Photo Credit: @likwiththelens
Morrow, Georgia – The Jonesboro Cardinals opened their spring campaign with an impressive 20-7 scrimmage victory over the Lovejoy Wildcats this past Friday, showing flashes of a team that could make serious noise heading into the 2026 season. One of the biggest storylines entering the matchup was the debut of rising junior quarterback Justin Alto as the Cardinals’ new starter. From the opening drive, Alto looked comfortable leading the offense and showed poise well beyond his experience level. Whether he was standing tall in the pocket or extending plays under pressure, the young signal caller played with confidence and composure throughout the night.
Alto spread the ball around to multiple receivers and kept the offense moving consistently, but his biggest moment came on a strike to wide receiver Benjamin Boyd. Reading the defense perfectly, Alto delivered a beautiful ball in stride on a skinny post route, allowing Boyd to race untouched for a 70-yard touchdown that energized the sidelines and crowd alike. The connection between Alto and Boyd already appears to be developing into one of the Cardinals’ most dangerous offensive weapons.
More importantly, Alto looked in complete control of the offense. His calm demeanor and decision making stood out all night, and it is clear he has embraced the responsibility of leading the Cardinals into a new season. If Friday’s performance was any indication, Jonesboro may have found its next standout quarterback.
The defense also made its presence felt in a major way. Defensive back Xavier Glover delivered one of the night’s biggest highlights with a pick-six that shifted momentum firmly in Jonesboro’s favor. Glover showed great instincts reading the quarterback, jumped the route, and took the interception all the way back for the score. Under DB coach Ced Brooks, Jonesboro has built a reputation for producing talented defensive backs, and this year’s secondary looks ready to continue that tradition. With Glover making plays and returning starter Mikel Miller bringing experience and leadership to the secondary, the Cardinals appear set to field another strong defensive back group in 2026.
While spring scrimmages are always about growth and evaluation, Jonesboro had plenty to feel good about after Friday night’s performance. The offense showed explosiveness, the defense created turnovers, and the team played with energy from start to finish. There is still room for improvement before the regular season arrives, but the Cardinals appear to be moving in the right direction. With a promising young quarterback, talented playmakers, and a defense continuing to build on the program’s identity, Jonesboro could be a team to watch this fall.
