Football | Piedmont preps for another great season

Damin Esper

Jack Meyjes looks back for a pass at practice on Aug. 22, 2025

New core of talent will be key

Piedmont High School’s boys football team is ready to work for a great season after last year’s success. Many players are thriving on the field and ready to win. 

“We are coming off a big season last year with a really experienced group,” said head coach Jordan Seiden. 

With 16 graduating seniors, the Highlanders have a lot of players and talent to replace.

“We’re pretty confident in the kids that we have,” Seiden said. “We’re looking forward to seeing what they bring that’s gonna be different. It’s tough to try to replace a guy like (wide receiver Sam Shelby), but you know, we’ll figure it out,” 

The team spent a large amount of the offseason training, starting with morning weights before school in the spring, spring practices, and eventually summer conditioning and even a football camp at Lake Tahoe.

“There was a core, good group of guys that committed to all of (the conditioning),” Seiden said. “We had a few guys that didn’t miss anything.” 

Sophomore Jimmy Lagios (purple jersey)

With last year’s season MVP quarterback Markos Lagios graduating, Lagios’ younger brother sophomore Jimmy Lagios will be taking over as starting quarterback.

“Jimmy’s out here balling big at quarterback as a sophomore. Says a lot,” Seiden said.

The sophomore and junior classes are similar to the 2024-2025 graduating seniors, with good linemen, runners, and a great quarterback. The senior class is waiting for more leadership to come forward.

“If we’re going to have a good season, seniors like (running back/linebacker) Xavier Henderson, (offensive/defensive linemen) Adrian Kondakov and Bill Ashton, (wide receiver/linebacker) Dash Worthen, and (wide receiver/defensive back) Jack Meyjes, they’re really gonna have to step it up,” Seiden said. “They had a big leadership group last year, so they didn’t have to step up and be leaders. And so they’re learning this year how to be leaders.”

The offensive line is a very young group, with Kondakov and Ashton being the only returning members. Freshman Jared Lavaka will be starting.

Similar to offense, the defense is a very young group with a lot of work to do. The team will have a scrimmage on August 23.

“If we can get good years out of [juniors Colby Hong and Henry Brennan] at middle linebacker at the inside, I think we’ll be doing pretty good,” Seiden said.

Seiden is looking forward to all of their games, but said he knows they have a tough schedule ahead. The Highlanders open at Salesian on Aug. 30. 

“League games are always big. I think all of our league is kind of hunting us down this year,” Seiden said. “The stands will be crowding thick Saturday nights. We beat up a lot of teams last year, we put up over 35 a game on everybody.”

Seiden said the most important thing is for the team to stay healthy, and that he is looking forward to how this season turns out.

“We went from being no program, to being 0-11, 0-10, then going to the playoffs and after, back to back league titles,” Seiden said. “It’s not always about who’s bigger and stronger, it’s about who works harder and who gives more. That all balances itself out.”

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