LaBrae: Jenkins could return

Staff report

LEAVITTSBURG

Justin Jenkins’ football season might not be over after all.

Jenkins, LaBrae High’s senior quarterback, was kicked off the team after being charged with minor misdemeanor drug abuse — along with two adult companions — following a Sept. 13 traffic stop in Lordstown.

But the marijuana-related charges against Jenkins, Andrew Mahan, 20, and Collin Phillips, 18, may not signal the end of Jenkins’ football career for good.

A statement released Monday afternoon and attributed to LaBrae athletic director and assistant principal Todd Rowe and principal Jeff Starkey revealed that it’s possible Jenkins will return to the Vikings.

The statement reads, in part: “As part of our due diligence, we have conducted a full investigation of all the circumstances related to this situation.

“According to the LaBrae Athletic Contract, Justin Jenkins’s actions were reviewed by a core team of administrators and head coaches.

“If he meets the conditions of reinstatement, he will be eligible to play in the game on October 10th.”

Rowe was asked in an email exchange what those conditions are, but he declined to reveal them.

“This is an internal matter involving a student,” Rowe replied in an email. “We do not have any further comment at this time.”

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Jenkins played a key role in a 3-0 start for LaBrae (3-2), rushing for 217 yards and passing for 314 yards as the Vikings opened the season by beating Youngstown Christian, Warren JFK and Pymatuning Valley by a combined score of 115-8.

Since Jenkins was dismissed from the team, the Vikings have lost to All-American Conference, National Division rivals Jefferson, 40-28, and Liberty, 33-0, in back-to-back home games.

LaBrae is scheduled to visit winless Campbell (0-5) on Friday night. The Vikings host Lakeview (3-2) on Oct. 10, which would be the earliest Jenkins can return to the field, according to the school’s Monday news release.