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On Friday night, Jones played a different role for No. 7 Cedar Bluff in a Region 6 championship battle at home against third-ranked Spring Garden: quarterback.

The Tigers officially learned on Monday that former starting quarterback Josh Decker had decided to leave the team and transfer, and with the region championship at stake, Cedar Bluff head coach Jonathan McWhorter decided to split FridayÐÔÊӽ紫ý signal-calling duties between freshman Luke Hampton and Jones.

It turned out that decision worked out pretty well for them.

Jones ran for 260 yards on 20 carries and scored four touchdowns, but his biggest run of the night came on a fourth-and-1 at the Spring Garden 7-yard line with 1:09 left to play. He dashed for five yards to pick up a first down, enabling the Tigers to run out the clock in their 29-24 victory.

“We had to overcome a lot of adversity this week,â€� Jones said. “Nobody really believed we could do it except our team. When we’re doubted, thatÐÔÊӽ紫ý when we play our best. I’m just glad Coach Mac (McWhorter) believed in me to get the first down.â€�

Just about everyone at L.D. Bruce Field knew whose hands the ball would be in during that situation, and it was only fitting after the game Jones had.

“If we can’t get a yard there, then we don’t deserve to have it (the win),� McWhorter said. “Our guys ground it out, and we were able to run the clock out.�

Not only did the win give the Tigers (7-2, 6-0) their second straight region championship for the first time during McWhorterÐÔÊӽ紫ý tenure, it also secured a first-round home playoff game against Berry of Fayette (5-4) on Nov. 4.

“Dealing with as many injuries as we’ve had this year, and dealing with some challenging things, I’m just so proud our kids have stayed focused and continued to work hard. I can’t say enough about them,� McWhorter said. “We had a great week of practice. As coaches, we can prepare them, but when it comes down to coming out here and doing it, they have to perform. They did everything we asked them to do. This was really them tonight. They came out and wanted it and earned a region championship.�

Region runner-up Spring Garden (8-1, 5-1) also earned a home playoff game against South Lamar (6-3), but Panther head coach Jason Howard would have loved for his team to have tasted its first region championship in school history.

“There were big plays all night,â€� Howard said. “We get a touchdown taken off the board on a penalty and we don’t score. Their defense steps up and stops us at the one. On that last drive, we just couldn’t get a stop. (We had) a lot of things that could have, should have (happened), but thatÐÔÊӽ紫ý the way a region championship game should be played. I’d rather us come out on top, but our boys fought hard.â€�

Jones established his presence quickly in the first quarter. On the third play of the game, he bolted down the field for a 73-yard touchdown. Junior Nate TomeyÐÔÊӽ紫ý extra point gave Cedar Bluff a 7-0 lead.

The Panthers answered with an 8-play, 53-yard drive in which senior quarterback Ben Ivey bolted up the middle for a 5-yard touchdown run. Senior tailback Dakota Lambert ran in for the 2-point conversion, giving Spring Garden an 8-7 advantage with 6:56 remaining in the first quarter.

Ivey led Spring Garden 175 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns. He also completed 5-of-9 pass attempts for 53 yards and another score.

“He played real well,� Howard said of his quarterback. “The difference is he played four quarters tonight instead of playing 2 ½. He did what we expected him to do. I was proud of him, and our line played well also.�

Jones, along with sophomore tailback Ivory Starr, accounted for all the yards on a drive that began in the final minute of the first quarter, which was extended almost midway through the second. Jones capped the 12-play, 77-yard march with his second score – this one from two yards out. He also ran in the 2-point conversion, putting the Tigers back on top 15-8 with 7:38 remaining in the first half.

The Panthers drove down inside the Tiger 5-yard line on their ensuing possession, but Ivey was stopped one yard short of the end zone on a fourth-and-goal, turning the ball over on downs. Cedar Bluff managed to get into Spring Garden territory, but ran out of time with the first half score staying at 15-8 Tigers.

Cedar Bluff extended its lead after forcing the Panthers to punt on their first possession of the second half. Jones struck for a 52-yard touchdown run, putting the Tigers in front 21-8 with 10:21 left in the third quarter.

Desperately needing a score, the Panthers got just that on their next possession. Ivey capped a 5-play, 52-yard drive with his 9-yard touchdown toss to junior split end Dylan Rogers. Lambert took a pitch from Ivey on the 2-point conversion, bringing Spring Garden within five points at 21-16.

The Panther defense forced Cedar Bluff to punt, and the offense punched it in to put Spring Garden back out in front. Ivey scored on a 22-yard run, and LambertÐÔÊӽ紫ý 2-point pass to senior receiver Joe Rogers gave the Panthers a 24-21 lead with 1:23 left in the third quarter.

But Cedar Bluff countered again – this time on a 4-yard touchdown run by Jones just six seconds into the fourth quarter. He also ran in the 2-point conversion to give the Tigers a 29-24 advantage.

Spring Garden appeared as if it would match the Tiger touchdown again, but Ivey was sacked on a fourth-down play at the Tiger 26, turning the ball to Cedar Bluff with 7:12 left in the game.

Jones and Starr took care of things from there, eventually running out the clock for the Tigers.

“We had a big chip on our shoulder because everybody counted us out,â€� said Starr, who ran for 166 yards on 29 totes. “Everybody on this football team believed in ourselves, and thatÐÔÊӽ紫ý what helped us get the ‘W.’â€�

Senior fullback Quintin Downey delivered 54 yards on nine carries for the Panthers. Lambert added 32 yards on eight carries.

Spring Garden hosts Class 3A Pleasant Valley on Friday. Cedar Bluff closes out its regular season at Sand Rock.