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Shenandoah’s Boone Jones helps Ohio pitch shutout

Lowest scoring game in history of BACF series

Photo by Jay W. Bennett Ohio’s Boone Jones (20) returns a kick during Friday’s Battle Against Cystic Fibrosis All-Star Football Classic at Bill Hanlin Stadium in St. Marys. Jones helped the Ohio defense pitch a shutout and come away with a 7-0 win. He was named Ohio’s Most Valuable Player.

ST. MARYS — Boone Jones would’ve gotten a save, if football had a similar category like baseball.

The Shenandoah High grad was mobbed by his Ohio BACF all-star teammates after breaking up a Hail Mary pass from West Virginia stars quarterback Ty Sturm to Gabe Ray on the final play of Friday night’s game at St. Marys High’s Bill Hanlin Stadium.

Jones’ defensive secondary gem preserved a 7-0 Ohio triumph over West Virginia, and earned him the Ohio Most Valuable Player award. Josh Kay of Ripley was WV’s MVP.

“I was in position when I saw the ball come out, and I just tried to make a play,” said Jones, the captain of the Ohio defense. “That’s all I did.

“It (pass) hit his (Ray’s) hands, and I tried to put the forehead of my helmet through the ball. That way, it dislodged the ball, and it came out. It worked out perfect.”

Jones’ Buckeye defensive unit limited West Virginia’s to 90 total yards, 34 of which came in the opening half, and eight first downs (one in the first half).

“It was our defensive play that helped win it,” Jones said. “That’s how we like it.”

Mike DeVol said that Ohio’s defense played a “fantastic game.”

“They played extremely well,” said the BACF Ohio all-star head coach. “I thought both sides should be proud of what they did. It’s a game everybody should be proud of.”

The only score in the contest came in the first quarter when Ohio QB Logan Drummer of Southern hit Zac Jones of Monroe Central with a 45-yard scoring strike. Drummer finished with 104 passing yards on 3 of 5 completions and certainly was a candidate for Ohio MVP.

Another Ohio player in the running was 230-pound workhorse Jesse Collins of Belpre who rushed for 113 yards on 23 carries.

“Jesse’s going to West Liberty, and I think he’s going to have a great career,” DeVol said. “And I think he loves football enough that one of these days he’s going to get into coaching.”

Jones and Kay are also planning to compete at the next level this upcoming football season.

“I’m going to Marietta College to play for Andy Waddle,” Jones said.

And so is Kay.

“I think I’m going to be playing strong safety there,” Jones added. “But I’ll play wherever they ask me to. I’ll play anywhere on the field. I’ll do my job.”

At Shenandoah, Jones took center snaps for the Zeps, and was an All-Ohio honoree in his junior season. Last fall, he broke his foot against Shadyside, but “played through it.”

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