Jena Takes A Giant Step Forward Making Quarterfinals In 2020
by Jace LeJeune
Jena High School senior OG Logan Brown (Photo provided by Logan Brown)
Jena High School senior running back Tajh Jones (Photo provided by Tajh Jones)
The Jena Giants have had a lot of success over the last decade under head coach Jay Roark, but like most other coaches, Roark and the rest of the Jena coaching prepared their team for an unusual season.
“It was obviously a very crazy and distracting season,” Coach Roark said. “You never knew week to week if something was going to happen and if we had to reschedule our opponents in order to be able to play. The kids went about it as business as usual, and it was more on the coaching staff to worry about those distractions.”
Despite the distractions, the team still had a great season and actually achieved some accomplishments that the program was aspiring for.
“We finally got over the hump and have been in the second round a few times, but could not get out of it,” Coach Roark said. “This year, we finally did and did well in the Quarterfinals. In fact, we had a chance to win in overtime, but it was a great year for us.”
Although there have been more talented teams in the past, Coach Roark believes that there was not a team that he enjoyed more than this year’s group.
“I was very proud of them,” Coach Roark said. “It was one of those deals in which we had more talented teams, but this was an united team. We had great leadership, and it was very exciting to see those guys overachieve by my standards. It was a trying year and a crazy year, but at the same time, a fun year to see them do as well as they did.”
Jena High School senior ATH Jaidikus Johnson (Photo provided by Jaidikus Johnson)
A big part of the Giants’ breakthrough season was the senior class that led the way.
“We had some really good football players,” Coach Roark said. “Jordan Jackson was a great leader for us. He was our quarterback and was really a warrior. He threw the ball really well and ran the ball really well. He started three and a half years, but this season, he took advantage of his strengths and ran like a fullback while making some big plays in the passing game. Then, Logan Brown, Tank Todd, and Dylan Fowler were all seniors that did really well for us. They controlled the line of scrimmage, which is what we are all about. On the defensive side of the football, we also had some really good defensive linemen like Cade Koch and Thomenthian Williams as well as good guys in the secondary like Jaidikus Johnson and Tajh Jones were outstanding for us. The senior class really led the way for us.”
Coach Roark not only got to see his team make the next step, but he also got to see one of his former players Jaray Jenkins make the next step by becoming one of the leading receivers for the LSU Tigers this past season.
Jaray Jenkins has . (Property of LAFM)
“It was really a proud moment honestly,” Coach Roark said. “The biggest thing that I am proud of is that it was his work ethic that helped make it happen. I am also proud of the offseason things happening including him making the SEC Honor Roll and is also on the leadership council for the football team. The character that he has really makes you proud. Obviously, seeing him get on the field this year is a nice surprise, and I cannot be more proud of him.”
These proud moments for Coach Roark makes him even more excited for what the program’s future holds.
“We lost a lot,” Coach Roark said. “We only have three returners on defense and only five on offense. We have some really good young talent. The guys that are returning are going to be really good for us. We have some linemen coming back and have some good running backs coming back offensively. We also have a good linebacker coming back and a good free safety coming back. We do have some guys that saw a lot of playing time defensively. They were not starters, but they were rotating guys that we expect a lot of this year.”
After Jena took a big leap in 2020, it is safe to say that the program’s future is giant.
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Jace is from Addis, LA but resides in Port Allen, LA. Jace has graduated recently from Southeastern Louisiana University with a major in Communications. Jace has also broadcasted games as a play by play announcer for Southeastern’s basketball games on ESPN Plus. Also, Jace has anchored and reported on Southeastern’s award winning show “The Big Game.” This is Jace’s fifth year as Associate Editor at Louisiana Football Magazine. He is also a graduate from Catholic High School in Baton Rouge where he was the editor of the school newspaper the “Bearly Published.” While at CHS, Jace also announced their football, basketball, and baseball games for the Bruin Broadcast Network which is the Catholic High’s streaming website for their events. On weekends, Jace is the PA announcer for his middle school football games. At home, Jace enjoys time with his family and friends. Besides being a huge football fan, Jace is also an avid NHRA drag racing fan.
