By James Pugh
A four-game skid last season, that began with a 1-point loss to Magee in Week 4, then followed by three-straight losses in Region 3-5A, put West Jones in a situation that almost mirrored the year before – a season that ended without postseason play.
“The three-straight losses [in region play] set us back,” said head coach Scott Pierson. “And the loss to South Jones really stung. I think it took a lot out of us right there.
“Hopefully, we’re correcting some of those things. The talent [this year] might be better than it has been in the past [few years]. But we are thin. We have a lot of players that haven’t played. Our depth scares me like it always does.”
West Jones begins the season on the road at Wayne County, a game normally saved for region play. With the War Eagles migration to the coastal region of Class 5A, the rivalry that once drew crowds over ten thousand will still get its chance to live on. The Mustangs will later face Northeast Jones, Quitman and Bay Springs, Pierson’s former head coaching grounds in the late 1990s and early 2000s, in non-district play.
With the departure of Wayne County in Region 3-5A and Forest Hill and North Pike moving in, West Jones looks to snap its two-year streak of missing the playoffs.
Offense
Those who have anticipated the return of Peyton Brown at quarterback will have to wait a bit longer. Brown was expected to be available by Week 1 of the season after tearing several ligaments in his knee against Collins during Week 1 of last season. But mishaps this offseason have pushed Brown’s expected return further into the season.
“Peyton is having some setbacks like anyone would have after tearing their ACL,” said Pierson. “Right now he is still on the shelf physically. We have to be smart with him. We have to put [his health] first.
“Right now Hunter Parish is our guy until Peyton gets healthy. When Brown gets healthy, and he is ahead of rehab, he can battle for the quarterback position. If not, then we are going to see if we can get him on the field somewhere else.”
Parish, who stepped in for Brown following his Week 1 injury, threw for 1,118 yards and 13 touchdowns as a sophomore.
Senior Austin Lang and his half-brother sophomore Micheal Neal will likely fill the running back position for the graduated John Oliver. Oliver rushed for 1,268 yards on 238 carries last year as a senior.
“Micheal is more athletic, his burst is a lot quicker,” said Pierson. “Austin is more of a power runner.”
Paving the way for Lang and Neal will be an experienced offensive line.
“We have four or five [experienced players] coming back,” Pierson noted. “We ought to be as good as we’ve ever been there. I really believe that. Jacob Kilpatrick, Dalton Flies, Wesley Jones and Fabian Pickering are all back.”
Also returning is Pierson receiving group, among whom is Garrick Randolph. Randolph tallied 561 yards last season as a junior on 31 catches, an average of 18.1 yards a catch.
Defense
A name to consider is Byron Young. The junior four-star defensive end is currently ranked 17th in the nation at his position.
“Defensively in the box, we should be as good as we’ve ever been,” said Pierson. “We have a premier defensive end in Byron Young. He is special. He really is. And then we have John Michael Coleman. He is special too. He broke his foot last year so he didn’t get to play. But I’m just as high on him as I am with Young.
“I like all of our front four guys but the question remains as in who will step up behind them.”
The team’s leading tackler returns at linebacker. Jaylon Keyes recorded 81 solo tackles and assisted in another 50 take-downs.
“We have all of our linebackers back,” said Pierson. “Davion Moore, Jaylon Keys and Sley Lyons are all back. But the question again is who is behind them. We have three guys behind them that we hope can play, but they are all young.”
West Jones allowed 23.3 points a game last season, a number that should get lower this season if players stay healthy.
