SCOOBA – D.J. Jones flashes a smile wider than the defensive tackle’s 315-pound frame.

When Jones flashes that smile he is in his happy zone. One should not confuse that zone with the passion and intensity displayed on the football field.

There are no smiles there, at least not until after maybe a quarterback sack.

The nation’s third-rated junior college prospect in the nation (by 247 Sports) is a big reason why the defensive line has been dominating so far for top-ranked East Mississippi Community College.

No. 1 EMCC will risk a 17-game win streak when No. 12 Jones Junior College comes to town Saturday.

Kickoff for Homecoming 2014 is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Sullivan-Windham Field in Scooba.

“It really is all about hard work on the football field,” Jones said. “You can’t let them know you are having fun. However, winning is fun. We have a tradition to uphold around here and we work every day to uphold that it.”

Jones had a big hand in an EMCC defense last season considered by many the best-ever in the state’s history.

The Lions posted a school-record five shutouts and allowed 9.8 points per game. EMCC won all 12 games it played, including the school’s second National Junior College Athletic Association national championship.

“We had a good defense because we worked hard at it,” Jones said. “We really took it personally when the other team made a big play or even got a first down. We were going to fight you for everything.

“Even though we have a lot of new guys on the defense this year, we have tried to approach things the same way. We have gotten better each week.”

There was early cause for concern when Southwest Mississippi Community College gained 277 yards in the season opener, even though EMCC won the game 52-14.

Since then the new-look Lions have reverted to form and allowed three touchdowns in their last four games. Thursday night’s 51-0 Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges North Division triumph over rival Itawamba Community College was the team’s first shutout of the season.

EMCC now has seven non-offensive touchdowns with Quan Latham returning an interception for touchdown and Camion Patrick returning a punt for touchdown in the win over Itawamba.

“The biggest thing about this team is the speed,” Jones said. “Very few people can match up with our speed. If the other team is unsure about something, that is when we are at our best. The last couple of games, we have done a great job of getting in the backfield and causing a lot of pressure.”

Jones has 12 total tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss.

“He is a difference-maker,” EMCC defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley said. “He is the type of player who comes to practice everyday and shows you what hard work is all about. When you have second-year starters in this league, you have a huge advantage.”

Jones, who prepped at Wren High School in Piedmont, South Carolina, verbally committed to Florida State University in July. He is still taking official visits, with the most recent one being to the University of South Carolina. His unofficial visits have included Tennessee, Alabama, Ole Miss and Southern California.

Junior college players can sign in December and enroll at their new school for the spring semester.

“The recruiting process has been a lot of fun,” Jones said. “Everyone thinks they have the best situation for you, so you just have to look at each situation individually. Even though it gets tiring sometimes, the process has been fun.”

While Mississippi gears up for a huge Southeastern Conference Saturday with Ole Miss playing host to Alabama and Mississippi State playing host to Texas A&M, the only visiting Jones will be doing will involve players from Jones Junior College.

The only Saturday regular-season game for EMCC is a rematch of last season’s MACJC state championship game, where EMCC cruised to a 61-24 win.

“This is a totally different year,” Jones said. “The sophomores know what it takes to win a championship. We want the new guys to feel the same excitement we felt last year.”

Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott

Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.