Jonesboro-Hodge High School will make its second road trip in as many weeks this Friday, September 18th, traveling to Dokes Walker Stadium in Winnfield, LA, for the 100th football contest between the two schools, separated by just 24 miles along Hwy 167. Game time is set for 7:00 pm.
Tale of Two Tigers! The 2026 “centennial contest” continues one of the longest rivalries in Louisiana High School Athletic Association competition, dating back to before the LHSAA was founded in 1929, with the first recorded contest in 1917. Winnfield owns a 54-43-2 all-time series advantage and is 30-17-1 in games played in Winnfield.
As an example of just how strong these two “small school” programs have been over the years, the pair has combined for an incredible 1161 victories, including 7 state championships: JHHS won five (1930, 1945, 1987, 1988, 1989) and Winnfield won two (1919, 1982). Seven more times, the two teams have finished as state runner-up: Winnfield (1917, 1971, 1976, 2011) and JHHS (1964, 1977, 1990). Additionally, the two have combined for 100 playoff appearances, with JHHS reaching the postseason 52 times, tied for 10th most all-time in LHSAA history, and Winnfield making the playoffs 48 times.
Jonesboro-Hodge will be led by Terrance Blankenship, now in his school-record 14th season, with a 69-77 career record that includes wins in 7 of the last 8 games played; the only loss came in the 2025 Class A quarterfinals against eventual state champion Haynesville. Against Winnfield, Blankenship has a 3-9 record that includes the 57-32 JHHS victory in 2018, which ties for the most points JHHS has scored in the series (1937) and represents the most combined points by the two teams.
The Tigers, who are in District 3-1A, enter the contest with a 2-0 record after beating Lakeside 14-8 and Delhi Charter 50-6. Winnfield, competing in District 4-2A, is also 2-0 on the year under second-year coach Byron Keller, having beaten Glenbrook 20-6 and Arcadia 40-0. Game time is set for 7:00 pm.
“Naturally, we are looking forward to the game, since it is against our oldest rival,” said JHHS coach Terrance Blankenship. “This game really means a lot, not just because we both have gotten off to a good start but because the contest pits family against family and friends against friends.”
Game to be broadcast on 102.3 FM
If you can’t make the trip, you can catch the contest on Roux102 at 102.3 FM. The broadcast will begin at 6:30 pm with the Tigers pregame show, featuring the “Coaches Show,” where JHHS head coach Terrance Blankenship will sit down with Ric Godley of Roux102 to talk about the Tigers’ fortunes so far this season and the series between Winnfield and JHHS.
