LHS football alumni reunite for benefit
BY DANIEL SCHMIDT
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LAFAYETTE — Former LaFayette High football players returned home to run it back one more time, gathering at Bulldog Stadium on July 24 for an alumni 7-on-7 game that benefited Bulldog athletics.
Team Qua, led by Qua Boyd, swept Team Zae, led by Zae Towles, dominating 51-18 in Game 1 before storming back for a 28-23 comeback win in Game 2.
For Boyd, the reasons for participation were simple: to support his family and hometown. His brother-in-law, Douglas Jones Jr., will lead LHS onto the field this fall.
“It always feels good to come back home,” Boyd said. “With my brother-in-law being the new head coach of LaFayette High School, any way I can help him, I’m going to do it. He’s trying to bring that culture back.”
The turnout brought back more than a dozen former players, many of whom hadn’t lined up together in 12 or 13 years.
“To come out here and see them put on a show like they did today, it lets you know that being a Bulldog is always going to be in here,” Boyd said. “Once that dog gets in you, it never leaves.”
Boyd said Jones, who spent recent seasons as an assistant at Pike Road High School before being named the Bulldogs’ next head head coach in late January, earned the job.
“He deserved this opportunity because he put in the time,” Boyd said. “What better way to go out than in your hometown? I’m looking forward to him getting to the playoffs this year.”
Towles echoed that same sentiment after a pair of tightly contested games.
“It’s always good to come back out here and do something good for the city, and play with familiar faces,” Towles said. “I’m excited to see what coach Jones is going to do this season. He’s going to bring all the love, the family and that old-fashioned LaFayette back.”
After the event ended, Jones said the crowd and participation were exactly what he hoped to see as he builds toward his first season in charge of his alma mater.
“I feel great seeing the support we got. People came out to see us have fun and watch the guys get out there,” Jones said. “We had a good crowd, good participation.”
He said he believes the atmosphere is only the beginning.
“Once they see the product we’ve got on the field and what we’re trying to build one game at a time, the stadium is going to be packed again,” Jones said.
The Bulldogs kick their 2026 season off with a road contest at Beulah High School on Aug. 21. LHS will host its first home game on Aug. 28 against Beauregard High School.
