There is not enough words to describe how hungry the Jones Tigers have been for success this high school football season.
Jones beat Wekiva, a school from Metro Orlando, 28–6 last week to finish the regular season undefeated at 10-0. They may have been inspired by losing three close state semifinals in a row from 2021–2023.
It may have been the first time in recent times that the Tigers went the whole regular season without losing a game.
Jones had a 9-1 record in the 2020 season, which was cut short by COVID, but he did not play many games during the normal season.
Deeon Coleman, a star junior quarterback for Jones and a Miami pledge, said, “I knew we were going to do it since the beginning of the season.”
Coleman has thrown for more than 2,200 yards and 21 touchdowns in nine games. “We had to work hard and keep our heads down.” We are not done yet, though. Our attention is on the big prize.
Jones got the top spot in Class 4A, Region 2. On Friday, Nov. 15, it will play Lecanto (6-4) in a game for the school’s first-ever state title.
Since 2016, when Elijah Williams became head coach, the Tigers have been threatening to win a championship. Williams was a star player at the University of Florida and for the Atlanta Falcons.
It took Williams only three years to get Jones to a state title game. The Tigers lost to a strong Miami Northwestern team 34–17 in 2019.
The next three years, Jones had a great season after losing to Tampa Jesuit 40–24 in a regional final in 2020. The Tigers made it to the Class 6A state quarterfinals in 2021, but Pensacola Pine Forest beat them 20–13 in overtime.
Jones was moved up to Class 3Metro for 2022 and 2023. In both years, they played Homestead and lost close games 30-24 and 42-35.
The 2024 season is now here. The Tigers are also ready.
Jones player Mykell Reid said, “I think it is amazing.” “It makes me proud to be a part of this team and work with these coaches.”
I had a lot of faith that we would go undefeated. From last spring until now, we have worked so hard. We worked Monday through Friday all summer.
“I was sure we would not lose,” Reid said. “As a team, we watched film, did what our coaches told us to do, and got stronger.”
Jones has grown into a real state power thanks to his hard work and great skills. Coleman works with some of the best players in the world, like senior wide receiver Vernell “Trey” Brown III.
Brown has taken 63 passes for 945 yards and six touchdowns in the first nine games. He has committed to play football for Florida.
“We worked hard for this, and it is an honor to be the first team to do it (a regular season without a loss).” “Now it is time to finish what we began.”
Coleman has also thrown a lot of balls to junior Larry Miles, who has caught 42 passes for 782 yards and eight touchdowns.
Junior star running back Jaquail Smith is second behind Coleman. In nine games, Smith ran for 1,085 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Jones has also been very good at defense. Six teams have scored seven points or less against the Tigers, and three of those games ended in shutouts.
Jones has Dante Williams Jr., Isaiah Murphy, Courtney Patterson, Quimaine Myers, Reggie Harris, and more in charge of his defense.
“It feels good to be the first to do something and leave a mark,” said Kameron Lee, a wide receiver for Jones.