ABERDEEN — A taste can leave anyone hungry for more.
That”s the situation Desmond “Dez” Jones found himself in last year when starting quarterback Aaron Andrews went down with a injury in the Aberdeen High School football team”s season opener against Columbus.
Pressed into service, Jones couldn”t lead the Bulldogs past the Falcons, but he regrouped the following weeks and learned important lessons in a win against Ray Brooks and in a loss to Pontotoc.
Jones relied on those experiences in the spring and in the offseason as he prepared to become the third quarterback to lead Aberdeen in as many years.
“I think I have played good,” said Jones, who is 6-foot, 165 pounds. “I know I can do better, though. I can do a better job of checking down on the routes and stop throwing interceptions and do a better job of leading the team.”
Jones will try to help Aberdeen (13-1) stretch its winning streak to 14 games at 7 tonight when it plays at Winona (12-2) in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 3A North State title game.
The winner of tonight”s game will play the winner of the South State title game between Forest and Tylertown at 11 a.m. Dec. 4 at Mississippi Memorial Stadium in Jackson.
Jones transferred from Nettleton at the end of his sophomore year. He also played cornerback and wide receiver last year. This year, Jones has worked just as hard as any of his teammates to become a leader. Buoyed by the presence of senior running backs Victory Hodges and Brandon Smith, Jones” maturation has helped a young group of wide receivers develop.
Aberdeen coach Chris Duncan”s team has relied more on a punishing rushing attack to pile up points. He said the Bulldogs have attended 7-on-7 passing camps in the offseason and have drilled players in practice to ensure there isn”t a drop-off from one year to another at the quarterback position.
“We have put a lot of work in to get to where we are,” Duncan said. “We”re not where we want to be, but we”re striving to get there.”
Senior offensive lineman Fred Ward knew Jones would be able to take the place of Aaron Andrews, who led the team in 2009. Jones filled in at quarterback after Andrews was injured in the season-opening loss to Columbus. He also saw playing time in a win against Ray Brooks and in a loss to Pontotoc before Andrews returned to guide the team to a North State title. The Bulldogs” run ended in Jackson with a 34-20 loss to Tylertown.
“He is a very tough guy,” Ward said. “I knew he was going to come in and do what the offensive coordinator wanted him to do and lead us to another state championship.”
Ward said Jones is a strong guy who can “take a lick” when the offensive line isn”t playing a perfect game.
Jones said the play of the offensive line and the Bulldogs” running backs have helped make his job easier. Hodges has rushed for 1,856 yards and 31 touchdowns. It also helps to have weapons like junior Channing Ward to throw to.
Still, Jones knows Aberdeen will face a stern test tonight if it wants to keep its season alive and earn some respect.
“We aren”t going to underestimate them,” Jones said. “People have been saying Aberdeen is undisciplined, but we”re going to show them tomorrow.”
Aberdeen, the Class 3A runner-up last season, defeated Winona 38-14 on Oct. 1. But Duncan knows from experience things aren”t always as easy the second time. In 2008, Aberdeen rolled to a 44-17 victory in its fourth game of the season. The Bulldogs had to work a little harder in the third round of the Class 3A North State playoffs to earn a 35-31 victory at home. Louisville then ended Aberdeen”s season with a 41-21 victory.
This year, Duncan feels his team knows what it faces tonight. He said the team has worked hard this season to overcome an 8-6 loss Columbus in its first game of the year and has adjusted and matured throughout the season.
“When the year started, I think a lot of people expected us to be third or fourth in the division since we lost so much,” Duncan said. “We lost coaches, we lost eight or nine starters, and there were questions about if we were going to score on offense. I think this year has been more about us answering questions for ourselves and competing.
“I tell them each week it is about Aberdeen. It is not about who we”re playing. It is about how hard we play and how well we execute. I think all of the other things take care of themselves if you prepare and get ready like you”re supposed to. I think that is what has happened.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.