Jones Senior Middle caps turnaround season with 12-0 shutout of Rochelle

Information supplied by Coach Christopher Davis

JONES COUNTY — A year ago, Jones Senior Middle School’s football team finished its season without a win. On Thursday, the Trojans closed out their 2026 campaign with a 12-0 shutout of Rochelle, completing a turnaround that head coach Christopher Davis hopes will carry over to the high school program.

The victory gave Jones Senior a 2-2 conference record and a share of second place, a significant improvement for a program that struggled throughout the previous season.

Gage Griffin led the offense with two touchdowns, accounting for all 12 points. Defensively, Carter Johnson and Peyton Downs each recorded an interception as the Trojans kept Rochelle off the scoreboard.

For Davis, the season finale was about more than another victory.

“It was a big game for us,” Davis said. “It was a game that was pretty much a make-or-break game.”

With second place in the conference on the line, Jones Senior delivered. The matchup also carried personal significance for the Johnson twins, who Davis said were playing against their father.

The improvement came despite a challenging start to the season.

Davis arrived approximately two weeks before the team’s first game, leaving limited time to prepare his players. Early struggles included a 46-point loss, but the Trojans gradually became more competitive and eventually turned those lessons into victories.

“It was a good year,” Davis said. “We had fun.”

Perhaps the biggest impact of this season won’t be fully realized until next fall.

Jones Senior’s roster featured 16 eighth-graders who will move on to the high school level. Davis believes that group can make an immediate contribution to Jones Senior’s varsity football program.

He said the incoming players represent a strong group of young talent, while the middle school program will begin rebuilding through spring and summer preparation.

Davis also credited assistant coaches Herman Moore and Einspahr for their contributions throughout the season. He thanked his wife, Ashley Davis, for her support, along with Bobby Griffin and coach Stephen Perry for giving him the opportunity to lead the program.

The Trojans finished with two conference victories, a second-place tie and a shutout in their final game.

For a team that couldn’t find a win a season ago, those results represent measurable progress. And with 16 players moving up, the impact of this year’s turnaround could extend well beyond the middle school field.