Coming-out party for Wharton soph

Jairus Jones scores twice to lead the host Wildcats 25-6 over district foe Wesley Chapel.

By IZZY GOULD
Published September 16, 2006

TAMPA - Wesley Chapel was ready to light up Wharton with a dazzling trick play that would awe its Class 5A, District 5 rival on the first play.

John Castelamare's boys didn't account for the blitz of fury Wharton unleashed to stuff it in the backfield. The chatter and anticipation that consumed Wesley Chapel's sideline was instantly silent. Then Wharton sophomore Jairus Jones took over.

In what could be classified as Jones' arrival, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound sophomore returned a punt and interception for a touchdown to help Wharton to a 25-6 win against Wesley Chapel.

"Jairus is a humble guy," Wharton coach David Mitchell said. "He doesn't say much, he doesn't brag much, but when the lights come on he'll show you what he can do."

When Wesley Chapel's opening drive fizzled, Jones fumbled the punt. He quickly pulled the ball off the grass and took off, weaving through blocks and hits, then finally burst through a hole and raced to the end zone for a 71-yard touchdown.

"They set me up perfectly to let me go," Jones said of his return team.

"So I just went off them and they did the rest for me."

Wesley Chapel's second drive made barely a whimper as Wharton's defense swarmed. That setup Jones' second punt return for 39 yards, which allowed Joel Miller to score on a 5-yard run two plays later for a 14-0 lead.

The next two scores would come on a safety and a Kevin Thornton 23-yard field goal.

Jones would have scored one more time in the first half with a 69-yard punt return that was called back on an illegal block. It was one of three scores called back on Wharton (4-0, 1-0) penalties.

"That's really upsetting," Mitchell said. "That's a shadow over our heads. We have to get away from that. We can have that during close ball games. ...I call it lack of discipline. It will be corrected Monday."

Jones wasn't finished. Placed perfectly in the secondary, he intercepted a Greg Jenkins pass for a 64-yard return to give Wharton a 25-0 lead with eight minutes, 41 seconds left in the third.

Wesley Chapel (2-2, 0-1) finally scored in the fourth quarter on a 10-yard run by Evan Mills.

One indication this was a rough offensive showing for Wesley Chapel - punter John Heiser had the longest run of the night, a 30-yard fake punt in the third quarter.

Wharton's defense registered six sacks.

"Our defense is just blazing flying around the ball," Mitchell said. "They're a step ahead of our offense."

[Last modified September 16, 2006, 06:35:29]