Leland Falls to J.Z. George, Turns Attention to Class 2A Playoffs

by Charlie Rook

 

 

Leland High School closed out its 2026 regular season Thursday night with a 16–0 loss to J.Z. George, leaving the Cubs with a 2–8 record heading into the Class 2A state playoffs.

The Cubs struggled to generate offensive production against the Jaguars, who recorded their second consecutive victory to finish the regular season at 5–5.

J.Z. George found the end zone through Sharodrick Wilson and Justin Weatherall, providing enough offense to secure the shutout victory.

For Leland, the loss marked its fourth consecutive defeat after the Cubs picked up a 24–14 victory over Palmer on October 2.

Since that win, Leland has faced a difficult stretch of competition, falling to Charleston, North Side, Edwards and J.Z. George.

The Cubs have particularly struggled offensively during that stretch, failing to score in each of their last four contests.

Despite the challenges, Leland has shown flashes of success throughout the campaign. The Cubs earned their first victory of the season September 11, defeating Riverside 20–0, before adding their second win against Palmer in early October.

Those two victories helped Leland secure a place in the Class 2A postseason, where the program will have an opportunity to extend its season.

The Cubs now face a difficult opening-round matchup against Baldwyn, which enters the playoffs with an 8–2 record.

Baldwyn closed its regular season with a convincing 38–8 victory over Walnut, setting up Friday’s postseason meeting with Leland.

For the Cubs, the primary focus will be finding a way to generate offensive opportunities against a strong Baldwyn team.

Although the regular season ended with a disappointing result, Leland still has an opportunity to compete in the postseason and build on the experience gained throughout the year.

The Cubs will travel to Baldwyn on Friday, November 6, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.