Times All-North football MVP: Indian River's Jones closes out career with hard-earned championship

Dec. 9—This season was mostly about redemption for Derek Jones and his Indian River teammates.

Jones and the Warriors had experienced disappointment the previous two years as after battling their way to a Section 3 final, were turned away in defeat.

This year Jones and a balanced Indian River squad broke through by winning the program's first Section 3 championship in five years.

A versatile running back who averaged more than 10 yards a carry in his senior season led the charge in the Warriors' relentless running game.

For his efforts, Jones has been named as the Times' All-North Most Valuable Player in football.

Indian River, which generated a nine-win season, returned to the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse and this time came away victorious by rallying to stun top-seeded New Hartford, 28-27, to claim the Class B championship.

"It felt really good," said Jones, who was named as the game's MVP from Indian River. "Going to the Dome for a third time and actually winning there felt really good. It was amazing to win in our last chance at the Dome, it was an honor."

On the season, Jones carried the ball 165 times for 1,664 yards — good for an average of 10.1 yards per carry — and scored 27 touchdowns.

"Derek has deceptive speed, he's obviously a very physical running back," Indian River coach Cory Marsell said of Jones, who stands at 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds. "And he was always ready to give everything he had, whether it be blocking or helping out a teammate, just a real physical football player."

"I feel like I exceeded my expectations, I did better than I did last year," Jones said. "It was good, I had a lot of fun this year, I didn't think I was going to get that much, but I did set a goal for myself to get more than I had last year. It was fun playing with all my teammates and they helped me get to where I was with all those rushing yards and touchdowns. I wouldn't have done it without them."

Yet with all his personal success, Jones was quick to credit his teammates, especially the team's stalwart offensive line.

"They helped me, like without them I probably wouldn't have done as much," Jones said. "They work their tails off in the weight room and so did I and it all paid off in the end. Having 27 touchdowns is really hard. So I couldn't have done it without them and their hard work."

Jones led a punishing ground game, which totaled nearly 5,000 yards and generated 66 touchdowns on the season.

"We had a new (offensive) line this year and with Derek, he was always falling forward," Marsell said. "He was able to get us yards moving forward and we relied on him obviously the most out of any other back. And I just keep going back to the fact that he was very physical, reliable, he wasn't going to fumble the ball."

Jones and fellow senior running back Kane Lynch, who stands at 5-7 and 170 pounds, teamed up to form a formidable tandem as Kane rushed for 1,062 yards of his own — for an average of 7.7 yards per carry — and ran for nine touchdowns.

"Me and Kane, we've played together since we were freshmen and on JV," Jones said. "So we already had that chemistry and we brought it up to varsity and we didn't miss a beat."

Jones continued: "I'd say he's more finesse, I'm more power. I'm more of a hitter, I like to gain that first down and gain those extra yards. Just keep pounding the rock, get that extra one or two yards because you never know if it will benefit the game later."

"They're two different kind of runners, obviously and they complemented each other well," Marsell said of Jones and Lynch. "One was the jitterbug to be able to cut and make people miss and the other was going to run right through you. They were a great complement for each other."

Fellow senior Ethan Hattori also had a strong year in the running game with 856 yards on 83 carries — good for 10.3 yards per touch — and scored 12 touchdowns of his own. Senior Azhari Berroa-Prensa (33-348, five touchdowns) and sophomore Frederick Haynes Jr. (62-253, six TDs also had strong seasons in complementary roles.

For his career, Jones has rushed for 2,826 yards on 279 carries and has scored 42 touchdowns, including rushing for 1,089 yards and 15 scores in his junior campaign.

During the previous two seasons, Indian River's season came to an end at the Dome, including last year in a 14-0 setback to Homer.

This season, the Warriors rolled to home wins over Camden and Central Valley Academy to return to Syracuse and gain the title.

"It was very special," Jones said. "It was like something out of a movie, it was really good. It was good to be on the winning side this time."

Jones ran for 103 yards on a 13 carries in the win, including scoring on a 22-yard scamper in the fourth quarter to help set the tone for the comeback.

"Losing twice before and then coming back and winning that third time really shows how good we've become over the years and shows how we don't give up," Jones said. "We faced adversity that game and it showed because we ended up with a win to add a sectional championship to our belt."

"It was awesome," Marsell said. "Especially, we've talked about it before, struggling a couple years before. The kids really looked up to each group and watched what they went through and this group really, really wanted it. So for us as coaches it was just nice for us to be able to help guide them to get that victory that they wanted so bad."

Indian River, which claimed its ninth sectional title, including its third in Section 3, advanced to the state quarterfinal round where it was beaten by top-ranked and eventual state title finalist Maine-Endwell, 41-14, at Vestal High School, with Jones running for a pair of touchdowns.

"Unfortunately it did come to an end. But I still had fun and I had fun with my teammates," Jones said. "It felt good going to the next level, it was fun."

Jones continued: "I played with a lot of seniors this year, they were amazing as well. They also worked hard to get to where they were at. Our whole senior group was really good. Unfortunately we won't play with one another again, but it was good playing with them one last time."

Jones is a Texas native, growing up in El Paso before his family relocated to the north country, and is also a Dallas Cowboys fan.

Jones already knows what he wants to strive for beyond high school as he plans to pursue a potential career in law enforcement.

"I want to be a homicide detective, that's what I really want to do," he said. "It runs in the family, so I just want to venture into my family's footsteps and do what they've done over the years. And help the community and help other people and bring closure to their loved ones and all that."

He's been inspired to take this potential career path by his mom who "worked for domestic abuse cases, back home in Texas."

Jones would like to attend the University of Oregon to pursue studies in law and criminology and is also considering St. Lawrence University, but has other college possibilities as well.

He is a fan of Oregon football and quarterback Bo Nix, who is a Heisman Trophy finalist, and used to follow former Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.

And although he's not quite accustomed to the winter months and the snow, Jones already feels a bond with the area.

"I've made a lot of great friends here and made a lot of great bonds playing with so many people from last year and this year," Jones said. "Making new friends here and there, meeting new people, helping people out."