When is the appropriate time to mention West Jones?
Twenty-Eighteen was historic - a 12-win season where the Mustangs were one of two teams left standing once the playoff dust settled. Never before had the program advanced to a title game.
Defense got West Jones where it needed to be by year’s end. Then those responsible graduated.
This season was about finding a new way to win. With the absence of guys like Alabama signee Byron Young, and JUCO signee's Damion Cummingham and Jon Micah Coleman, something or someone had to take the mantle. West Jones' offense is doing that, averaging 36.4 points a game at this point in the season to its 27.9 a year ago in 15 games. But don't count out this year's defense either. Though the big names are gone, the Mustangs are allowing just 10.8 points per contest.
So entering Week 7 at 5-0 overall, and 1-0 in Region 3-5A, beating Brookhaven 44-7 Friday night at home, when do we add West Jones to the discussion of the top 5A teams, especially in the South?
I say now. They're not the best team now, but they're growing and evolving each week upwards, much like the 2018 team did last year.
Taylorsville gets shutout by Jackson Prep
Just go ahead and ask me the question: When was the last time Taylorsville was shut out?
The answer is not something I could have known off the top of my head. And who would know it? Taylorsville has been great-to-decent for so long that questions like that are not readily known. So I did a little digging.
Prior to Friday night's shut out lost to Jackson Prep, Taylorsville ran a spread of 15 years without laying an egg - almost to the day. In 2004, the Tartars (4-7) had three shut out losses - the last, a 32-0 loss to then 4A West Jones. The loss came on Sept. 24, 2004. Taylorsville also was shut out by Collins (23-0) and Lumberton (26-0).
Shrug it off Taylorsville; you're still one of the best teams in 2A - if not the best by the end of the year if you get my drift.
Bad day for my fantasy team.
My guys (Tom Brady, Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley, Larry Fitzgerald, Evan Engram, etc.) have been crushing it. Then Week 4 happened…
It was brutal and not in a good way. My guys - and all at one time - decided to bomb in Week 4.
It goes like that sometimes. There's always next week, I guess.
