The Jena High School football team is preparing for its first ever state championship game appearance. After losing in the semifinals the last two seasons, head coach Jay Roark says it’s nice to get over the hump.
“It’s a beautiful moment when you’ve been working so long, so hard to get to this point. To finally get over that hump is unreal. I’m just so proud of these kids, because they believed all year. They’ve worked their tails off and have come truly great teammates. And I think that’s the difference in this year’s team and previous years,” Roark said.
Jena is 13-0 and the top seed in Division II non-select. Roark says he’s proud of how the defense improved throughout the season.
“They’ve just gotten better and better every week. And the beautiful thing about it is we hit some struggles, gave up some points. We’re not used to giving up two in a couple of games, and our kids never wavered, never started pointing fingers, getting upset. They just kept fighting and getting better,” Roark said.
The Giants will face defending champion Sterlington Friday afternoon at 3:30. The Panthers average 46 points a game and beat Jena in the semifinals last year. Roark expects a big crowd from LaSalle Parish to cheer on the Giants.
“I expect to see as many fans as you’ll ever see for a 3A school down in New Orleans this weekend,” Roark said.
