Salem High freshman Zaire Jones impressive in debut

  • 09/27 - 11:00 AM FootballFinal
    Gloucester 24
    Salem 20
Complete Box Score »

SALEM -- Zaire Jones scored a touchdown on the first carry of his high school career. He followed that with a second touchdown on his fourth carry.

It was the first varsity action for the highly ­touted freshman at Salem High, and he didn't disappoint. On his first carry, he lined up in the Wildcat formation with the ball on Gloucester's 8-­yard line. Jones received the snap, dashed right, then cut up the field for the score, capping the Rams' opening drive to start the third quarter.

Gloucester went on to win, 24-20.

“I just saw the cutback and took (the lane) and touchdown,” Jones said. His touchdown brought the Rams to within two points, trimming Gloucester City's lead to 14­-12.

Jones was able to get playing time because senior Dione Alston, the starter and star of the Rams offense, had battled a thigh injury the past week. Jones was not eligible to play in the first half, however, according to Salem head coach Dennis Thomas.

"Zaire is a special talent," the coach said. "If certain things (hadn't) happened outside of the football field, Zaire would have started the game.”

After only two carries, Alston left the game and didn't reenter until late in the second half.

“Dione was hurt all week," Thomas said. "We knew that going in. He went in the game and re-aggravated it early on.”

That opened up playing time for Jones, who took full advantage of the opportunity. Jones would finish the game with four carries for 40 yards and the two touchdowns.

That's high praise for a freshman who had his first carry in the second half of the team's third game. But Jones proved that the expectations were justified. He scored his second touchdown on his fourth carry, taking a hand­off from quarterback Shareef Jefferies on Gloucester City's 20-­yard line, cutting to the outside and out-running the defense to the pylon. That brought Gloucester City's lead down to 24­20, but that would be the last score of the game.

Although Thomas describes Jones as a player of few words, it's not due to a lack of confidence. When asked if Jones were ready to take over the running back duties in the next couple of years, Thomas said, “He would say he's taking over now.”

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.