08/26/2026
Friday Nights Under the Lights
By [email protected]
on August 25, 2026
After a first week loss, the War Eagles will now travel to Screven County for a rivalry game on Friday night at 7:30 PM. Photo by Danielle M. Davis.
After a first week loss, the War Eagles will now travel to Screven County for a rivalry game on Friday night at 7:30 PM. Photo by Danielle M. Davis.
The High School football season has begun, and the War Eagles were on the road this week to get it all kicked off. And the game featured everything from offensive, defensive, and special teams highlights to get the season underway. The War Eagles showed a lot of firepower in the first half on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
In this opening game, it was a tale of two halves for both teams. The War Eagles scored on their first drive of the game. From two yards out, Jaquavious Reed scored the first points of the season. However, on the next drive, Warren County would add seven points of their own. This pattern would continue as the War Eagles went into the locker room with a one-touchdown lead, 21-14. The War Eagles finished with nearly 250 yards in the first half.
In the second half, the script flipped. Warren County locked down on defense and found some seams on the outside, eventually taking a 28-21 lead. However, on the next drive in the fourth quarter, Sophomore Davion Wadley found an opening on the kickoff and took the ball in for an 82-yard touchdown return.
Aiden Lovett, a senior War Eagle was ready for the play to begin as new quarterback Leroy Mozee ( #5) calls out the play. The War Eagles will be back in action Friday night at 7:30 at Screven County. Photo by Danielle M. Davis.
Aiden Lovett, a senior War Eagle, was ready for the play to begin as new quarterback Leroy Mozee ( #5) calls out the play. The War Eagles will be back in action Friday night at 7:30 at Screven County. Photo by Danielle M. Davis.
With the clock at less than three minutes, Coach Waters determined to go for a two-point conversion after the touchdown return. The team would fall just short of the goal line, missing it by a yard. The night was hot, and cramps were setting in; no doubt, going for two was a great option, especially with the firepower they had displayed all game long on offense. Warren County built enough of a wall to hold the lead.
The game would end after another Warren County touchdown, and the War Eagles were able to march the length of the field.
There was much to be proud of in this first season’s loss. The teams were evenly matched, and rather than the first game of the season, it felt more like a playoff game. Yet, the inexperience and inability to practice as much due to the weather for the War Eagles showed itself, especially towards the end of the game. No doubt Coach Waters and his staff have a lot to be proud of and a lot to work towards for the weeks ahead.
Statistics
Rushing for the War Eagles:
Jaquavious Reed: 12 Rushes for 128 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Leroy Mozee: 10 Rushes for 46 years
Rodriquez Burke: 5 rushes for 48 yards
Jayden White: 2 rushes for 17 yards
Pierre Williams 1 rushes for 3 yards
Passing for the War Eagles:
Leroy Mozee: 3 for 6 for 11 total yards.
Defensive Highlight: In the second quarter, Pierre Williams picked off a pass from Warren County Quarterback.
Special Teams Highlight: Sophomore Davion Wadley had three kickoff returns, one for 22 yards, one for 6 yards, and none bigger than the 83-yard touchdown run. Also, Alex Morales was a perfect 3 for 3 on extra points.
Total Offense:
War Eagles: 259 Offensive Yards
Warren County: 368 Offensive Yards
The Week Ahead
Friday night marks a “border rivalry” as the Jenkins County War Eagles travel to Screven County for a showdown with the Gamecocks. This will be the 66 meeting between these two teams, with Screven County holding a 39-25 record against Jenkins County. For the last two seasons, these two teams have been region rivalries in Class A Division 2; this year, Screven County has moved to Class 2A.
Last year, the Gamecocks won by a big margin, 35-14, but for two seasons straight, Jenkins County won 39-0 (2023) and 34-7 (2024). Screven County won two in 2021 and 2022, with Jenkins County winning 24-0 in 2020.
This will be one of the best Screven County teams the War Eagles have faced in recent years. They will return 2025 Region Player of the Year AB Hilton and Offensive Player of the Year Demark Ward. On the defensive side, 1st team all-region selection Legend Courtney is back; also, first team all-region defensive back Drayden Roberts will be lining up against the War Eagles.
The War Eagles will bring a power-packed running attack again this year, working off a powerful first half against Warren County. The offense and defense gave fans a preview of what they are capable of in the first half on Friday night when they had over 200 yards of offense and played some lock-down defense on several drives.
The game will be played for the second year in a row at Screven County, and the game will begin at 7:30 PM. We had technical difficulties last week at Warren County, so the game was not broadcast on Facebook Live. However, we intend to broadcast the game live on the JCT page, as we have in years past.
The game will be on 94.9 The Eagle with pregame coverage beginning at 7:00 PM and the game starting at 7:30 PM. You can tune in at 7:00 to hear interviews with coaches from both teams and pregame thoughts from Brad Asbury and Jonathan Powell.
Around the Area
With football underway and regional play still a few weeks away, the Jenkins County Times will highlight other games from the previous week around the region.
Screven County started its season off at South Effingham; the Gamecocks fell 17-14. ECI hosted Metter and defeated the Tigers 26-7. Swainsboro fell in overtime to Cook County by a final score of 36-35. Portal started their season with a 40-7 loss to Wheeler County. Johnson County, a new regional rival of the War Eagles, started their season with a win, 32-15 over East Laurens. In other Region 5 news: Glascock County lost to Aquinas 37-12, Wilkinson County lost to the Academy for Classical Education 45-14, Twiggs County lost to Claxton 20-7, and Hancock Central won 20-18.
Games this Week Around the Area and Around the Region
Jenkins County @ Screven County, 7:30 PM
Swainsboro @ ECI, 7:30 PM
Bryan County @ Portal, 7:30 PM
Putnam @ Hancock Central, 7:30 PM
Twiggs County @ Central, 6:00 PM
Johnson County @ Greene County, 7:30 PM
Georgia Military @ Crawford County
Game of the Week: This week, the game of the week is Swainsboro at ECI. While Jenkins County and Screven County are a rivalry, there may not be one bigger than Swainsboro and ECI. Swainsboro has won the in-county rivalry four of the last five meetings, dating back to 2017. There was a lull in games between 2017 and 2022. Both teams are very good this year, with both being in the preseason top 5 in their respective classes (Swainsboro 2A and ECI 1A).
