STERLINGTON, La. (KNOE) - Week 2’s Ken’s Kustom Body Shop Game of the Week was a rematch of last year’s Non-Select Division III championship game. Sterlington won the title over Jena 34-20.
The Panthers also clawed at the Giants during the 2024 semifinal game 48-14. Despite a growing rivalry between the two programs, this game was only the third time the Giants and Panthers have met.
Need to Know
With 45 seconds left in the game Daniel Hatcher scores for Jena, giving them a 34-28 lead.
The Giants’ outscored the Panthers 20-0 in the second half.
“I’m so proud of our kids because we could have gone out and played flat in the second half going down a couple scores with all the mistakes we made in first half. So proud of them, because this is going to be one of the best football teams we will see all year, and overcoming those mistakes and get the win is so big for us. So proud of our kids. They wanted it bad and they fought for it. We got to clean so stuff up, but I’m very proud of them and the confidence is going to be at an all-time high. We gotta pull them back down a notch when we go to work tomorrow morning,” Jena head football coach Jay Roark said.
Full game breakdown
On the first play of the game, Shermarion Dismuke scores a touchdown for Sterlington. Daniel Hatcher matched with a touchdown, and the two-point was good, giving Jena an 8-7 lead.
Sterlington was up 13-8 following a Graham Chandler touchdown to end the first quarter.
On the first play of the second quarter, Kaeden Kittlin went 96 yards and gave the Giants the lead.
The Panthers then followed up with two more touchdowns to lead 28-14 at the half.
The Giants scored on their first drive of the half and shut down the Sterlington offense in the third quarter.
The Giants scored again on their first drive of the fourth quarter but the two-point conversion was not good. 28-26 Sterlington.
With 45 seconds left in the game Daniel Hatcher scores for Jena, giving them a 34-28 lead.
The Giants’ outscored the Panthers 20-0 in the second half.
“I’m so proud of our kids because we could have gone out and played flat in the second half going down a couple scores with all the mistakes we made in first half. So proud of them, because this is going to be one of the best football teams we will see all year, and overcoming those mistakes and get the win is so big for us. So proud of our kids. They wanted it bad and they fought for it. We got to clean so stuff up, but I’m very proud of them and the confidence is going to be at an all-time high. We gotta pull them back down a notch when we go to work tomorrow morning,” Jena head football coach Jay Roark said.
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Up next, Jena (2-0) will travel to Westgate (2-0), while Sterlington (1-1) will remain at home and host Natchitoches Central (0-2).