Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter /
Central's Hunter Jones (4) hits Walker Valley's Griffin Broome (2) during the first game of the Chattanooga Kickoff Classic at Finley Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018 in Chattanooga, Tenn.
BMW Performance of the Week
On a team loaded with big-play threats, Hunter Jones made sure his name was added to the list of playmakers for Central High School.
The junior two-way starter kick-started the Purple Pounders' 40-28 win over Walker Valley last Thursday with a 65-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to put his team ahead for good. He added an 88-yard scoring sprint less than 30 seconds into the second half and finished with seven carries for 171 yards and also made 12 total tackles, four for loss with a sack.
That earned the junior this week's BMW Performance of the Week honor. The Times Free Press and a BMW representative will be on campus at Central on Thursday for a Facebook live interview with Hunter Jones and Pounders first-year head coach Curt Jones, no relation.
"The first thing I noticed when I got here was how hard Hunter works," Coach Jones said. "It was constant effort, and even some of the seniors would gravitate to him because of it. In our first scrimmage, the first time he touched it he put his foot in the ground and took one to the house. I told our other coaches, we've got another one."
With the Mustangs defense keyed on Central's all-state runner Michael McGhee, last year's region offensive player of the year, Hunter Jones stepped up, helping to open things up for an offense that had four runs of more than 50 yards.
"He got us going the other night with that first big run," Coach Jones added. "He's told me and the rest of the team that he wants to be mentioned with Michael as far as being one of our main guys. He's created some good competition on the team."
Hunter Jones rarely came off the field, fighting through cramps in the second half of a humid season opener.
"On that first touchdown run, my eyes opened real wide when I saw that lane open up," he said. "My heart started beating faster because I knew it would be our first real touchdown of the seaon.
"I feel like I can be a real help to the team, and I was just trying to make people know about me."
AP polls released
The first Associated Press statewide polls were released Monday evening, and three teams from the Chattanooga area are ranked No. 2 in their respective classifications.
McCallie is ranked No. 2 in Division II-AAA, while Meigs County came in at No. 2 in Class 2A and South Pittsburg No. 2 in 1A. Notre Dame is ranked third in Division II-AA and Baylor is fourth in D-II AAA. Also in 2A, Tyner is ranked fifth and Marion County eighth, Red Bank is fifth in 3A and Whitwell is sixth in 1A. Bradley Central debuted at No. 10 in 6A.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.