It will be a “Tale of Two Tigers” for the fourth time this season when Jonesboro-Hodge hosts Montgomery at 7:00 pm on Thursday, October 22nd, for a District 3-1A battle, the third Thursday night contest of the year and the third straight time that JHHS will play a team with a winning record. The Tigers enter with a 5-2 overall mark and a #9 ranking in the latest Division IV “non-select” power poll according to GeauxPreps.com, while Montgomery is 4-3 on the season and holds a #17 ranking.
For J-H, a victory is crucial to remain in contention for the district title as the Tigers stand 1-1 in 3-1A play after beating Ringgold 50-0 and losing to St. Mary’s 55-20 last Friday. Montgomery is currently tied for first place in district play with a 2-0 record after a 44-12 win over Ringgold and a 64-30 win over Lakeview last week.
Season to date! The Tigers own victories over Lakeside(14-8), Delhi Charter (50-6), Lincoln Prep (42-20), Arcadia(38-18), and Ringgold (50-0), with losses against Winnfield (28-48) and St. Mary’s (20-55). Montgomery has wins against Pickering (42-13), Buckeye (26-21), Lakeview (44-12), and Ringgold (64-30) and losses to Rosepine (20-48), Elton (40-44), and LaSalle (36-38).
Good news! JHHS head coach Terrance Blankenship, who will move into a tie for all-time wins at JHHS with a victory, was upbeat Monday after learning that starting quarterback King Campbell had been cleared to play after missing the St. Mary’s contest due to illness.
“We were glad to receive the news that King would be available this week,” said Blankenship. “His presence on the field will certainly help us.”
Bad news! While the news that Campbell is expected to play is good, up-and-coming freshman Jason McNeil appears to be out for the rest of the year after an injury last Friday evening that was diagnosed as a broken ankle.
“I hate that Jason got hurt. He has really worked hard and was starting to make an impact for us on defense,” lamented Blankenship. “While it looks like he will be lost to us for the remainder of the season, we pray that he will make a full recovery, as he has great potential to be a really good player for us.”
Series recap! The contest will be the first time the two teams will have played since 2010 and will be the fifth overall in the series. It will also be the third week in a row that the Tigers will play a team they have never lost to before. JHHS owns a 4-0 mark against Montgomery. The series began in 2003 with a 36-20 victory, followed by a 56-20 win a year later. The pair didn’t play again until 2009, when JHHS won 40-0, followed up by a 17-0 J-H victory in 2010.
Statistical smorgasbord! The contest has the makings of a virtual track meet, as both teams enter with high scoring averages. Montgomery has scored 272 points in its seven games for a 38.86 points-per-game (PPG) average, including last week’s 64-point outburst and four games with 40 or more points. JHHS counters with 242 points for a 34.57 PPG average, including two 50-point games and four games over 40 points.
Montgomery comes in having scored 22 touchdowns as a team (9 passing, 13 rushing), and is averaging 157 yards per game through the air and 217.6 yards on the ground for 374.6 yards per game in total offense. Add 265 yards in kickoff returns, 109 yards in punt returns, and 144 yards in interception returns, and Montgomery is averaging a whopping 447.3 yards per game in all-purpose yards.
“They are a well-coached team with several talented players,” said Blankenship. “They have proven they can move the ball both on the ground and through the air and have scored a lot of points this year. For us to be successful, our defense will have to play one of its better games.”
Montgomery Individual Statistical Leaders:
Quarterback: T.J. Small (46/95-879, 13 TD’s, 2 Int’s); Malachi Butler (22/34-220, 2 TD’s, 2 Int’s)
Rushing: Jeremiah Christian (99/711,9 TD’s); Malachi Butler (77/435,3 TD’s); T.J. Small (37/252,9 TD’s)
Receiving: Eli Bullock (31/678, 10 TD’s), Kenny Reeves (14/126), Kairyn Bonier (8/156, 1 TD)
Defense: Jaron Alredge (31 tackles, 2 Int’s, 2 Fumble Recoveries), Logan Roberts (23 tackles, 6 tfl)
JHHS Individual Statistical Leaders:
Quarterback: King Campbell (36/57-665, 9 TD’s, 2 Int’s), JaQuan Qualls (9/17 – 158, 3 TDs)
Rushing: Tre Burns (69/624, 10 TD’s), JaQuan Qualls (21/209, 4 TD’s), King Campbell (37/112, 4 TD’s)
Receiving: Ja’Marlon Johnson (12/236, 4 TD’s), JaQuan Qualls (8/159, 1 TD), Channing Gray Jr (8/114, 4 TD’s), Tyson Burks (7/129, 1 TD), Tre Burns (6/151, 1 TD), Kodan Atkins (4/28, 1 TD)
Defense: Tre Burns (46 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 1 forced fumble), Reginald Hemphill (34 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery), Kodan Atkins (28 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery), Dylan Hayes (27 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 defensive touchdown), Cameron Jackson (19 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery, 1 defensive touchdown), Jamarlon Johnson (18 tackles, 2 tackles for loss), Tyson Burks (13 tackles, 4 interceptions), Michael Malone (11 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 defensive touchdown)
Game to be Broadcast on 102.3 FM
If you can’t make the game, be sure to tune in to Roux102, found at 102.3 FM on your radio dial. You can also livestream the contest by downloading the Roux102 App or HudlFan App. Pre-game show presented by Ben Ledbetter and Clay Williams that includes the Coaches Show, where JHHS head coach Terrance Blankenship talks about the contest and the Tigers’ fortunes this season with Ric Godley of Roux102; starts at 6:30 pm, with game action beginning at 7:00 pm.