, “We walked into two-a-days or early practice and we were ahead of the game.” That’s a strong endorsement of the program’s continuity and the players’ buy-in.
Much of Menard’s offensive firepower comes courtesy of Jayden Payton, who was crowned district MVP as a junior in 2024. Payton’s numbers are eye-popping: 1,750 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns, all behind a massive and experienced offensive line. With nearly everyone back, the Yellowjackets’ ground game looks poised to be even more formidable. The buzz around town is palpable—could this be the year Menard breaks through and makes a deeper playoff run?
Meanwhile, in Brooklet, Georgia, the Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets are coming off their most successful season in over half a century. Their 8-2 regular season record in 2024, capped by a run to the elite eight of the state playoffs, has set a high bar. The Jackets dispatched Heritage and Harlem on the road before bowing out to Stephenson High School, a run that evoked memories of the 1973 state championship team.
“Every season is different. Every team is different,” said head coach Jared Zito, who knows better than to rest on last year’s laurels. “You hope to build on success, but there are new challenges. We have different guys in different spots.” One of the biggest changes is at quarterback, where Rhett Morgan—after throwing for 720 yards and nine touchdowns and rushing for 159 yards and three more scores in 2024—has opted to focus on baseball. That leaves the offense in the hands of two juniors, Aiden Peterson and Colton Zito, neither of whom has varsity quarterbacking experience but have been groomed in the system at the junior varsity level.
Fortunately, the Jackets’ running game remains in excellent hands. Senior backs Colby Smith and Jayden Murphy return after combining for a staggering 2,439 yards and 27 touchdowns last season. Coach Zito is bullish on their development: “They’re better, bigger and faster,” he said, adding that both had “excellent spring practices.” The offensive line, anchored by returning starters Daniel Shuman, Bear Fretwell, and Jerrad Maddox, will again be tasked with opening holes for the dynamic backfield.
On the defensive side, Southeast Bulloch held opponents under 19 points per game in 2024, thanks to the efforts of key contributors like Christ Jones, Forrest Fretwell, Mike Dixon, and Kyle Obrien. Many of those stalwarts have graduated, but Zito is confident in his blend of “young guys and not young but experienced old guys who didn’t start before.” The defense will be anchored by returners such as Cam Miller up front, with linebackers Brant Horst and Chase Douglas also expected to play pivotal roles.
Special teams continuity is another plus, with long snapper Talon Stokes, kickers Thomas Edge and Owen Turner, and punter Horst all returning. “You don’t realize the importance of those guys until you don’t have them,” Zito noted. The 2025 season opener, a cross-county clash against Statesboro High School at Womack Stadium on August 15, promises to be a tone-setter—last year’s 23-18 victory over Statesboro helped propel the Jackets’ deep playoff run.
Further north, the Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic Yellowjackets of Connecticut are determined to bounce back after a disappointing 3-7 campaign in 2024—their first losing season since the co-op expanded in 2021. Under the steady hand of 16th-year head coach Scott Salius, who boasts a 99-71 career record, this group is hungry to prove last year was an aberration. With seven returning starters on both offense and defense, there’s a sense of stability, especially up front.
The Yellowjackets’ offense remains run-heavy, a scheme bolstered by four returning starters on the offensive line and two experienced tight ends, Wes Allyn and Esten Ryan. The backfield, however, is a question mark. The team will look to a “young core of sophomore/freshmen” to carry the load, with juniors and seniors who gained varsity reps last year also in the mix. The quarterback race is wide open, with sophomores Airyn Berube and Trevor Campbell vying for the starting nod and the versatile Liam Baxter—a senior who’s played nearly every position—ready to step in if needed.
The defense appears to be the strength, with four returning linemen, linebackers Allyn and Ryan, and three defensive backs providing experience and leadership. The schedule, however, is anything but forgiving; it features a gauntlet of NVL playoff regulars, including Woodland, Naugatuck, and Torrington in the season’s first half, followed by a tough November stretch against Watertown, WCA, and Holy Cross.
For all three Yellowjackets squads, the 2025 season is about more than just chasing wins—it’s about building on past lessons, embracing new leaders, and striving for excellence in the face of adversity. Whether it’s Menard’s quest for a breakthrough, Southeast Bulloch’s drive to surpass historic heights, or Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic’s determination to rebound, one thing is clear: the Yellowjackets are ready to sting.
With opening kickoffs either just underway or looming, these programs are set to test their mettle against tough schedules and high expectations. The coming weeks promise plenty of drama, grit, and, undoubtedly, some surprises. For Yellowjackets fans from Texas to Georgia to Connecticut, the wait is finally over—the season has begun, and the buzz is real.
