Jena Giants

By Lee Brecheen

Head Coach: Jay Roark (12th year)

2022 Record: 7-5

Class & District: Class 3A (District 2)

2022 Playoffs: 2nd Round lost to Amite High School

Jena QB Zach Barker (Photo taken by Trace Franklin)

Head coach Jay Roark does a great job with the Jena High School football program with 2023 being his 12th year truly amazing.

The Giants are one of the stronger teams in 3A once again as they are 4-0 and had two very impressive wins over Mangham and Leesville.

The offense will have QB Zach Barker back for his 2nd year as the starting field general. Barker is a former tight end who has moved to QB and did quite well in 2022. The run game has one of the best in the district in offensive MVP of the team RB/CB Zerrick Jones (5-8, 167, Sr.) who has 4.59 speed. Jones ran for over 800 yards in 2021 and over 1,650 yards with 19 touchdowns in 2022. The program also has RB Cameron Koch, RB Cedrick Wilson and RB Daniel Hatcher. The WR position has Braden Oaks (5-9, 165), and Zykerrick Hunter (6-0, 180, Sr.) with 4.6 speed. The offensive line returns OT Hunter Jackson (6-1, 320, Sr.), and OT Aiden Palmer (6-1, 315).

Jena RB/CB Zerrick Jones (Photo taken by Craig Franklin)

The defense will be led by there front with guys like DT/NG JaQuarius Green (6-0, 340, Sr.) who is a three-year starter who lost weight for his senior year and looks good, DE Colton Sharp (5-11, 230), LB/QB Jacob Belcher (6-1, 200) a second-year starter with 4.8 speed, LB Tristan McClendon (5-10, 190) a second-year starter with 4.7 speed, LB Dylan Davis (5-9, 198 Sr.), Also back in in the secondary is four-year starter leader Demariyon Hammock (5-10, 150 Sr.) who played wide receiver in 2022.

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