The wait is almost over. After a long hot summer a breath of fresh air will cascade throughout stadiums all over the state of Louisiana in a few days as the 2022 LHSAA prep football season will finally open. For Jonesboro-Hodge High School, the first official regular season game will find the Tigers on the road against fellow Class 2A foe General Trass out of Lake Providence on Friday, September 2nd. Game time is set for 7:00pm.
Even though a roughly 2 1/2 hour road trip to the northeast corner of the state is in store, JHHS head coach Terrance Blankenship is eager to get the season 2022 started.
“This is the day we have been working towards all summer,” said Blankenship. “The coaching staff and players alike have had this date circled on the calender ever since the season ended last year.”
The matchup is one of the premier season openers in the state as it pits two of last years top Class 2A programs in northeast Louisiana against each other. Each is coming off district championships from the year before and have many of the same similarities heading into this season.
“When you look at one team you are basically looking at the other,” reflects Blankenship. “We mirror each other in a lot of ways, including both having to replace their top skill players from last year.”
Both Jonesboro-Hodge, who will compete in district 3-2A this season after several years in district 1-2A, and General Trass out of district 2-2A, is expected to employ “run-first” offensive attack, especially in the early part of the season while the new quarterbacks of each gain more seasoning.
“We will have a different look compared to what folks are used to seeing from us,” predicted Blankenship. “Instead of throwing the ball all over the field like the past couple of years, we will play to our strength, which is running behind our big line.”
2022 Jonesboro-Hodge Starting Lineup
OFFENSE
Quarterback – Cameron Leonard
Running back – Ed’Tavious Drayton
H-Back – Chance Leonard
Wide Receiver – Savantez Phillips
Wide Receiver – Omarrion Jackson
Wide Receiver – Zion Gray
Right Tackle – Dominick Strickland
Right Guard – Josh Tatum
Center – Braylen Leonard
Left Guard – Austin Knotts
Left Tackle – Cartavious Waters
DEFENSE
Right End – Peyton Smith
Right Tackle – Kehlin Boston
Left Tackle – Cartavious Waters
Left End – Dominick Stickland
Inside Linebacker – Xavier Atkins
Inside Linebacker – Karmakize Barber
Cornerback – Cameron Leonard
Cornerback – Omarrion Jackson
Weak Safety – Jaylen Barnes
Strong Safety – Ed’Tavious Drayton
Free Safety Savantez Phillips Raynald Bolds
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