NOTE: The Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet will be held on October 7th at the Family Life Center of First Baptist Church in Jonesboro. Six former greats will be enshrined as the Class of 2023 with three more being recognized for Outstanding Achievement and Service. Leading up to gala event the Jackson Parish Journal will run a special feature on each of the inductees and honorees. This Edition: Michael Malone

The memory to those who witnessed it is as vivid as if it happened yesterday. With JHHS on the Rayville 10 yard line and down 6-0 in the Class 2A playoffs, Michael Malone took the snap and raced toward the right sideline. Finding no where to go, he reversed field. Shaking off would be tacklers, he weaved and bobbed his way back across the field only to find his way blocked once again.

Hornet pursuers reached and grabbed at him in an attempt to bring him down forcing Malone to retreat all the way back to near the 20 yard line when he finally found an opening and darted through. A hit by a would be tackler threw him off balance but the playmaker kept his balance, bounced off three more Rayville defenders and lunged.

TOUCHDOWN! 

Virtually every Rayville player on the field had touched him at least once yet no one could bring Malone down. It was one of the most incredible acts of elusiveness you could ever witness. The Rayville coach said after the game he had never seen anything like it.

Jonesboro-Hodge fans had.

Many times.

So many in fact that exploits like that came to be expected. At least once in nearly every game there would be a time when Malone would dip, dart, twist, turn and then simply outrun defenders for a score. 

His ability to suddenly shift what seemed like three feet to the left or right leaving would be tacklers grasping at air all the while never breaking stride led local iconic sportswriter Raymond “Doc” Jeffress to dub him the “Magician.” It was a fitting moniker, as his ability to disappear from a tackler was like a magic act. One second he was there, the next he was gone.                                                                                           

Malone gave the first indication of how special he was in his second game as starting quarterback as a junior in 1977. The Tigers and Winnfield, ranked #1 in Class 2A after playing in the Class 3A finals the year before, had played to a 0-0 tie, forcing the first regular season overtime where both teams got a possession from the 10 yard line in LHSAA history. On the Tiger’s second play, Malone broke through a bevy of Winnfield defenders to score, leading to a 7-0 victory. JHHS would not lose a game that year until the state championship, finishing 13-1 and completing what is still the best single season turnaround in LHSAA history having gone 1-9 the year before. 

The Tigers lost 16 of the 22 starters the next year but they still had Malone, who JHHS Coach Don Shows said before the 1978 season was the “best individual talent in the state” and years later the “best pound-for-pound player he had ever coached.” That is serious accolades coming from an LHSAA Hall of Fame coach who would end up winning 342 games, multiple state titles and a mythical national championship over his 32 year career.

Malone lived up to billing his senior year, leading the Tigers to a 10-2 record with both losses occurring while he was sidelined due to injury. He scored touchdowns every way imaginable – rushing, passing, and returning interceptions, punts and kickoffs – on his way to a new school record 140 points scored and north Louisiana leading scoring title. The “Magician” set several other school records as well, several that still stand today. His 1113 rushing yards is still the most ever by a QB as is the 597 yards accounted for in a single game. 

In his two years as starting Quarterback, Malone led JHHS to a 23-3 record, a district title and a state runner up finish while twice being named Class 2A All-State, including earning first team honors his senior year. Attesting to his all around talent was first team All-District track and basketball designations. 

There was something else that made Malone memorable as well. His hair! Dubbed “Too Short” in junior high school due to his small stature, Malone compensated for his lack of height by growing one of the most impressive Afro’s ever worn. It stood at least six inches on top and spread from shoulder to shoulder. Legend has it that while as a scholarship player at Northeast Louisiana University he ran the 40 yard dash in “full fro.” The time was no where near what was expected. Before he ran again he braided his hair resulting in his next time being three tenths of a second faster. 

Sadly, Malone was taken at way to young an age but the memories he left behind still resonate strong today. Whether you choose to remember Malone as the “Magician” or “Too Short” you can now add another description to the iconic JHHS athlete, many who say was the best ever – Class of 2023 Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame Inductee!