We have passed the mid-way point of the MHSAA football season. Here are, in my opinion, how Jones County teams should be graded.
Laurel
Considering Laurel’s change in offensive M.O., favoring yards gained on the ground to yards gained through the air as in year’s past; the season thus far has gone quite well.
Laurel finished 2-2 in its non-district schedule – a better finish than two years ago when they went 1-3 and not as good as last years 3-1 finish.
Currently, head coach Todd Breland is working under a two-quarterback system. Junior Sinclair Ulmer and sophomore Xaxier Evans have yet to separate themselves from the other. Neither has played particularly bad nor particularly good. Stability at that position would be an added plus.
Last week Laurel dominated South Jones 47-8 in both team’s Region 3-5A opener, proof enough that the Tornadoes are right was they need to be midway through the regular season.
Grade: A-
South Jones
The program has come a long way from its consecutive 1-10 seasons in 2013 and 2014. South Jones entered Region 3-5A with a 4-1 record in non-district competition – higher than any team in Jones County. A lot of that had to do with its competition, who as of then combined for an 8-13 record.
The Braves are more balanced on offense as they’ve ever been, thanks in part to junior quarterback John Mitchell. He leads the county in passing and rushing yards as a quarterback.
Last Friday night South Jones started energized against Laurel, scoring a touchdown on its first possession, then crumbled from there with multiple turnovers.
For a program looking for its first playoff berth since 2008, the Braves need to remain balanced and correct silly mistakes.
Grade: B+
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West Jones
The problems that kept West Jones below .500 the last two seasons, still currently exist.
In 2014 and 2015, the Mustangs offense averaged nearly 20 points a game, down 10 points from its offensive production average in 2012 and 2013 when the Mustangs finished above .500.
As of now, five games into the season, West Jones averages 15 points a game offensively.
But there is some good news, quarterback Peyton Brown, who has been injured since Week 1 of his junior season last year is now healthy enough to play. It may take a few games, but Brown will likely get the Mustangs offense rolling again.
West Jones remains solid on defense, and that has helped some, it’s largely the reason they’re currently 3-2 and 1-0 in Region 3-5A. The Mustangs blanked Forest Hill last week, 26-0.
The offense must get better if West Jones intends on avoiding a third straight season out of the playoff picture.
Grade: C+
Northeast JonesÂ
A 1-4 record, if we just look at those numbers, deserve a D-minus. But that is not fair to a program that has suffered so much that is out of their hands.
Injuries – a word that has haunted Northeast Jones head coach Keith Braddock.
Before the season began, the Tigers lost their best defensive player to a freak car accident. In Week 1 of the regular season, the team lost one of their best offensive players to a leg injury. And it the troubles didn’t stop there.
Since then Northeast Jones has lost 5-8 players to season-ending injuries. There’s nothing about that anyone can help nor prevent. As they say, when it rains, it pours.
The good news is Northeast Jones is on a one-game win streak, and all their losses so far have no bearing on whether the Tigers make postseason play or not.
Braddock has done about as well as he can do with all the Tigers have been handed.
Grade: B-
