Jones runs wild as Columbus East dominates New Palestine 49-14
By CRAIG DRAGASH
ISL Correspondent
COLUMBUS, Ind. — Columbus East junior running back Markell Jones took care of the offense, and the defense took care of the rest in a 49-14 win over previously unbeaten New Palestine in a Class 4A semistate game.
Jones rumbled for 318 yards and four touchdowns. He ran through, around, and past the Dragons’ defense all night. He broke tackles, and when he got in the open field, he outran defenders to the end zone.
Jones deflected credit after the game.
“Coach (Bob) Gaddis always preaches that it starts up front,” said Jones. “Our offensive line did a heck of a job today.”
The Olympians held the Dragons offense to 114 total yards on the evening as they advanced to the state title game for the first time since 1979. Gaddis said the defense was as important as Jones’ offensive explosion.
“Our defense played big tonight,” said Gaddis, who is making his first trip to the state finals as the Olympians’ head coach. “That’s a great offense, and we did a great job of stopping them.”
East will face Fort Wayne Dwenger (11-3), a 38-0 winner over East Chicago Central in the other semistate contest, in the state final next Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Columbus East took advantage of a huge field position advantage in the first quarter with the wind behind its back. The Olympians’ first possession came at the New Palestine 23-yard line after a 4-yard punt by Seth Rowe. Their next two drives would start from their 49 and the 50, and they scored on both, taking a 21-0 lead into the second quarter.
Their next possession resulted in a fumble by Jones that was recovered by the Dragons, and New Palestine had the ball with its best field position at the Olympians’ 37. But they could not capitalize on the turnover as Columbus East’s defense held on fourth-and-five.
Jones added his second touchdown on the night from 19 yards out, and the rout was on.
At the end of the half, it looked as though Columbus East would add to its lead. The Olympians lined up for a 31-yard field goal with nine seconds left in the half, but Garrett Kuhn blocked it, picked up the ball and ran 75 yards for the touchdown.
New Palestine would get no closer.
