Jones stretches Pirates' offense

SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. -- When you're a part of the same small-school football program as your older brother, comparisons are inevitable.

But for South Pittsburg senior Malcolm Jones the similarity is not with his older brother, former Pirates all-state running back Robert Robinson, but with another member of the Pirates' 2007 state championship team. From his slight build, breakaway speed and even jersey number (21), Jones more closely resembles former all-state receiver Rashawn Weatherspoon, now playing at Tennessee State University.

The 6-foot, 160-pound Jones is a matchup nightmare whose threat as a receiver makes him as responsible for creating gaping holes for Pirates runners as any offensive lineman. His big-play ability prevents opponents from keying on dual-threat quarterback Terrell Robinson or running back Raquis Hale.

"We still want to run the ball, but the threat of throwing to him opens everything else up for us," Pirates coach Vic Grider said. "The whole key for our offense this year is balance."

Going into tonight's Class 1A quarterfinal game against Gordonsville, third-ranked South Pittsburg averages 260 rushing and 150 passing yards. The fastest player on a team loaded with speed, Jones has accumulated 1,413 total yards, averaging 18 yards every time he touches the ball as a receiver, runner and kick returner. He also has made 42 tackles and intercepted three passes, and opposing teams have been so alert to limit Jones' touches that only seven of 60 punts have been returnable.

"Most teams just kick it out of bounds or as far away from him as they can," said Grider, who timed Jones at 4.3 seconds in the 40-yard dash last summer. "He gives us that extra dimension, and that's why we want to get him the ball any way we can.

"People don't challenge him much either on defense, either. They throw away from his side. We can put him on an island and know that he will lock down that side, and that's a huge plus for us. Malcolm is just a weapon anywhere on the field."

After living with his father in Alabama for two years, Jones returned to South Pittsburg last year. Before he stepped onto the football field, school principal Allen Pratt gave him some advice that changed his whole outlook.

"I really didn't care a whole lot about my grades at that time, to be honest," Jones said. "But Coach Pratt was really the first person who stayed on me that if I wanted to do anything with myself, I had to bring my grades up. Otherwise, I wasn't going anywhere. I worked as hard on bringing my grades up as I did in football."

Jones' ACT scores returned earlier this week, and he learned he is academically qualified for college. He has been recruited by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee State and Eastern Kentucky.

"I was so happy I started running down the hall at school celebrating," Jones said. "It shows that hard work really does pay off in anything.

"Now I'm not thinking about anything but this next playoff game. I'm absolutely starving for a ring. All our other seniors have one, and my brother has one that he puts in my face all the time. Every time that ball is coming to me, I want to make a big play to help us get closer to getting one of my own."