About The Jenkins County times. (Millen, Ga.) 2023-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 11, 2023)
jenkinscountytimes.com The Jenkins County Times Wednesday, October 11, 2023 - Page 9 <d <d £ 'o o g -O CQ l-s 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.
