Jonesboro-Hodge travels to Minden this Thursday evening for a district 1-1A battle against Glenbrook. The Tigers boast a 5-3 overall record and a 3-1 mark in 1-1A play. Glenbrook is at 3-4 overall and 2-3 in district play. Game time is set for 7:00 pm.
Anyone who follows Jonesboro-Hodge football can’t help but remember the stunning come-from-behind, last-second victory the Tigers took over Glenbrook almost exactly one year ago. You can bet that the coaching staff and players from the Minden-based school do too.
For a little background on what ranks as one of the most thrilling rallies by a Jonesboro-Hodge team at Caldwell-Peacock Stadium, the Tigers came into the contest with a 2-6 record, one of the victories being a forfeit win received the week before when Plain Dealing refused to play. Glenbrook, on the other hand, was boasting a 5-1 mark and tied with Haynesville atop the District 1-1A standings with a 4-0 mark. To say that JHHS was a HUGE underdog would be an understatement.
Buoyed by the game being “Senior Night,” the Tigers played their most inspired game of the season and took a 22-14 lead into the locker room at halftime. Then, as had happened to the undermanned Tiger team that only had 28 players who dressed out, many times during the season, the deeper Glenbrook team came storming back to take a 29-22 lead.
With 3:16 left in the contest, JHHS took possession at their own 46-yard line and, by converting three critical third-down situations, scored with 34 seconds remaining to bring the score to 29-28. From there, JHHS Quarterback Dakota Knox plunged in from three yards out for the two-point conversion that gave the Tigers the 30-29 victory. Glenbrook would not win another game the rest of the season.
This year, the tables have turned as it is JHHS with a winning record and Glenbrook suffering through a losing season, and Tiger head coach Terrance Blankenship is fully aware that Glenbrook is looking to be the one to pull the upset this time around.
“We know that Glenbrook has been licking their chops to play this game,” said JHHS head coach Terrance Blankenship. “We messed up their season last year, and you can bet they are looking to do the same to us.”
The contest carries more serious implications for both teams, other than a revenge factor. Jonesboro-Hodge is currently sitting at #14 in the Division IV power rankings among “non-select” schools. A victory goes a long way to securing a home playoff game, providing a win in the season final, but a loss could force the Tigers to play on the road in the first round. For Glenbrook, the game is even more important as the Apaches are currently ranked #27 in Division IV among “select” schools, which only have a 24-team playoff bracket. With a final game scheduled against Haynesville, a victory against the Tigers is a must for any postseason hopes.
How to listen or watch the game!
For those not able to make the trip to Minden, you can still follow the Tigers by tuning to ROUX102, found at 102.3 FM on the radio dial, where Ben Ledbetter and Clay Williams will be bringing all the play-by-play, insights, and highlights.
The Tigers’ pre-game show will begin at 6:30 pm, which will include a segment of the JHHS coaches’ show where coach “Blank” will talk about the contest and season to date, followed by the kickoff slated for 7:00 pm.
For those who are outside the 102.3 listening area, you can also catch the contest by downloading the ROUX102 app or by going to the http://www.roux102.com website. As an added feature, you can also livestream the game by downloading the HudlFan App and following the prompts.
How to get there!
Unlike the last two weeks, when JHHS had two very long road trips, the journey to Glenbrook High School is a relatively short one, estimated to take roughly one hour. According to MapQuest, the best way to go is:
Take Hwy 147 North to Arcadia
Take 1-20 West to Minden
Take exit 47 on I-20 and go north on LA 7
Go north on LA 159
Turn left on Country Club Circle
Address: Glenbrook School of Minden, 1674 Country Circle, Minden, LA 71055