After several calls came into the Enterprise-Journal questioning the reason junior Tez Fountain is no longer playing quarterback for North Pike, Jaguars head coach Chris Smith clarified his Fountain was injured and then dismissed from the team.
“He was injured,” Smith said. “He was injured in the fourth quarter of the last game he played in, and then he violated some team rules, and he’s been dismissed from the team for the remainder of the year.”
Fountain suffered an ankle injury during the fourth quarter in a 21-13 home loss to Lawrence County in the district opener and freshman Alijah Martin came in at quarterback.
Fountain was in his first season as the starter after Juwan Adams, now a freshman quarterback at Jackson State, graduated. Fountain was 42 of 74 passing for 645 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions this season. He also had 113 rushes for 879 yards and seven touchdowns.
When asked if Fountain could return to the team next season, Smith said, “Possibly.”
Martin has gone 1-2 as a starter the past three games and is 23 of 43 passing for 570 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. He has 38 carries for 369 yards and four touchdowns.
Martin will be under center tonight for the regular-season finale when the Jaguars (4-6, 1-3) host cross-county rival South Pike (4-5, 1-3) in a Region 6-4A matchup at North Pike Middle School with kickoff set for 7 p.m. The winner gets the final playoff spot in the district, while the loser’s season comes to an end.
North Pike and South Pike both have their one district win against Richland.
The Jaguars won at Richland 56-23, while the Eagles beat the Rangers 27-20 for homecoming.
