NEDERLAND —  NEDERLAND -- One might picture the leader of Nederland's Bulldogs as a 6-6, 250-pound teen-ager who boasts of how big and strong and great he is.

  NHS senior Ben Jones provided the 6-6, 250-pound segment of that stereotype to his interview with The News.

  Ben just forgot to brag about his size, his strength, his greatness or anything else about himself.

  That's not in Ben's DNA. He wasn't constructed that way.

  The 17-year-old son of Rusty and Caroline reluctantly shared that his academic accomplishments placed him in the category of an A-B student.

  Ben plans to major in architectural engineering at a college but that college agenda also includes football. He's received recruiting attention from University of Houston, Lamar, McNeese State, Tulane and New Mexico so far.

  His best days of football may lie ahead for the three-year starting right offensive tackle.

  There's a special quality about Jones, though, which only a few high school interviews project. This listener could sense the respect and appreciation within Ben for his position coach, offensive line coach David Crommett.

  An outstanding position coach for more than 10 years at Big Ned and a former offensive chief at Port Neches-Groves, Crommett has been close to Ben's father, Rusty, since Jones was a sixth-grader.

  Crommett has coached some good ones at NHS but he figured that Ben has belonged among the top four of five ever during that time.

  "He has gone 180 degrees -- night and day -- from a year ago," Crommett said of Jones.

  By laboring in Nederland's ever-evolving offensive plans, Jones has adapted to the challenge of being a pass blocker against West Orange-Stark to being a run blocker against Goose Creek Memorial.

  The Bulldogs came to throw more in their opener. They came to run more last week. Who knows what happens Friday night when NHS visits Mont Belvieu for a 7 o'clock kickoff against Barbers Hill.

  "I like to run-block better," Jones said, stating the obvious. "With pass blocking, you've got more thinking. With run blocking, you just basically get to a man and hurt him."

  When Crommett realized the Bulldogs intended to run the ball more in Game 2, than in Game 1, he never panicked. He had faith in his experienced line which has consisted of four veteran interior blockers -- Jones, left tackle Andrew Lack, right guard A.J. Garza and left guard Austin Dial.

  What did Crommett tell his blockers before they changed from a pass-happy offense to a more run-oriented approach?

  "He just said, 'it is what it is' and 'let's get after it'," Jones said. "And he told us 'don't back down from anybody'."

  The Dogs followed his instructions, Ben led the way, and the offensive line has stayed the course as steadily as any portion of Nederland's football team through the early season.

  "We couldn't pick up the stunts and blitzes very well against Dayton," he said. "We functioned pretty well in the line against West Orange. And I saw holes as wide as I've ever seen last week. They (Goose Creek Memorial) basically took it after the first couple of quarters.... Right now, there's a great attitude that we can get anything done."

  In forming that attitude, the rest of the Bulldogs know where to look, too. The humble, young man wears No. 62.

 

Bulldog Bites

  Larry Neumann still is far from suiting out close to his full complement of key players due to this or that injury. WR-DB-QB Trevin Sonnier sustained a concussion last week and is out for the Barbers Hill game. WR Brent Salenga is questionable for the Friday trip with a tender hamstring. The strain developed in practice on Monday when Salenga was punting.... TB-DB Jake Kemp was expected to return to Friday's lineup at right safety but the valuable senior did not suit out last week because of groin strain.... Two starters who should return for Barbers Hill are junior defensive tackle E'Xavier Bill (ankle sprain) and junior left safety Brett Butler (concussion). Both missed the Goose Creek Memorial game last Friday..... Senior Holden Butler is listed as Sonnier's likely replacement at receiver this week. When the Bulldogs should go to a two-back set, speedy junior Edwin Nelson will join regular tailback Troy Benjamin behind QB Carson Raines.... Neumann should know senior QB-TE Dionte Forney's status going into the bye week but Forney would not be expected to play this week.... Regular outside backers Luke DeLord and Chris Roebuck led the tackle chart from last week. DeLord collected 8 tackles and 3 assists followed by Roebuck at 5 and 3....