The Jena Giants went toe-to-toe with the top-ranked team in Class 4A last Friday night, and while they came up short in the end, they left no doubt they belong in the conversation with anybody in the state.
The Giants suffered their first loss of the 2026 season, falling to the talented Westgate Tigers 28-12 in the first meeting between the two programs in school history.
The matchup featured two undefeated teams entering the night. According to the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, Westgate entered the game ranked No. 1 in Class 4A, while Jena was ranked No. 3 in Class 3A.
Both teams came into the contest with perfect 3-0 records, setting the stage for an early-season battle between two highly regarded programs.
The Giants were led onto the field by senior captains Cash Richerson, Carter Nichols, Daniel Hatcher and Cruz Humphries.
Westgate controlled the first half, taking a 14-0 lead into halftime.
Jena had an opportunity to get on the scoreboard in the second quarter after putting together an impressive 11-play, 68-yard drive. The Giants marched deep into Westgate territory, but the drive ended with Jena turning the ball over on downs on fourth-and-goal.
Despite the setback, Jena continued to battle throughout the second half.
Jena’s rushing attack once again provided much of the offense.
Junior running back Kaeden Kittlin carried the ball 16 times for 122 yards and a touchdown, while senior running back Daniel Hatcher finished with 21 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown.
The Giants continued to rely on their physical rushing attack against a Westgate defense that entered the game having yet to lose.
Defensively, junior linebacker Hayden Deville led Jena with nine tackles.
Junior linebacker Brian Evans also turned in a strong performance with seven tackles. Junior linebacker Kayson Dean also played well with five tackles and one tackle for loss.
Westgate ultimately pulled away to secure the 28-12 victory, handing Jena its first loss of the season.
The Giants now stand at 2-1 on the year. Coach Roark was proud of his team after the game for competing so well against a formidable opponent. He mentioned that the game showed them where they need to improve and it was a “good measuring stick” for the team.
After spending the past couple of weeks on the road, Jena will return home this week to take on the Winnfield Tigers.
Winnfield enters the matchup with a perfect 3-0 record, while Jena will look to bounce back from its first loss of the season.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. For fans unable to attend the game, the action will be available online at Jena Giant Network.
The Jena Giant Network pregame show will begin at 6:30 p.m.
After weeks of long road trips and a brutal early season schedule, the Giants will return home looking to regroup, respond and get back into the win column against an undefeated Winnfield team.
