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Trenton Rhodes scored four touchdowns three different ways – two on runs, one receiving and another returning a kickoff – in playoff-bound Jenkins’ 64-16 victory over Windsor Forest at Memorial Stadium to conclude the regular season on Friday night. 

Rhodes’ favorite TD, however, was the one he watched from the sideline when teammate Isaac Smith intercepted a screen pass at the line. The big defensive lineman emerged from potential tacklers in his proximity and was determined to reach the end zone 29 yards away for a Pick-6 in the second quarter.

“I’m proud of my boy,” Rhodes said after the game. “(An interception) doesn’t happen usually, but he read the offense right and it came right to him. That was a great touchdown.

“As soon as he caught that thing, he was gone. He was digging. He wanted that touchdown.”

Jenkins got what it wanted on Friday night in what has been a stellar season so far. The Warriors improved to 8-2 overall and 8-1 for second place in Region 3-3A. They knew that Calvary Day had clinched the region title last week, before the Cavaliers downed host Long County on Friday night to finish 9-0 in the region and 9-1 overall. 

The Warriors, who lost in overtime to Calvary 34-31 on Sept. 20, will find out Saturday whom they will host next Friday at Memorial Stadium in the first round of the GHSA Class 3A playoffs, coach Tony Welch said.

“We don’t know because it’s power rankings this year,” Welch said, which brings up whether there are style points for the way Jenkins handled Windsor Forest (3-7 overall, 2-7 region).

“We’re thinking when they’re looking at it, that it sent a message,” Welch said. “It’s not running up (the score); we’re just trying to play tough. We gave away one with Calvary in overtime. We should have had it, but it made us a better team.”

The Warriors started fast, really fast, on Friday night, and they were determined, like big man Isaac Smith, to reach their goal. They earned first downs on their first three plays from scrimmage.

On the fourth play, quarterback Demetrius Holloway found Rhodes open in the flat and he sped 9 yards to the end zone with 11 minutes left in the opening quarter. The only thing that didn’t go right was the failed two-point conversion run.

Jenkins drove 75 yards for a score on its next possession, culminating in Rhodes going around left end, zipping past a Knights defender and covering 19 yards to the end zone. Holloway ran for the conversion and a 14-0 advantage with 5:08 left in the first quarter.

In a sign of things to come later in the game, the Warriors had some big gains erased by penalties on their next drive and punted. No worries, because the defense got on the board with Smith, listed at 6-foot-2 and 275 pounds, getting his big hands on Windsor Forest quarterback Jaysen Jackson’s screen pass attempt.

“I’ll hear about that for the next year,” Welch said with a smile, pleased at Smith’s response to an injury-marred junior season in 2023.

The coach said Smith had a fantastic sophomore year, then was hurt most of last season because of a torn MCL in his knee and then a torn ligament in his shoulder. 

“But he’s full speed this year,” said Welch, noting the senior has about 12 college offers and calling him one of the top defensive players in the state. “He helps on both sides of the ball” (at defensive tackle and offensive guard).

Rhodes’ story, unfortunately for him, was similar last season when a broken right ankle sidelined him after just two games. Rhodes said he did a lot of praying in recovering from the injury.

“Not thinking about being hurt. My mindset was I never got hurt,” said Rhodes, a 5-7, 155-pound running back. “Just working hard, keep going, recovery, working hard and just repeat.”

Teammate Domonique Johnson scored the first of his three touchdowns on a nifty 7-yard run before the Knights got on the board in the closing seconds of the first half on Jackson’s 20-yard pass to Jaidyn Henderson for a 29-8 difference.

Those two Knights connected again on an 18-yard TD pass in the third quarter. Jackson proved to have a deft touch at floating accurate passes while on the run – which he often was against a consistent Jenkins pass rush – as well as the ability to patiently scramble – more like glide – for solid yardages. 

But Rhodes had an immediate answer after the Knights were within 36-16 in the third quarter, as he took the ensuing kickoff 68 yards for his third TD of the night.

He also recorded the game’s next score on a 7-yard run, going untouched around left end with 11:17 left in regulation.

Rhodes said playing a full schedule – with the playoffs ahead – feels good after the brevity of his 2023 season.

“God is great,” Rhodes said. “I prayed that he keep me covered, and the results are the hard work from the offseason. It’s coming out. It’s a blessing.”

He finished with four carries for 77 yards and the 9-yard TD reception. Johnson had six carries for 71 yards and TDs of 7 and 9 yards, as well as three catches for 32 yards, including a 14-yard TD. 

“We’re so crowded in that backfield, it’s hard for you to get touches,” Welch explained, noting that in addition to Rhodes and Johnson, the Warriors have Jayaun Albert, Coray Stafford and Ryan Scott in the regular rotation.

“We’ve got weapons. We’ve got offensive people who can score,” Welch said. “We’ve got some guys. But we want to make sure we run the ball to open up the pass. With those guys, they’re grinders, but they’re excellent receivers as well.”

Welch said he likes that the team will play this week rather than having a layoff after the way the game flowed on Friday night.

“We have to play playoff football,” said Welch, who guided the Warriors last season to the Class 5A state quarterfinals. “There were spurts where we’re a playoff team and we’re a higher seed, but we’ve got to do it the whole game. We just played down early, but we scored when we needed to score, and we had stops when we needed to have stops. We’ve got to take care of some of the penalties.”

 

JENKINS 64, WINDSOR FOREST 16
	1	2	3	4	F
WINDSOR FOREST	0	8	8	0	16
JENKINS	14	15	14	21	64
First Quarter
J—Trenton Rhodes 9 pass from Demetrius Holloway (run failed)
J—Rhodes 19 run (Holloway run)
Second Quarter
J-Isaac Smith 29 interception return (Jayaun Albert run)
J—Domonique Johnson 7 run (Joshua Woodley kick)
WF—Jaidyn Henderson 20 pass from Jaysen Jackson (Jayden Thomas pass from Jackson)
Third Quarter
J—Johnson 9 run (Calvin Wallace kick)
WF—Henderson 18 pass from Jackson (Thomas run)
J—Rhodes 68 kickoff return (Wallace kick)
Fourth Quarter
J—Rhodes 7 run (Wallace kick)
J—Johnson 14 pass from Holloway (Tayden Walthour kick)
J—Tyler Smalls 35 run (Walthour kick)
Records—Windsor Forest 3-7 overall, 2-7 Region 3-3A; Jenkins 8-2, 8-1 region.

 

WEEK 13 

Final Scores

Nov. 8

GHSA

Brunswick 43, Bradwell 6 *

Greenbrier 56, South Effingham 0 * 

New Hampstead 48, Ware County 41 * 

Beach 13, Islands 0 * 

Calvary Day 41, Long County 7 * 

SE Bulloch 43, Groves 14 *

Jenkins 64, Windsor Forest 16*  

Liberty County 15, Johnson 7*  

Portal 20, Savannah High 6*

 

SCISA 1st Round

Bethesda 36, Orangeburg Prep 0 

NOTE: * Region games

 

Photo Credit:  Courtesy Prep Sports Report

 

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Optim Orthopedics generously sponsors Prep Sports Report football coverage! 

 

Optim Orthopedics is a familiar face on Savannah's prep sports scene, extending their support from the gridiron to the court. Their dedication to local athletes goes beyond logos, offering crucial medical support to nine powerhouse high schools:

• Dr. Don Aaron: Bryan County Middle/High School
• Dr. David Sedory: Benedictine Military, Bradwell Institute, Liberty County
• Dr. David Palmer: Calvary Day, Richmond Hill, South Effingham
• Dr. Thomas Alexander: Savannah Country Day, St. Vincent's

As Southeast leaders in fellowship-trained orthopedic surgery, Optim Orthopedics proudly sponsors the Prep Sports Report. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game!