An old saying reminds that you have to crawl before you can walk and walk before you can run. After crawling their way through the 2022 LHSAA football season opener, steps were made by Jonesboro-Hodge last week toward winning their first football game of the season. Head Coach Terrance Blankenship say now hopefully the Tigers are ready to run and kick down the door seperating them from the winning column.
“I said at the beginning of the season that the first few games would be a learning process for not only players but our coaching staff as well,” said Blankenship. “There is no more room for excuses now though. After two weeks of playing we ought to be able to compete better.”
The Tigers hope for a repeat of history from a year ago, when they travel to Bunkie for the second straight year. Game time is set for 7:00pm. In last years contest the Tigers blew away Bunkie by a 50-0 margin, one of the most onesided victories in school history. While Blankenship doesn’t expect the same kind of offensive fireworks he is hoping that his defense can provide at least close to a repeat performance.
“It would be nice for our defense to step up like they did last year,” laughed Blankenship, while recalling the two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns. “I am not expecting a repeat of that but in all seriousness we do need a great effort on that side of the ball so our offense will have the opportunity to work with good field position.”
Meeting history: Jonesboro-Hodge has never lost to Bunkie in the five previous meetings but the 1988 contest is remembered as if not the greatest game in Tiger history, certainly the most memorable.
It was the second year of the “three peat” that JHHS traveled to Bunkie to play a Class AA state semifinal contest. The Tigers opened a lead only to see Bunkie rally time and again before taking a 28-25 lead with just a few minutes left to play. J-H tied the game when Cartel Calahan etched his name in Tiger lore by making a 33 yard field goal with just 18 second left to play. Adding to the irony of the game was that i was his first field goal he attempted that season. on a field goal with just second left in the contest setting up the most remarkable ending to a playoff game in LHSAA history.
With time for only one or two plays left and Bunkie at their own 25 yard line it was thought that they would just kneel on the ball and take advantage of their devastating rushing attack in overtime that had dominated the Tigers in the second half. Instead the Panthers tried a p[ass to the right flats that JHHS almost intercepted. Surely they would now take the knee, right?
Incredibly the Bunkie coach called the same play but this time Branden Bradley stepped in front of the aerial and raced 33 yards untouched into the endzone as time expired. It was beyond the realm of belief that it took place. As one sportswriter wrote the next day, “God must be a Jonesboro-Hodge fan.”
This year: Both teams enter the contest searching for their first win of the season. Jonesboro-Hodge has fallen 48-14 to General Trass (Lake Providence) and Class 5A West Ouachita lat week 28-6. Bunkie has lost to Patterson 54-6 and Catholic of Pointe Coupee 42-6.
How to get to game:
According to Google Maps the drive to Bunkie is basically a simple one of a little over 100 miles that should take roughly a little less than two hours to get there. The recommended route is it to take Hwy 167 to Alexandria and then get on Hwy 71 south the rest of the way. Once in Bunkie, take East Church Street and then go one mile before exiting on Evergreen Street.
Game to be broadcast on 94.1 FM Radio!
For those not able to make the trip you can tune in to KRLQ 94.1 FM radio to follow all the game action and hear coach Blankenship in a post game interview. Broadcast starts at 6:30pm.