YARMOUTH — Football season is back in full swing at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School. This marks the return of Jayden Barber. A dual threat, Barber is one of the top quarterbacks in the class of 2025. He intends to go out on his own terms.

“I’m very excited,” said Barber. “But I’m also a little down. It’s my last season of high school football, last season under the lights. But I’m very excited.”

The senior isn’t the only one. Dennis-Yarmouth fans, and the Cape and Islands League faithful should all be bracing for an incredible fall campaign. Last season, Barber completed 186-of-301 passing attempts (61.8%) for 2,823 yards. He also scrambled 105 times for 610 yards rushing, finishing with 38 total touchdowns.

“We’ve had some great quarterbacks,” said Dennis-Yarmouth coach Chris Marsh. “In terms of throwing the ball, he’s as good as anyone we’ve had. He really sees the field well, and the ball comes out on time, so the play works as it should go. He has excellent vision.”

Oftentimes, we witness athletes thrust into the line of duty as late as their senior campaign. Barber has experience, having already tallied 5,150 yards and 52 touchdowns passing under center, a position he has occupied since his sophomore year.

“He can make every throw on the field,” Marsh said. “He always is looking for more information. He’s hungry in that way. Again, he can get a ball to any spot on the field. So, he loves to have play concepts, multiple play concepts to attack defenses, and he has the confidence to make any throw.

“He’s excellent in quick-game. Getting the ball out on time, and he can also throw the ball downfield. He really took a step forward as a runner last year. In the second half of our season (in 2023) he was our leading runner. There really isn’t any glaring hole in his game. He is capable of doing anything.”

Last year, the Dolphins closed things with a 7-4 record overall, and bowed out at the hands of Div. 6 Super Bowl runner-up Salem in a stunning 33-26 contest during their postseason run.

This time? Don’t be surprised if you see Dennis-Yarmouth back in the hunt, with a familiar voice at the helm.

“My personal goal is just to prove to everybody that I’m a good quarterback,” Barber said. “That last year was not a fluke. Just show everybody that I can still do it, year after year. I want my team to be more of a family than last year, and back one another up.”

Dennis-Yarmouth will open its 2024 fall with a matchup against perennial South Shore League contender and local rival Mashpee, before taking on a pair of South Coast Conference foes in Dighton-Rehoboth and Somerset Berkley. Then, the Dolphins close the out-of-conference schedule with a duel against Dover-Sherborn before embarking on their Cape and Islands League slate. Not an easy task.

The program only has lost a handful of key pieces. The school also brought in some noteworthy coaching additions, with defensive coordinator Howie Heleen joining the fold.

“We expect to be able to run everybody,” Marsh said. “Our expectation is to make a deep run in the playoffs.”

Meanwhile, you can predict that Barber will look to leave an everlasting stamp on his already decorated career.

“I just want to show my family that I’m a good football player,” said Barber. “Just live up to the Barber name.”