Jena to Host Union Friday for a Trip to the Dome
For the third straight year the Jena Giants had the privilege of playing football the Friday after Thanksgiving. The #1 Jena Giants took on the #8 Mansfield Wolverines at Guy Campbell Memorial Stadium this past Friday night in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.
Jena played Mansfield in the scrimmage to start the season so both teams were very familiar with each other. Both teams made it through their season winning 10 games and winning their districts with undefeated district records. Both teams are very similar in that they are built on the run on offense. Mansfield uses their speed more where the Giants are built on their power run game. The captains for the Giants were seniors Luke Smith, Sedrick Wilson, Cale Parker, and Bubba Wilson. Jena would win the toss and elect to defer to the second half.
On Mansfield’s first play from scrimmage Jaydan Hamilton would go 65 yards to the Jena 10-yard line. Mansfield would then have two penalties back-to-back that would push the ball back to the Jena 25-yard line. The Jena defense would then force a turnover on downs to set the tone for one of their best defensive performances of the year.
The Giants offense would take over and six plays later Deuce McPherson would complete a pass to Zadrien Cooper on an out route. Cooper would then run around the Mansfield defender and race into the endzone for a 50-yard touchdown. Daniel Hatcher would run in the two-point conversion to give the Giants an 8-0 lead. Mansfield would not back down as they would then go on a 15 play, 76-yard scoring drive to tie the game at 8. The Giants would do what they have done all year which is score touchdowns. The Giants have scored touchdowns on almost every offensive drive this season. They would answer the Mansfield score with a Daniel Hatcher 33-yard touchdown run to give the Giants a 14-8 lead.
But once again Mansfield would answer with an impressive hook and lateral play as quarterback Jaterrious Howard would throw a pass to Jakorion Greer who then lateral the ball back to Jaydan Hamilton who would run 37 yards for the touchdown to tie the game at 14. The Giants would retake the lead on a 44-yard touchdown run by Hatcher that would give the Giants a 22-14 lead going into halftime.
Jena would get the ball to start the second half and would go on a 7 play, 54-yard scoring drive ending with a Deuce McPherson to Sedrick Wilson 29-yard touchdown pass to increase the Giants lead to 30-14.
Mansfield would answer with an impressive 17 play 65-yard scoring drive to make the score 30-20. Sedrick Wilson would add two more rushing touchdowns, and the Giants would go on to win 44-20.
With the win, the Giants move on to the semifinal round for the third straight season.
Daniel Hatcher would lead the Giants with 16 carries for 191 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. Sedrick Wilson finished with 95 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, 29 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown. Deuce McPherson finished 4-6 passing for 126 yards and 2 passing touchdowns.
Brian Evans would lead the Giants defense with 11 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and a sack. Carter Nichols would finish with 10 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery.
In the semifinal round this Friday, the #1 Giants will welcome in the #12 Union Parish Farmers. Jena has played Union Parish three times in the playoffs losing two times in the 2nd round and most recently in the semifinal round two years ago. Who could ever forget the night the Carrol band showed up in 2023 when Union Parish ended the Giants hopes of making it to the state championship?
This will be the third straight season that the four semifinal teams in Division III Non-Select are Jena, Union Parish, Sterlington and St. James. The only team out of those four teams to not make it to the Dome to play for a state championship is Jena.
Union Parish is the same as they have always been. Coach Spatafora has done a great job building this program and they are one of the strongest in the state as this is their 8th straight season in the semifinals. Union will look to rely on their defense and hope their run game does enough to get the win. It should be a fun one and will be the final game at Guy Campbell Memorial Stadium for this season.
So, there is no reason to not be at the game cheering on the Giants this Friday night at 7:00 p.m. The winner will play the winner of Sterlington and St. James in the Superdome a week from Friday at 3:30 for the State Championship.
If you can’t make it to the game, then you can hear all the action live on 102.7 KJNAFM starting at 6:00 p.m. with the Cajun Seafood and Specialty Meats Jena Giants pregame show.
If you are not in the listening area, then you can download the MIXLR app and search for KJNAFM or go online at www.mixlr.com/kjnafm.
