Cherokee's Jones state's new career passing leader
By Jerry Giese, Journal sports writer | Posted: Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Little did Tyler Jones know he'd become a record-setting quarterback.
As a freshman at Cherokee High School, Jones saw his first varsity action in the fourth quarter of a 35-7 loss to Battle Creek-Ida Grove. He was perfect in seven pass attempts for 80 yards and threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Christopher Campbell.
Three seasons later, the 6-foot, 170-pound senior has become the career passing leader in Iowa football history with 7,789 yards. A 12 of 27 effort for 141 yards and a touchdown pass to Nick Parker in last Friday's 31-27 Class 2A District 2 loss to Okoboji pushed the Sioux City Journal's Siouxland Athlete of the Week past Keokuk's James Vandenberg, who graduated last year with 7,701 yards.
"It's been a lot of hard work ever since I found out I had a chance to get the record," said Jones, who also has state records for completions in a career (668), a game (42) and a season (287), the latter two coming in 2006 when the Braves, then coached by Tony Napierala, went 6-4 and fell 54-28 in the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs to Estherville-Lincoln Central.
"There's a lot of fine quarterbacks I passed like Matt Sherman, who played at Iowa and James Vandenberg, who is now playing at Iowa, so to go after them is a big honor," added the 17-year-old son of Dawn and Trent Coombs of Cherokee.
"It took a lot of help from my teammates. The line helps with the blocking. The receivers run good routes and make the catches.
"When Coach (Napierala) told me I'd be the starter as a freshman, I didn't know what the seniors would think. I was good friends with them at the time. All I wanted to do was play good for the seniors and make sure I was good enough to play at their level."
Among the receivers early in Jones' career was Campbell, who graduated last year with a state-record 225 receptions, which included 94 catches in 2006. Incidentally, Campbell's older brother Brock caught a single-season record 95 passes in 2003 with Korey Stephens (5,787 career yards) at quarterback.
And, with talented receivers this season like senior Matt Koch (15 catches, 141 yards, 2 TDs), Jones has a chance to become the first quarterback in state history to pass for over 2,000 yards in three straight seasons. Heading into Friday's home district game against Pocahontas Area, Jones has passed for 553 yards and six touchdowns for a hard-luck 0-3 club that has two losses by a touchdown or less.
Koch was one of three receivers with three catches against Okoboji. Classmates Kyle Schuck (12 catches, 122 yards, 2 TDs) and Kyle Schuett (11, 91, 1) are also among Jones' targets.
"Tyler sees the field well and has a good feel for what his receivers can do," said Neil Phipps, who shares co-head coach duties with Kurt Reynolds. They were assistants under Napierala, now the head coach at Muscatine.
"Tyler has good vision and good sense in the pocket. He doesn't get rattled or get down on himself. He looks forward to the next play."
Phipps and Reynolds are stressing a balanced offense that also features Schuett as a running back. A 177-yard, three-touchdown effort against Okoboji hiked the season total for last year's Class 2A 100-meter state champion to 270 yards and five scores.
"Schuett's a powerful young man who is tough to bring down as a running back," said Phipps. "As a receiver, he's tough. If he runs inside, the defense will respect that and it will open up a passing window. If we get things clicking, we'll be tough to defend, that's for sure."
Jones carried nine times for 45 yards in the loss.
"On the draw, Tyler is quick and elusive, not as fast as Schuett, but not many are," said Phipps. "Tyler's quick laterally."
"Coach Reynolds is a good run coach and Coach Phipps works with the line on blocking," said Jones, a catcher for Cherokee baseball teams that won the Class 2A state tournament in 2007 and placed second at state a year later. "We got off to a slow start, but we ran well against Okoboji. Once the running game starts going, the pass will be more effective."
Jones is optimistic the Braves will score their first winning season since 2006, when he passed for, then, a record 3,287 yards, a total that was passed by Vandenberg last year when he threw for 3,729 while leading Keokuk to the Class 3A state championship.
"We can make it to the playoffs," said Jones. "Our seniors are great. We all get along with each other and that's what you need to get deep in the playoffs.
"It's a relief the record is over because everyone was talking about it. I just want to win games. We're playing better now so we should get a lot of wins."
SPECIAL MENTION
Football
Jordan Gacke, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock: The senior quarterback passed for three touchdowns and ran for two scores in a 35-7 win over previously-undefeated Unity Christian.
Jared Curry, Ponca: The junior running back rushed for 151 yards and four touchdowns and also had a 47-yard kickoff return in the Indians' 36-29 loss to Creighton.
NOTE: Nominations (from coaches only) can be directed to the Journal's sports department at 1-800-397-9820, extension 4206.
As a freshman at Cherokee High School, Jones saw his first varsity action in the fourth quarter of a 35-7 loss to Battle Creek-Ida Grove. He was perfect in seven pass attempts for 80 yards and threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Christopher Campbell.
Three seasons later, the 6-foot, 170-pound senior has become the career passing leader in Iowa football history with 7,789 yards. A 12 of 27 effort for 141 yards and a touchdown pass to Nick Parker in last Friday's 31-27 Class 2A District 2 loss to Okoboji pushed the Sioux City Journal's Siouxland Athlete of the Week past Keokuk's James Vandenberg, who graduated last year with 7,701 yards.
"It's been a lot of hard work ever since I found out I had a chance to get the record," said Jones, who also has state records for completions in a career (668), a game (42) and a season (287), the latter two coming in 2006 when the Braves, then coached by Tony Napierala, went 6-4 and fell 54-28 in the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs to Estherville-Lincoln Central.
"There's a lot of fine quarterbacks I passed like Matt Sherman, who played at Iowa and James Vandenberg, who is now playing at Iowa, so to go after them is a big honor," added the 17-year-old son of Dawn and Trent Coombs of Cherokee.
"It took a lot of help from my teammates. The line helps with the blocking. The receivers run good routes and make the catches.
"When Coach (Napierala) told me I'd be the starter as a freshman, I didn't know what the seniors would think. I was good friends with them at the time. All I wanted to do was play good for the seniors and make sure I was good enough to play at their level."
Among the receivers early in Jones' career was Campbell, who graduated last year with a state-record 225 receptions, which included 94 catches in 2006. Incidentally, Campbell's older brother Brock caught a single-season record 95 passes in 2003 with Korey Stephens (5,787 career yards) at quarterback.
And, with talented receivers this season like senior Matt Koch (15 catches, 141 yards, 2 TDs), Jones has a chance to become the first quarterback in state history to pass for over 2,000 yards in three straight seasons. Heading into Friday's home district game against Pocahontas Area, Jones has passed for 553 yards and six touchdowns for a hard-luck 0-3 club that has two losses by a touchdown or less.
Koch was one of three receivers with three catches against Okoboji. Classmates Kyle Schuck (12 catches, 122 yards, 2 TDs) and Kyle Schuett (11, 91, 1) are also among Jones' targets.
"Tyler sees the field well and has a good feel for what his receivers can do," said Neil Phipps, who shares co-head coach duties with Kurt Reynolds. They were assistants under Napierala, now the head coach at Muscatine.
"Tyler has good vision and good sense in the pocket. He doesn't get rattled or get down on himself. He looks forward to the next play."
Phipps and Reynolds are stressing a balanced offense that also features Schuett as a running back. A 177-yard, three-touchdown effort against Okoboji hiked the season total for last year's Class 2A 100-meter state champion to 270 yards and five scores.
"Schuett's a powerful young man who is tough to bring down as a running back," said Phipps. "As a receiver, he's tough. If he runs inside, the defense will respect that and it will open up a passing window. If we get things clicking, we'll be tough to defend, that's for sure."
Jones carried nine times for 45 yards in the loss.
"On the draw, Tyler is quick and elusive, not as fast as Schuett, but not many are," said Phipps. "Tyler's quick laterally."
"Coach Reynolds is a good run coach and Coach Phipps works with the line on blocking," said Jones, a catcher for Cherokee baseball teams that won the Class 2A state tournament in 2007 and placed second at state a year later. "We got off to a slow start, but we ran well against Okoboji. Once the running game starts going, the pass will be more effective."
Jones is optimistic the Braves will score their first winning season since 2006, when he passed for, then, a record 3,287 yards, a total that was passed by Vandenberg last year when he threw for 3,729 while leading Keokuk to the Class 3A state championship.
"We can make it to the playoffs," said Jones. "Our seniors are great. We all get along with each other and that's what you need to get deep in the playoffs.
"It's a relief the record is over because everyone was talking about it. I just want to win games. We're playing better now so we should get a lot of wins."
SPECIAL MENTION
Football
Jordan Gacke, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock: The senior quarterback passed for three touchdowns and ran for two scores in a 35-7 win over previously-undefeated Unity Christian.
Jared Curry, Ponca: The junior running back rushed for 151 yards and four touchdowns and also had a 47-yard kickoff return in the Indians' 36-29 loss to Creighton.
NOTE: Nominations (from coaches only) can be directed to the Journal's sports department at 1-800-397-9820, extension 4206.
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