Jones Practice Report

Get 25% Off Your Subscription By Entering Knight25 In The Coupon Code Area. Enjoy!   The Jones Longhorns came into the 2024 football season as the number three-ranked team in Class 2A-1. After two games, the Longhorns have certainly lived up to the preseason hype and they look like a team that has what it takes to make a run to the state championship. They took care of business in week zero with a blowout win over Luther. They followed that up with an impressive shutout victory over Kiefer in week one. While Kiefer got hit by graduation and has several new faces on both sides of the ball, that's still a team that made it to the semifinals a year ago.   Speaking of the semifinals, the Longhorns made it to the Class 2A semifinals a year ago and came up short to eventual state champion Washington. Jones certainly hasn't forgotten that feeling and while they don't have Washington on their schedule, they're working to see the top-ranked Warriors again when it matters the most in November or December. Before they can think about that, they have to worry about Friday's clash with 4A's #8 Bethany and then arguably one of the toughest districts in the state, regardless of class.   As for the match-up on Friday night, this has become a very intriguing non-district clash every season since they started playing in 2020. Because it feels like in each of the last four seasons, both teams were ranked in their respective classes and that's what we like about both Bethany and Jones. They are not afraid to schedule tough non-district competition. This match-up is also taking place a few weeks later than normal. They started playing in non-district play in 2020 and have kicked off each of the last four seasons against one another. The winner of Friday's game will have the edge in the series as it's currently tied at two wins a piece. Jones won 26-14 last season while Bethany won the previous two meetings.   Below, we take a look at five players from Jones to keep an eye on this week but more importantly, throughout the 2024 football season.   JONES' PLAYERS TO WATCH   [player_tooltip player_id='1179996' first='Acyn' last='Hansen'] - Junior Quarterback   There are a handful of programs where it doesn't matter what year it is, you just trust that they'll be just fine at quarterback and Jones is one of those programs. Junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1179996' first='Acyn' last='Hansen'] is the next guy in charge of the Jones offense and he is off to a fantastic start through two games. He had a solid game as a passer and a runner in the season opener and then took his game to another level last week in the shutout win over Kiefer. Hansen was incredibly efficient, going 14-18 for nearly 300 yards and three touchdowns and he also added a touchdown on the ground. Hansen has been lights out so far.   [player_tooltip player_id='867295' first='Creighton' last='Jones'] - Senior Wide Receiver   While Hansen has had a strong start to the season, senior wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='867295' first='Creighton' last='Jones'] has emerged as his top target early on this fall. Jones is the team's leading receiver coming into this week and it will be interesting to see how he attacks a Bethany secondary that features some dudes who should end up at the next level. The senior wideout got off to a fast start this season in the opener against Luther. He caught three touchdowns in the opener alone and leads the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns through the first two games. Jones is a good athlete that looks to be primed for a big senior season.   [player_tooltip player_id='587272' first='Luke' last='DeBusk'] - Junior Linebacker   Jones junior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='587272' first='Luke' last='DeBusk'] has been on our radar since his freshman season and this year, it's no surprise that he's the team's leading tackler through the first two games. And as we start to look ahead to this match-up with Bethany, DeBusk is going to have a big role. Bethany has a running back who has gone for more than 100 yards and three touchdowns in each of his first two games. DeBusk and the Jones front seven against then Bethany rushing attack will be a match-up we're watching on Friday night. The Jones junior is without a doubt one of the best linebackers in Class 2A-1 and the production backs that up.   Mason Templeton - Senior Athlete   Senior Mason Templeton has been one of the better two-way players for the Longhorns so far this season. But when you look at his production, you have to look at the defensive side of the ball. Templeton is right behind DeBusk for the lead in tackles with 16 on the young season. And he's coming off arguably his best defensive game where they shut out Kiefer 33-0. Templeton finished the night with eight tackles, a sack and an interception in the win. And while Templeton's defense is what gets our attention so far this season, don't overlook what he's going to be able to do at wide receiver on offense.   [player_tooltip player_id='1187313' first='Riley' last='Ellefson'] - Senior Tight End   Our final player to watch from the Longhorns is senior tight end [player_tooltip player_id='1187313' first='Riley' last='Ellefson'] and he's one of the better prospects in Friday's match-ups. Ellefson is a 2025 prospect that we like a lot after watching him in person and on film over the last 12 months. And so far through the first two games, Ellefson has been productive but he could also see that production go up in a major way this week. Bethany provides a strong challenge and they have some good players within the secondary. That could open things up for Ellefson to do work as the ultimate "safety valve" for the Jones passing attack on Friday night.

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