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jenkinscountytimes.com
The Jenkins County Times
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 - Page 9
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BRAD ASBURY
WAR EAOJLE
By Brad Asbury, Sports Editor
for
’r111 : Times
pastorbradasbury@gmail.com
MEETTHEC0ACH
Hannah Johnson
CoreCivic
The Jenkins County War Eagles remain undefeated on the season after destroying the Buccaneers on Friday
night by a final score of 47-0. Photo by Danielle M. Davis
The Jenkins County Lady War Eagles are the 2023 Region 3 Runner-Up. The War Eagles lost only one game in regional play
this year! They will enter the “GHSA Class A Division 2” Super Regionals on Monday October 16 th in Wilcox County. The
photo of the Lady War Eagles took place during the Homecoming Pep Rally on Friday. Photo Submitted.
BSP®!
The sights and sounds
of Friday nights under the
lights are unmistakable.
Hard hits on the field, the
celebrations in the end
zone, and the cool fall
weather settling in. Many
would say that there is
nothing like Friday nights
and high school football,
they go together like peanut
butter and jelly. There is
also another sound that is
unmistakable and that is
the cheer team. Winning
or losing, they are cheering
for their team, thirty points
up or thirty points down,
they never stop
cheering on the “boys of
fall.”
The Jenkins County War
Eagle Cheer Squad is led by
Jenkins County graduate
Hannah Johnson. Johnson
took over the cheer squad
in the summer of 2020.
Long before Johnson was
on the sideline as a coach,
she cheered in both middle
and high school for the War
Eagles. Before the lights of
Friday night are turned on,
Johnson can be found in the
classroom. Presently, she is
a teacher at Jenkins County
High School. She teaches
Business Education, and
she is the Work Based
Learning Coordinator.
In the three years that
Johnson has been a cheer
coach, she has witnessed
some amazing moments.
She has seen the War
Eagles defeat ECI twice,
go to the state tournament
in both football and
basketball, and a host of
many other sporting events
that her cheer squad has
been part of. However, it
was not these things that
stood out to her when asked
about the most memorable
moments at Jenkins County
as a cheer coach. She stated,
“For me the highlight is
building relationships with
the girls I get to coach and
being able to witness their
growth through the years.
There is nothing more
memorable or meaningful
than watching the students
and athletes you care
for evolve, to become
incredible, creative,
hardworking human beings.
I hope when they look back
at our time together, they
remember the fun we had,
but more importantly I
hope they remember that
they were loved by their
coaches. Coaching is an
investment of time, love,
and resources and coaching
at Jenkins County High
School is a rewarding
investment. We
have the best students and
athletes at JCHS. The girls
always make me so proud;
it is exciting to see who
they become and where
they go from here.”
Coach Johnson has
another unique experience
every Friday as well.
Johnson is with the
cheerleaders, while her
husband, Hil Johnson is on
the sideline for the football
team. Hil is presently the
offensive coordinator for
the War Eagles. Hannah
states the following about
the experience of coaching
on the sidelines on Friday
night, “Most couples do
not get the privilege of
working and coaching
alongside each other, it is
a sweet privilege. Hil is an
awesome teacher
and coach. I'm
often envious of his work
because he is truly that
good at what he does. He
is the type of teacher/coach
many aspire to be and he is
an incredible role model. I
am so thankful to be on the
sidelines with him to cheer
him on and to support him.”
One thing is for certain
for Coach Johnson, she
is dedicated to have her
girls ready every Friday
night. She has them ready
to cheer on the War Eagles
in football and during
basketball season. They
are on the football sidelines
regardless of the weather,
ensuring that the boys are
cheered
for and the crowd is
responding to the game!
The defensive front line of the War Eagles looks to put a punishing hit on Friday night. The War Eagles allowed only
64 yards on Friday night and held the Buccaneers to 4 first downs. On the front line is from left to right: Tyler Williams,
Kenneth Thomas, Keishan Scott, Derrick Grier, and Jeremiah Gilmore. Photo by Danielle M. Davis.
TAKING
IT TO THE
HOUSE!
Marion Young, #9,
returns a punt for
another War Eagles
touchdown. Photo by
Danielle M. Davis.
For the first time in more than 20 years, the Jenkins County Lady War Eagles defeated the
ECI Bulldogs on Tuesday night in walk-off fashion by a final score of 6-5 in the 8 th inning.
In the picture, Katie Lynn Bell, Laura Gayle Dailey, and Shanya Lake score on abases
clearing double by Mya Abraham in the bottom of the 1 st. Photo Submitted.
LADY WAR EAGLES
Javarius Gilmore kicks the ball off on Friday night in the third quarter on Friday night. J.T.
Moye and Tumani Chandler prepare to stop the ball! Photo by Danielle M. Davis.
