Sports

🏈 Jena Outlasts Bunkie in High-Scoring Battle, 68–45

Stats, summary, and photo courtesy of MaxPreps Game Report.

BUNKIE, La. — The Jena Giants overpowered the Bunkie Panthers in a thrilling, high-scoring Friday night matchup, taking home a 68–45 victory in a game packed with offensive fireworks from both teams.

Explosive Start

Jena opened the scoring with a 15-yard touchdown pass and a two-point conversion to take an early 8–0 lead. Bunkie answered quickly when #25 Zion Lee powered through for a 6-yard touchdown, cutting the score to 8–7 and setting the tone for an all-out offensive battle.

Jena Pulls Ahead

In the second quarter, the Giants capitalized on a Bunkie turnover and broke off several long runs to surge ahead 22–7 before halftime. Their ability to turn mistakes into points proved to be the difference-maker throughout the game.

Second-Half Shootout

The third quarter saw both teams light up the scoreboard. Jena’s #10 Daniel Hatcher sprinted for a 56-yard touchdown run, while Lee continued to dominate with back-to-back rushing scores and two successful two-point conversions. Despite the rally, Bunkie trailed 52–31 heading into the fourth quarter.

Jena’s #5 Sedrick Wilson delivered the night’s biggest highlight — a 70-yard touchdown run followed by his own two-point conversion, sealing the Giants’ commanding lead. Bunkie’s #32 Jateren Gaines added a late 38-yard touchdown to close the game.

Final Stats

Final Score: Jena 68, Bunkie 45
Records: Jena (7–1, 3–0 District 2) | Bunkie (7–1, 2–1 District 2)

The win gives Jena sole control of the District 2 standings, while Bunkie remains in strong contention but will need to rebound quickly to stay in the title hunt.

Strong Effort Despite Loss

Despite the setback, Bunkie’s offense showed balance and grit. Lee and Gaines led a strong ground attack, and the Panthers’ offensive line held strong for much of the night. Defensively, however, they struggled to contain Jena’s big-play ability and speed.