High School Football : Jones Erupts in 2nd Half for Mounties

For the first half of Montclair Prep’s 39-7 win Saturday night against Western Christian, it looked like the other Mountie running back, Jamal Swinton, was finally going to have his moment in the spotlight. After all, Swinton rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown in 8 carries in the first half.

But after halftime, Michael Jones emerged.

Jones, a junior who is considered a Division I prospect, rushed for 3 touchdowns on consecutive plays from scrimmage and finished with 249 yards in 16 carries in the Alpha League contest at Pierce College.

The victory enabled Montclair Prep (6-3, 4-0 in league play) to clinch at least a tie for the league title.

“That’s the real Michael Jones, 249 yards,” Mountie Coach George Giannini said. “In the second half he started running for the end zone instead of trying to dance around.”

Jones had touchdown runs of 14, 80 and 69 yards as the Mounties scored 32 second-half points. Jones, who rushed for 219 yards last week against Maranatha, also had an 85-yard touchdown run called back in the first quarter because of an illegal blocking penalty called against his brother, Greg Jones.

Ennis Howard had 3 interceptions for Montclair Prep and Neimad Durham returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown with 8:52 left. Swinton had 100 yards in 9 carries.