Issac Jones and the Port Arthur Memorial Titans are dealing with a lot more than just the La Porte Bulldogs.
Jones, the team’s starting center, and the rest of the Titans had to deal with the sudden death of offensive line coach John Clayton Jr. on Saturday.
The Titans are now focused on playing the rest of this season in honor of Clayton Jr.
“We were always family,” Jones said. “We are a brotherhood but now since Coach Clayton has been gone, we have come even closer together. We were all so close to him, especially the offensive line. We have to play for him.”
Jones and the Titans line has seen drastic improvements over the last several games. It has been evident by the way the Titans running backs have picked up yards. Kameron Martin, before two games ago, had no 100-yard games and no touchdowns. Martin has rushed for 331 yards and five touchdowns in the last two games.
“If the line gets our blocks, with Kameron and Marcus (Younger), you look up five seconds later and they are in the end zone,” Jones said. “Then, we go get a break and do it all over again.
“I love being on the line. There is a lot of contact down there. We don’t get a lot of publicity. If we get our backs in the end zone, that is what we want. We take pride in that.”
Jones said the difference over the last two weeks has been simple — focus.
“The last two games, we have been getting our minds right and more focused,” Jones added. “We knew we had to put in the work and get our back to score touchdowns. Both runners are very fast.”
Jones is a first-year starter who was on varsity last season. He got some experience and has been with the program since his freshman year.
Now he and the Titans are trying to start a winning streak to get themselves back in the playoff race.
“We are going to take it one game at a time,” Jones said. “We can’t focus on the next opponent. Last week was a big win. It was our first district win and now we have to build from there. We just needed a boost of momentum.”