Last year, Arcadia came to Jonesboro-Hodge and almost spoiled the Tigers’ homecoming before J-H pulled out a thrilling 49-44 victory. On Friday, JHHS will face the Hornets in their homecoming game, with the Tigers looking to complete the mission of spoiling things for the home fans.
J-H enters the contest as a prohibitive favorite, as the Tigers have won three of four games played, including a sound 42-20 thumping of Lincoln Prep last Thursday. In Coach Aaron McDaniel’s first year at the helm, Arcadia is still looking for its first win of the year after four contests. Last week, the Hornets got run over by Ringgold 48-0.
On paper, the contest looks like a total mismatch. The series that began way back in 1923 finds JHHS with a 22-3 advantage, with the Tigers winning the last 16 times the two have met. Arcadia’s last win came way back 80 years ago in 1946. JHHS comes in having scored 156 points for a 39-point-per-game (ppg) average while giving up 82, with 48 of those coming in the Winnfield loss. Meanwhile, Arcadia, which has only 26 players on the roster, has scored only 6 points all year and given up a whopping 184, an average of 46 points per game.
“We are looking forward to spoiling their homecoming like they almost did ours last year,” said JHHS head coach Terrance Blankenship. “Hopefully our guys will stay focused and get things done.”
A victory will improve the Tigers’ record to 4-1 for the first time since 2009 and for the first time in Blankenship’s tenure as head coach, now in his 14th season, where he has compiled a 70-74 record, becoming last week, only the second coach in JHHS history to have won 70 games.
JHHS has been impressive on offense, averaging 288.75 yards per game. Quarterback King Campbell has been very effective as a passer, having completed 32 passes in 51 attempts for 617 yards and 8 touchdowns, while Lon’Trevious “Tre” Burns has powered the ground game with 421 yards on 53 carries and 6 touchdowns. The Tigers’ deep receiving corps is led by JuQuan Qualls with 8 catches for 159 yards and a score. Tysen Burks has 6 receptions for 124 yards, while Channing Gray has also caught 6 passes for 98 yards and a team-leading 3 touchdowns. Just one catch behind are Tre Burns and Jamarlon Johnson, who both have 5 catches, with Burns accounting for 146 yards and a score and Johnson rambling for 77 yards and a touchdown. Kodan Atkins also has 2 catches for 13 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Tre Burns has gathered a team-leading 39 tackles, including 5 sacks, 7 tackles for a loss, and a forced fumble, while Reginald Hemphill has 22 stops, a sack, 2 tackles for a loss, and a fumble recovery. Dylan Hayes is close behind with 18 tackles, 2 sacks, three tackles for a loss, and a defensive touchdown on a fumble recovery, and Kodan Atlkins has 16 tackles, one tackle for a loss, and a fumble recovery. Jamarcus Dozier checks in with 10 tackles, a forced fumble, and a safety, while Tyson Burks has an interception and Michael Malone has 2 fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
In special teams play, JuQuan Qaulls has returned a punt for a score , while King Campbell has been handling kickoff and extra point duties where he is 2/3 on the year. Jamarlon Johnson is the Tigers’ punter, averaging about 34 yards a boot.
Game to be broadcast on 102.3 FM
If you can’t make the short trip up Highway 147, 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 game between Arcadia and JHHS.