PREP FOOTBALL: Holly Pond’s Jones picked as Player of Week for 5-TD performance

Published 6:00 am Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Caleb Jones is a young man of very, very few words.

Last Thursday at Cold Springs, the Holly Pond standout did all his talking with his play.

Jones was the star of the Broncos’ 49-40 upset that quashed the state’s longest active losing streak, cranking out seven catches for 203 yards and three touchdowns, as well as 82 rushing yards and another two TDs.

The effort not only helped Holly Pond secure its first win in 30 tries since the 2012 season finale but was more than enough to land Jones the title of The Cullman Times Player of the Week, sponsored by Christian and Son Heating and Cooling.

As if his offensive contributions weren’t enough, Jones only aided his case with a clutch defensive stop shortly before halftime. With Cold Springs clinging to a 26-21 cushion, the junior kept the Eagles from pulling away by shedding a block and standing up scat back Christian Crandall just short of the goal line — a feat not many defenders have been able to claim this season.

Jones’ other highlight was the alert pickup of a lateral screen pass he carried into the end zone for what turned out to be the go-ahead touchdown.

The other consideration for the weekly honor was — surprise, surprise — West Point’s Kobe Smith. The senior, who’s already collected the prize twice this fall and came dangerously close to adding a third — ran for 309 yards and four long touchdowns in the Warriors’ 49-21 blowout of Class 4A No. 8 Priceville.

Smith enters the playoffs 166 yards shy of the county rushing record (2,214).