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WATERFORD - As long as Colten Jones' words hold water, no surprise what his younger brother is bringing to the table as a freshman at Waterford High School football.
"We come out and we play ball - hard-hitting kids, the way we were raised," Colten Jones said following the Wildcats' gut-wrenching 14-8 win over Trimble last Friday night in Waterford. "No matter what sport, we are there to compete and win."
Trailing 6-0 in the second quarter, Jones scored the first Wildcat touchdown on a 24-yard pass reception which initially tipped off his fingers. The junior had the wherewithal to pull the ball down out of mid-air, make the catch and put Waterford in front to stay.
On the throwing end was his brother, Hayden Jones, who did not become a full-time starter until several weeks into the regular season. Against Trimble, Hayden showed signs of being a freshman. A bit raw in some sequences, but multi-talented in others.
"I was a little nervous when I threw (the pass to Colten) because I seen the defender there," Hayden said. "But when Colten tipped it up, I thought, 'That's my brother. He is going to make a play out of it.'"
In the 48 minutes that transpired, the Trimble-Waterford matchup rivaled one of the best games seen in the Mid-Ohio Valley this season. And Hayden Jones didn't let the moment overcome him. The Wildcat defense made it that much easier. Despite occuprying the field for a majority of the game, Trimble averaged just 3.5 yards per carry on 46 attempts.
"Playing under these bright lights on Friday nights is awesome --I just love it," Hayden said.
In addition to supplying insurance with a 30-yard touchdown run into the heart of the Trimble defense on the opening drive of the second half, Hayden sealed the win with a 50-yard scamper that took the offense out of dangerous territory.
The precursor to killing the clock in the waning moments of the fourth quarter was a goal-line stand by the Waterford defense. As Trimble was manufacturing a potential scoring drive on its final offensive series of the game, the Wildcats walled up.
On first-and-goal from the Waterford 8, Trimble managed just three yards in three plays. On fourth-and-goal from the 5, Caden McDougle and Trevin Zimmer combined on the tackle of Trimble receiver Max Frank just shy of the goal line and 2:04 showing on the clock.
Overlooked on the next play from scrimmage - Hayden's cadence from under center resulted in an encroachment penalty on Trimble.
"We don't go under center much," Waterford coach Eric McCutcheon said. "I told my quarterback, 'You are going under center and you are going on three. We are going to get these five yards.'
"And by golly, they jumped. Hayden was phenomenal. That kid doesn't act like a freshman. Teams are going to have to prepare for number three."
Now the Wildcats had room to breathe. And two plays later, Hayden killed Trimble's spirits with his long run.
With freshmen, mistakes will happen. Take the bad with the good. During one stretch against Trimble, he completed 6-of-8 passes for 106 yards. He ended the night misfiring on his next seven attempts.
However, the good outweighed the bad on this particular evening. Hayden's legs and his uncanny ability to look off receivers, tuck the ball and run were his greatest assets. He finished with 148 yards rushing on 10 carries.
"Not at all," Colten responded when asked if he is surprised by what Hayden is capable of. "This man's character - he stays humble all the time. He might get down on himself a little bit, but everybody is there for him.
"They all have his back. If he makes an incomplete, it's next play. Next play."
Regardless of what happens in the regular season finale Friday at home against Fort Frye, Waterford gave themselves a boost in the Division VII district rankings.
The quarterback position is Hayden's to hold onto as long as Waterford's football season continues. And that's just part of the story. He also starts at free safety and returns kicks.
"Hayden's brother is back there on with him on offense, too - they work great together," McCutcheon said. "We are going to ride with Hayden. Heck yea, he is going to make mistakes. This is a fast-paced game, guys flying everywhere, but we are around him every day.
"We know how much he has improved from Day 1. And his confidence is out of this world."