The Jones Longhorns took control early Friday night, scoring on their first possession and never surrendering the lead on their way to a 41-14 win over Meeker.
Now 4-1 for the season and one of three teams unbeaten in district two weeks into league play, Jones looked and played like a perennial power.
“I thought this was the best game we’ve played all season, against the best team we’ve played all season,”
Meeker coach D.J. Howell said after the game. “We tried to make some adjustments to take away some things, and we did.
“Then they adjusted back and we did and it kind of went back and forth like that. That’s why the game was close for as long as it was. They made a couple of adjustments there at the end that we didn’t have an answer for.”
Even though Meeker held a slight edge in time of possession, Jones held the Bulldogs to 10 first downs and 254 yards of total offense.
Jones had 24 first downs and 362 yards.
“I thought we played a good game against a really good team and, in the end, they made more plays than we did,” Howell said. “I’m happy about the fact that we played hard. And it’s like I told the guys: ‘The moment we walk off this field, we’re talking about Chandler now.’”
Now 2-3 for the year and 1-1 in district play, Meeker hosts Chandler at 7 p.m. Friday.
“That’s the only thing that matters,” Howell said. “This game, we’re going to leave it right here and get ready for Chandler.”
Meeker’s scores came on a 31-yard pass from Martin to junior J.J. Bloomer midway through the first period and a 19-yard run by Martin just before half.
Bloomer had two catches for 49 yards and sophomore Zach Cook led the team with 65 yards rushing.