Jones rolls past Seminole in Legacy Classic 43-21

The Jones High offense was flying high Saturday night against Seminole in the Legacy Classic at Camping World Stadium.

Jones quarterback Dereon Coleman threw for 257 yards (11 of 20) and four touchdowns, receiver Vernell Brown III had 4 catches for 102 yards and a touchdown along with an 85-yard punt return, and Larry Miles had 4 catches for 132 yards, including a 99-yard touchdown pass, as Jones rolled past Seminole 43-21.

The Jones defense also came up with big plays, with freshman defensive back Demetre Pryor making a pair of interceptions, one of which he returned for a 75-yard touchdown, and Courtney Patterson also had a pick. Defensive tackle Mykell Reid had a big game with a pair of sacks and a fumble recovery.

“We knew our offense would probably be clicking a little better than our defense right now and in the first half we scored on every drive,” Jones coach Elijah Williams said of the Tigers taking a 28-7 halftime lead.

“On defense we lost everybody [from last year], but they did a nice job flying around and made some turnovers in the red zone, scored on defense. We got some guys, but we just gotta slow them down. They will hit you, though. We just gotta play smarter.”

Seminole could not seem to get out of the way of itself. Miscues foiled several drives. Dropped balls and turnovers were a problem and the ball just didn’t bounce Seminole’s way at times. The ‘Noles had a chance to score with 1st-and-goal at the Jones 1-yard line and could not punch it in, turning the ball over on downs. Penalties were also costly.

The Seminoles had three trips inside the 10-yard line and came up empty-handed after a turnover on downs, an interception and a fumble.

“Yeah, turnovers, special-teams misfunctions … just sloppy, but no excuses,” Seminole coach Karl Calhoun said. “We played bad and Jones played well. We just gotta learn from this and capitalize on our next opportunity.”

The ‘Noles did move the ball at times and quarterback Michael Clayton completed 25 of 40 passes for 314 yards but threw three interceptions and had no touchdown passes. Several receivers had nice games, but dropped passes were also an issue. Olympia transfer Xavier Tucker caught 10 balls for 116 yards, David Parks caught 7 passes for 80 yards and Javien Thames caught 7 for 72 yards.

“We saw things we liked, but we gotta finish drives, can’t turn the ball over, gotta catch the ball,” Calhoun said. “Defensively we have to tackle and all of those things that showed early, but we’ll correct it.”

LIVE GAME UPDATES:

Final score is Jones 43, Seminole 21.

TOUCHDOWN : Jones quarterback Dereon Coleman threw to Larry Miles on 3rd-and-10 at the 1-yard line and Miles goes 99 yards for a touchdown. Jones now leads 43-21. The extra point kick was blocked. One minute left in the game.

Seminole was threatening again with 20 seconds to go with the ball inside the Jones’ 10-yard line. But Jones freshman Demetre Pryor snags his second interception of the game in the end zone, and Jones will take victory formation in this one.

Seminole got big pass plays during a 79-yard drive with Michael Clayton hitting Devin Voltaire, Javier Thames and Xavier Tucker to move the ball. The ‘Noles had the ball 3rd-and-goal at the 3 when Jones defensive lineman Mykell Reid sacked Clayton for a 7-yard loss. On fourth down Clayton hit Javien Thames with a 9-yard pass but he was stopped at the 1 yard line. Turnover on downs.

A 54-yard field goal attempt by Jones kicker Kason Mullis is no good. Tigers lead 37-21 with 4:27 remaining in the game.

TOUCHDOWN : Seminole receiver Devin Voltaire had a huge catch for 23 yards on a 4th-and-10 pass from Michael Clayton. David Parks punched it in for the score from the 1-yard line after several penalties.  Jones leads Seminole 37-21 with 8:35 to go in the game.

Jones leads 37-14 going into the fourth quarter.

FIELD GOAL : Jones kicker Kason Mullis hits a 33-yarder. Jones leads 37-14 with 2:25 remaining in the third quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff Jones receiver Larry Miles returns the ball 50 yards To the 25 yard line. Jones back in business.

TOUCHDOWN : Seminole running back Rodney Grant fumbled heading towards the end zone at the 5-yard line, but teammate Javien Thames picked up the ball and carried it into the end zone for the score. Jones leads 34-14 with 4:40 to go in the third quarter. On the Seminole scoring drive, Jones had two penalties for 25 yards.

TOUCHDOWN : Jones freshman Demetre Pryor intercepts a Michael Clayton pass and returns it 75 yards for a touchdown. The Tigers lead Seminole 34–7 with 9:12 to go in the third quarter. The extra point kick was blocked.

Seminole was hampered by five penalties for minus-35 yards in the first half.

Jones receiver Vernell Brown III is having a big night. The Gators commit has an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown and 3 catches for 90 yards and another touchdown.

HALFTIME: Jones 28, Seminole 7

TURNOVER : With Seminole threatening near the end of the first half on second-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Luis Ojeda-Robles fumbles a pitch from Michael Clayton and Jones hops on it, recovered by Mykell Reid.

TOUCHDOWN : Vernell Brown III returns a Seminole punt 85 yards to the end zone. With the TD Jones leads Seminole 28–7 with 4:54 to go before halftime.

TOUCHDOWN : Dereon Coleman hits Walki Ambroise with an 8-yard scoring pass. Jones now leads Seminole 21–7, 8:42 2nd quarter.

Seminole’s Michael Clayton hits Rodney Grant with 30-yard pass, but the play is called back for holding. Three plays later Jones defensive back Courtney Patterson intercepts a Clayton pass, Jones has the ball at the Seminole 37-yard line at 9:48 of the second quarter.

TOUCHDOWN : A drive highlighted by a 52-yard pass play from Dereon Coleman to Vernell Brown III, ends with Jones scoring  on a 4-yard Coleman pass to Jaquail Smith to start the second quarter. Tigers lead Seminole 14–7.

TOUCHDOWN : Highlighted by two big pass plays from quarterback Michael Clayton to David Parks, Seminole gets on the board with a 3-yard touchdown run from Parks. Jones and Seminole tied  7–7 at 3:10 of the first quarter.

TOUCHDOWN : Jones hits pay dirt first with a 34-yard scoring pass from Dereon Coleman to Vernell Brown III. Tigers lead Seminole 7-0 at 8:03 of the first quarter.

Chris Hays can be contacted by email at chays@orlandosentinel.com