The 2023 Jena Giant football team continues to rack up awards with the latest coming from sports writers in central and north Louisiana.
The 2023 All-Cenla Football Team was recently released with ten Giants making the squad, including Jena Head Coach Jay Roark being named the Coach of the Year.
The All-Cenla team is voted on by Cenla Preps reporters LaMar Gafford and Alex Newell, One T Photography owner and Rapide Parish Journal reporter Bret McCormick and radio personalities Lolly Griffin and Brad Foster.
In the official press release concerning the All-Cenla Team the sports writers noted the choice for Coach of the Year was an easy one.
“Since their showing against Ouachita Christian in the Bayou Jamb, the Giants were deemed for greatness this season. Roark not only guided the Giants to becoming Central Louisiana’s only undefeated team during the regular season, but they were the team that went the furthest with a trip to the semifinals and a 12-win season for the first time in school history,” the release stated.
Jena’s senior running back Zerrick Jones also took top honors on the All-Cenla Team, winning the coveted Offensive Most Valuable Player title.
“There was no player in this area that meant more to his team than Jones. After years of sharing the backfield with other players and also being an all-district MVP on defense, Jones had a breakout season where he rushed for 2,248 yards and 36 touchdowns on 273 carries. All of this culminated with the best season in Jena history with its first semifinal run,” the writers reported.
Other Giants making the All-Cenla First Team were:
Aiden Palmer-Offensive Lineman: “Serving as the best offensive lineman for the Giants, Palmer bulldozed his way for an offense that rushed for 3,556 rushing yards and scored 40.2 points per game.”
Jacob Belcher-Linebacker: “While Jena had a lot of standout seniors, Belcher showed that the program will continue to be strong in the future. He was one of the underclassmen to have a big season by tying for the team lead with 92 tackles and leading it with 41 solos.”
Demariyon “De” Hammock-Defensive Back: “Once Hammock got healthy, the Giant defense became complete at all three levels. A four-year major contributor like Zerrick Jones, Hammock clogged up the opposing airways with 39 tackles, seven interceptions, 13 pass breakups and two touchdowns. He was also a nifty return man with 13 kick returns for 255 yards and 13 punt returns for 239 yards and a touchdown.”
All-Cenla Second Team honors went to Wide Receiver Zy Hunter, Offensive Lineman Hunter Jackson and Defensive Lineman Boots Green.
Making the Honorable Mention list on the All-Cenla Team were Defensive Lineman Colton Sharp, Linebacker Triston Mc-Lendon and Linebacker Dylon Davis.
In north Louisiana, The News-Stars (Monroe’s daily newspaper) recently released their All-Area Team with three Jena players making that squad.
Zerrick Jones once again was named to the north Louisiana first team as running back, while defensive back De Hammock made the second team defense list and offensive lineman Aiden Palmer made the second team offense list.
To see the complete lists, visit www.cenlapreps. com and www.
thenewsstar.com.
