A 15-point halftime deficit turned into a 15-point lead in roughly 15 minutes as Jonesboro-Hodge turned in one of the more impressive second-half efforts seen in recent memory to defeat Delhi Charter by a 42-27 score. The victory improved the Tigers’ record on the year to 1-2 while Class 2A Delhi Charter fell to 1-2 on the season. 

A tale of two halves! If the complete reversal of fortunes that JHHS enjoyed in the second half wasn’t a product of live theater, one would swear that the contest was a creation of a movie producer, as what took place simply seemed beyond comprehension. The difference in the Tigers play in the first half compared to the second was as diametrically opposed as the North and South Pole. 

The first half began with Jonesboro-Hodge turning the ball over on its first three possessions. First came a fumble on the third play of the game. Next was a mishandled snap on a punt that gave Delhi Charter the ball on the Tigers 5 5-yard line. Then, after a three-and-out possession, another punt was partially blocked, leading to a second straight Gator touchdown that left JHHS trailing 13-0 with 4:20 remaining in the first quarter. 

The comedy of errors then took a dramatic turn that breathed a little confidence into the Tigers when Delhi Charter attempted a punt from their own 11-yard line that, by the time the ball came down ended up going for minus 10 yards. 

That is correct. Minus Ten!

Dakota Knox immediately got the Tigers on the board when he bulldozed his way for a score from the 1-yard line that narrowed the deficit to 13-6. It looked like JHHS was primed to tie the score or take the lead when on the next possession, the Tigers moved the ball inside the Gator red zone only to be turned away on downs. Delhi Charter then hit JHHS with what looked like a killing dagger shot by marching 82 yards for a score to up the lead to 19-6. 

The frustration mounted even further when Knox broke free for a 47-yard scamper that looked to be a touchdown run, only to have it called back by a penalty. To the Tigers’ credit, the resiliant squad regrouped and, despite being pushed back by penalty twice from the one-yard line, Knox found Malik Nichols on a five yard pass on fourth down to bring the Tigers to within 21-12 with 6:37 remaining in the half. Delhi Charter came right back though to score just before the half on a 68 yards pass to go into the locker room with what seemed to be a commanding 27-12 lead.

Complete Domination! From the moment the second half began it was obvious that the Tiger team that took the field for the final 24 minutes was different from the one that trudged wearily to the locker room at the half. 

JHHS quickly forced Delhi Charter to punt from their own 25-yard line, which Kyron Atkins blocked, giving the Tigers possession on the Gator 20 yard line. Three straight runs by Knox, who was now all alone in the backfield at quarterback per the strategy employed by JHHS head coach Terrrance Blankenship, led to a quick score that closed the gap to 27-20. Once again the Tiger defense stepped up as Dylan Hayes intercepted a fourth down pass but then got stripped giving Delhi Charter new life at their own 18 yard line. Undaunted, the rejuvenated Tiger defense forced another “three and out” with this time when Delhi Charter attempted to punt the ball was swept away leading to another Tiger score that gave JHHS their first lead at 28-27. 

What did Blankenship tell his players at the half to cause such a turnaround?

“Same thing I told them at the half of the first two games after we fell behind by a couple of scores early,” laughed Blankenship after the game. “I told them that if we would quit beating ourselves, they knew we could come back as we had spotted that team a big first-half lead in the Bayou Jamb and came back to win.”

The Tigers didn’t stop there. Braylen Jones intercepted a pass to give JHHS the ball at the Delhi Charter 18, leading to Knox finding Trey Burns for a score, and after Knox ran in the two-point conversion, the lead jumped to 36-27. A Kyron Atkins touchdown plunge with 9:02 remaining in the game provided the final score and put the finishing touches on what was a 30-0 whitewashing in the second half. 

Providing what was a herculean effort, Knox finished the game with 123 yards on 23 carries, many coming after contact with the 175 pounder refusing to go down sometimes dragging up to four or five players downfield. 

“I can’t say enough about the effort that Dakota gave tonight,” said Blankenship. “He put the team on his shoulders and led us to victory.”

Seeing that Delhi Charter had no answer for the effort being supplied by the gutsy senior, Blankenship kept calling Knox’s number over and over. 

“There is no question that he is one of those special players who can lead you to victory,” said Blankenship. “A couple of times I asked him if he wanted me to call a pass and give him a rest, but every time he said he wanted the ball. He is definitely a great leader,” said  Blankenship

When Knox did throw the ball, he completed 4 of 5 passes for an additional 63 yards and a touchdown. 

“If he were 6’2″ and 230 pounds, every college in the country would be calling on him,” reflected Blankenship. “I hope he gets a chance to play somewhere after he graduates, as there is no question that he is one of those special players who can make a difference for someone.”