Jonesboro-Hodge High School was expected to take an easy Homecoming game victory over Plain Dealing this Friday. Not this easy though!
In a shocking development that took place on Tuesday, October 22nd, the football game between Jonesboro-Hodge High School and Plain Dealing has been cancelled. JHHS will be awarded a victory by forfeit that will improve the Tigers record to 2-6 overall and 2-2 in district 1-1A play. Plain Dealing will drop to 0-8 overall and 0-6 in district.
According to JHHS head football coach and athletic director, Terrance Blankenship, the reason for the cancellation was because of Plain Dealing not having enough players to field a team.
“We got a call on Monday from the Plain Dealing head coach saying that he didn’t have enough players to field a team,” said Blankenship. “He told us he only had 10 players left after several quit to start basketball and one was out due to injury.”
Blankenship said that he tried to get them to come with what they had and the two schools would make whatever adjustments needed to be made to ensure a game would be played for the fans attending Homecoming.
“We told him that even thought the game wouldn’t count in the standings if we needed to play 7-on-7 or with 8-man teams that we would do what ever best fit them,” explained Blankenship. “They still refused.”
Already once this season, JHHS was forced to scramble to find a replacement for a team that was originally scheduled to play the Tigers. When asked if there was a possibility of replacing Plain Dealing with another team, Blankenship said it was impossible.
“When Ringgold cancelled their game against us it was before the season started it put us in a bad position but we were able to scramble and get DeQuincy (who the Tigers played last week) to come and play,” explained Blankenship. “This week everywhere in the state, teams are playing their district schedules so unfortunately there was no chance of getting another school to come in and play.”
It’s one thing to have a school cancel a game. It is another when the cancelled game was scheduled for Homecoming. So what do the Tigers do for a Homecoming game?
J-HHS Homecoming Flag Football Game
As the old saying goes, “when you are handed a lemon, the best thing to do is make lemonade”. In an effort to give all the alumni, fans and supporters the best Homecoming experience now possible, the JHHS administration announces that a Homecoming Flag Football game featuring alumni has now been schedule. Depending on how many offer to participate, the format will be a game between what has been deemed as a New School vs Old School alumni game where older alumni will take on newer grads. The other option is that if not many sign up to play then two teams will be formed among the alumni.
If you wish to participate you are asked to go the Jonesboro-Hodge High School Facebook page and submit your information on the form that is listed. Help make the 2024 Homecoming experience something to remember.