When West Ouachita visits Caldwell-Peacock Stadium this coming Friday evening it will mark the only time this season that a Class 5A school will visit a Class 2A school. Normally that might make big headlines but for Jonesboro-Hodge students, faculty fans and friends what takes place before the contest is what is most on their minds.
The Tiger football team will honor two of it’s own who tragically lost their life this past summer in a horrific single car accident that also left another dead and still another suffering serious injuries. As a tribute to LaJavion Nichols and Javious Holden, two game balls will be flown in by an Air-Med Rescue Helicopter and presented to the family of each by JHHS head coach Terrance Blankenship.
“We want to thank the families of both of the guys to allow us to honor them this way,” said Blankenship when reflecting on the ceremonial occasion. “By presenting them with the game balls it is our way of letting the families know that they will always be a part of our team and every time we take the field we have them in our hearts.”
West Ouachita vs JHHS:
Jonesboro-Hodge comes into their home opener hoping to even their season record after falling 22-20 to Winnfield in the season opener. West Ouachita enters the newly refurbished Caldwell-Peacock stadium with a 1-0 record after beating Delhi Charter 34-0 in Coach Mike Rainwater’s first game as the Chiefs head football coach. In their jamboree the week before the Chiefs fell to Winnfield 10-6 although they had a chance to win at the end only to have a pass into the end zone fall incomplete. Sound familiar?
“This is going to be a tough game for us,” said JHHS head coach Blankenship. “I know we will be emotionally charged but West Ouachita will be coming in confident after showing the improvement they did over the first week of the season.
Keys to victory!
- NO, NO, Nolan! There is one on each side of the ball for West Ouachita and both are hard to handle. On offense 5’9″ 180lb. Kohl Nolan carries the load. On defense it is Noseguard Michael Nolan that has yet to be held in check yet this year.
- Get focused quick! – One of the hardest things that Coach Blankenship and staff will face is getting their team focused on playing after the opening game ceremonies. Imperative that the Tigers play well from the get go.
- Get off to good start! West Ouachita is going to dress out almost three times as many players and will have a distinct advantage by being able to rotate fresh bodies in. Can’t afford to get behind and let them start pounding away on the ground.
- Players must make plays! JHHS actually has more playmakers despite being the smaller school. Got to have the playmakers make plays.
