Jones Senior falls to Pinetown Northside in its Coastal Plains 1A opener
Jones Senior’s Evan Andrews (left) talks with head coach Tyler Hale (center) and an assistant coach before the second-half kickoff of their game against Pinetown Northside on Friday evening.
TRENTON — Youth and heart are the catch words for Jones Senior, which finds itself playing a grind-it-out style of "IronMan Football" this season.
Just 16 players suited up during the Trojans' 63-0 homecoming loss to Pinetown Northside in the Coastal Plains 1A opener for both teams on a muggy Friday evening.
It was Jones Senior's third game in the past eight days.
"[The heart] is great," Jones Senior head coach Tyler Hale said. "It's tough because I've basically got a bunch of middle school kids coming up and playing varsity football right out of the gate. We may not be the best-skilled [players] and I know we're inexperienced, but the grit and heart...that's why after the games I can't really be mad because they give all that they have.
"It's just that we come up short."
Northside, which leads the all-time series 6-1, scored on its first two offensive plays and led 14-0 before the Trojan faithful nearly filled the stands on the home side. The Panthers (4-2 overall) punched in seven first-half touchdowns, including a scoop and score on a blocked punt.
Jones Senior (0-6) registered back-to-back first downs on its final drive, which ended as time expired.
The Trojans' defense forced a fumble to start the second half.
Hale has discovered an anomaly about his team.
"When we start the game, that's when we start the slowest," said Hale, who has just four players with any varsity experience. "But when we're tired and hurt, we play the hardest. It's the weirdest thing."
Jones Senior entertains Martin Riverside next Friday.
Notes: The Trojans owned a decisive 38-19 edge in total offensive plays against Northside. ... Jones Senior sophomore Evan Andrews played 55 snaps on offense, defense and special teams combined. ... The Trojans are 11-9 in conference openers since 2000.
Jones Senior head football coach Tyler Hale (center) talks with his team after a homecoming loss to Coastal Plains 1-A rival Pinetown Northside on Friday evening.
Northside 35 14 7 7 - 63
Jones Senior 0 0 0 0 - 0
First Quarter
N - Wilson 51 run (kick failed), 11:48
N - Wilson 35 run (Wilson run), 8:54
N - Wilson 2 run (Tomani kick), 5:16
N - Godley 5 run (Tomani kick), 2:09
N - Gorham 14 run (Tomani kick), 0:00
Second Quarter
N - Holloway 5 run (Tomani kick), 8:16
N - Wilson 16 blocked punt return (Tomani kick), 5:17
Third Quarter
N - K. Boyd 37 run (Tomani kick), 5:37
Fourth Quarter
N - Crandell 79 run (Tomani kick), 10:54
N JS
First downs 9 2
Rushes-yds 19-334 30-(-14)
Passing 0-0-0 0-8-1
Passing yds 0 0
Total yards 334 -14
Punts-yds 0-0 3-23.3
Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-1
Penalties 2-15 2-10
RUSHING - Jones Senior: Evan Andrews 16-18, Kelvonte Murrell 7-(minus-17), Zaire Womack 1-(minus-2), Elijah Fowler 4-(minus-5), Junie Robles 1-4, Team 1-(minus-12). Northside: Zak Wilson 3-88, James Gorham 3-22, Mitch Godley 3-36, Elijah Holloway 6-75, Marcus Clayton 1-1, Keifer Boyd 1-37, Omari Crandell 1-79, Team 1-(minus-4).
PASSING - Jones Senior: Andrews 0-7-1, 0; Womack 0-1-0.
RECEIVING - None.
