Jonesboro-Hodge will host Ferriday at Caldwell-Peacock Stadium on the JHHS campus on Friday, November 13th in the first round of the LHSAA Division IV “non-select” school football playoffs. The Tigers, making their 53rd playoff appearance, which is tied for the 10th most in LHSAA history, finished the regular season with a 7-3 record and earned the right to host the contest by virtue of their #13 ranking in the final regular-season LHSAA power poll. Ferriday, out of District 2-2A, enters the game with a 3-7 record and a #20 ranking.
The “second season” contest will be the third time the two schools will have met in the LHSAA postseason play, with Ferriday winning both prior postseason games, a 42-11 victory in 1981 and a 34-6 win in 2023, both first-round playoff games. It also marks the 18th time the two have squared off overall in the series that dates back to 1970, with Ferriday holding a 10-7 all-time advantage. The winner will travel to #4 Mangham for a second round contest.
“We are eager to get postseason play started,” said JHHS head coach Terrance Blankenship, who will be leading JHHS into the playoffs for a school record 14th straight time. “Everyone is back to square one now, and we are excited about our chances.”
JHHS, which finished in third place in District 3-1A, enters the contest averaging 34.4 points per game, which currently ranks 4th all time in school history, while giving up an average of 21 points per contest. Ferriday, the 5th-place finisher in District 2-2A, counters by scoring 23 points per game and giving up 31.3 points per game.
Offensively, the Tigers will be led by quarterback King Campbell and running back Lontrevious “Tre” Burns, both on the verge of eclipsing the 1000 yard mark for the season in passing and rushing, respectively. Campbell finished the regular season with 954 yards through the air by completing 53 of 90 passes, which included 14 touchdowns. Burn has 881 yards on the ground in 104 carries and has scored 19 touchdowns, with 17 rushing touchdowns and two TD pass receptions.
JaQuan Qualls leads a bevy of Tiger receivers who have caught at least 10 passes this season in yards gained, with 13 catches for 315 yards and 3 TDs, while Jamarlon Johnson has the most receptions with 16, which has accounted for 254 yards and a team-leading 5 scores. Burns is only one yard behind at 253 yards on 10 catches, while Tyson Burks and Channing Gray Jr. both have 10 receptions for 146 yards and 2 TD’s and 137 yards and 4 scores, respectively.
On defense, Burns is the leading tackler with 52 stops, including 8 tackles for a loss, 5 sacks, one safety to his credit, one interception, and one forced fumble. Reginald Hemphill is close behind with 46 stops, 2 sacks, and a team-leading 11 tackles for a loss and 3 fumble recoveries. Tyson Burks leads the team with 5 interceptions. Kodan Atkins has 35 tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, and a fumble recovery; Dylan Hayes has 32 tackles, 2 sacks, 7 tackles for a loss, 2 fumble recoveries, and a team-leading 2 defensive touchdowns, while Cameron Jackson has 29 stops, 10 tackles for a loss, one fumble recovery, and one defensive touchdown.
Playoff game to be broadcast on 102.3 FM radio
While the hopes are that Tiger Nation will turn out in the largest numbers of the year to show support, if you can’t attend the game, you can listen to the contest by tuning in to Roux102 at 102.3 FM or livestream the contest by downloading the Roux102 App or HudlFan App. The pre-game show, presented by Ben Ledbetter and Clay Williams, begins at 6:30 pm. As an added feature, the weekly Coaches Show will air, where JHHS head coach Terrance Blankenship will talk about the first-round matchup and the Tigers’ fortunes this season with Ric Godley of Roux102.
