Despite opening-game losses, the Wakefield Warriors and Yorktown Patriots had bright spots to expand on as the 2026 high-school football season kicked off.
Playing at home on Friday night (Aug. 28), Wakefield lost to the Falls Church Jaguars, 34-21, while Yorktown fell to the South Lakes Seahawks, 43-21, in non-district action.
In Yorktown’s loss, the Patriots led 7-3 in the first half, but trailed 40-7 at halftime when South Lakes took control by scoring 37 points during the final 9:13 of the second quarter.
During that scoring run, the Seahawks converted two Yorktown turnovers into touchdowns, scored two points on a safety and hit a couple of long scoring passes.
The Patriots didn’t quit in the second half, outscoring South Lakes 14-3.
“We had a funky second quarter, when things fell apart and South Lakes capitalized on our mistakes,” Yorktown coach Alec Hicks told ARLnow. “But I liked the way we battled back in the second half, and we played well in the first quarter. We will build on that and we will bounce back in our next game.”
Yorktown senior quarterback John McCorry scored two of the Patriots’ touchdowns on runs of three and 43 yards, and he passed eight yards to Alex Randisi for the other TD. Felix Gomez kicked three extra points.
McCorry ran for 58 yards total in the loss, and was 7 of 13 passing for 41 yards with two interceptions.
Jamari Washington ran for 35 yards for Yorktown and Shane Wilson for 32. Randisi and Boston Izzo each caught two of McCorry’s passes, and Nathan Harvey, Alex Len and Ethan Wassel one each.
On defense for Yorktown, Nate Randles made a number of tackles and, on special teams, Rowan Sandoli blocked a punt that set up the Patriots’ first-quarter touchdown.
Yorktown also lost to South Lakes twice last season, in its opener and then in a first-round region playoff game.
Yorktown hosts its second game this season when it faces the Ballou Knights (1-0) of D.C. at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3 in another non-district contest.
Wakefield lost a season opener for the sixth straight season by falling to Falls Church, which also topped the Warriors in the 2025 season’s first game for each.
In this year’s game, Wakefield rallied back in the second half to score three touchdowns after trailing 28-0 at halftime.
“We did much better in the second half. At halftime, we talked a lot about not quitting and we got something going after that,” first-year Wakefield coach Brian Slay said. “Our offense did pretty well and moved the ball the whole game. We just couldn’t finish drives in the first half, and we dropped a touchdown pass.”
Judah Connor led the Wakefield offense. The senior quarterback completed 11 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 80 yards and an eight-yard score. He was sacked just once.
Connor’s TD pass went for 25 yards to Brayden Murray, who had three catches for 102 yards. Aiden Davis had five catches for 70 yards.
Wakefield running back Miles Robbins ran for 72 yards and a short touchdown.
On defense for the Warriors, safety Dash Gloss made eight tackles and linebacker Nathen Gray made six.
“For 80% of our players, that was their first varsity game,” Slay said. “There is a lot we did good against a formidable opponent that was a playoff team last season. Now we have to put it together and play well for four quarters.”
Like Yorktown, Wakefield also hosts its second game, playing the Rock Ridge Phoenix (0-1) of Ashburn at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 3. The Warriors defeated Rock Ridge last season for their first of three straight wins.
