Walking off their Tom Weathers Field as TSSAA Region 3-4A football champions for the second year in a row, Red Bank senior quarterback Austin Jones took a moment to reflect on how staying the course helped the Lions accomplish their No. 1 goal for the regular season.
Jones was sensational in Friday’s 30-15 home win over Loudon, when he ran for 177 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown to put the game away, while also throwing for 123 yards and scores of 3, 17, and 71 yards.
The dual-threat quarterback broke the spirits of the Redskins when he uncorked a deep strike to his cousin Marcus Jones deep down the home sideline for his longest touchdown of the game, providing a 23-15 lead in the fourth quarter.
“With the ups and downs we have faced throughout this season, tonight is a testament to how we just continued to believe and continued to work. We refuse to quit,” Jones said. “We knew that if we kept working hard, we would be rewarded. And trusting in God’s timing has been big for me.
“That throw to Marcus was special to me, too. We have been playing in the back yard together since we were little kids. I always know where he is going to be. We have a wonderful connection. That’s my brother.”