
Shaquille Jones has set the bar high in Arkansas.
Phhoto courtesy of Glenn Gilley
It took
Shaquille Jones just 28 games to become the all-time career receptions leader in Arkansas high school football.
The 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior snared 12 passes for 100 yards and one touchdown as Northside (Fort Smith, Ark.) suffered a 63-28 loss to Bentonville (Ark.). That gave him 261 receptions over three years to surpass the previous record of 259, which was set in 40 games from 1998-2000.
Coach Darrell Henry is no stranger to records produced by his no-huddle, spread offense that utilizes four wide receivers.
"To me, it means a lot," he said. "Three years ago we had a quarterback who set some Class 7A state passing records. It tells us that our offensive system works and works well."
Jones has been a key member for three years, starting every game since he was a sophomore.
"We knew he was going to be big in our offense from day one," Henry noted. "You could tell he was beyond his years. He was never timid and never afraid to go across the middle. He accepted the challenge immediately and his sophomore year he just blossomed.
"Physically, he's got great hands, runs good routes and runs disciplined routes. You can have him pretty covered up and he'll still go up and get the ball."
Henry also looks to Jones for leadership. He pointed out, "He'll listen to his coaches and try to coach other kids on what they should do."
Jones, who also plays basketball and runs track, is famous for his big smile.
"He probably smiles more than any kid in school," Henry said.
Even though he is a marked man, Jones will continue to flash that big smile - and try to put his state record out of reach for future generations.
* Mathews (Va.) outlasted West Point (Va.), 73-64, behind its "Pony Express" backfield. James Pavik ran 26 times for 317 yards and six touchdowns, plus four 2-point conversions. Chris Davis added 223 yards and five touchdowns on just 16 carries.
* Marist (Chicago) nipped Joliet Catholic, 56-51, as Ian Woodworth threw for 557 yards (35 of 45) and four touchdowns.
* Fremont-Mills (Tabor, Iowa) running back Nate Meier rushed for 500 yards during an 80-49 victory over East Mills (Malvern, Iowa) to set a state record for 8-man football. The previous record was 492 yards, set in 2006. He also tied the state record of 10 touchdowns (nine rushing, one kickoff return) before sitting out the final nine minutes.
* Joey Counts ran 19 times for a state Division I-record 403 yards (five touchdowns) as Desert Ridge (Mesa, Ariz.) routed North Canyon (Phoenix), 63-14. The previous record of 380 yards had stood since 2008.
* Veteran coach Dale Mueller continues to develop great quarterbacks. Even with standout Patrick Towles injured in the first quarter, Highlands (Fort Thomas, Ky.) was able to post a 34-29 victory over Elder (Cincinnati). His heir apparent, junior Donovan McCoy, stepped out of his wide receiver role to pass for 246 yards and two touchdowns and deliver his unbeaten team its first win over powerhouse Elder since 1999.
* Ironwood (Glendale, Ariz.) nipped previously unbeaten Deer Valley (Glendale, Ariz.), 69-68, as Matt Paparella broke several tackles and dragged a couple defenders over the goal line to complete a 16-yard touchdown run with just 6 seconds remaining.
* Georgia resident London Lewis, a 6-1, 220-pound seventh grade two-way tackle at DeKalb County's Chapel Hill Middle School, has been invited to play in the 13-year-old division of the JuniorRank All-Star Game on Jan. 2 in Phoenix.
* Nine players scored touchdowns as St. Augustine (New Orleans) rolled past Riverdale (Jefferson, La.), 65-26.
* Webberville (Mich.) outlasted Bentley (Burton, Mich.), 64-62, in a five-overtime thriller.
* Luke Brower passed for 460 yards (33-50) and four touchdowns for Holland Christian (Mich.) during a 49-41 loss to Unity Christian (Hudsonville, Mich.).
* Playing just the first half, sophomore Jamauri Bogan ran 13 times for 300 yards and four touchdowns to help Union (N.J.) post a 55-19 victory over Hillsborough (N.J.).
*John Sieczkowski set a Shore Conference record by rushing for 425 yards as Manalapan (Englishtown, N.J.) defeated Howell (Farmingdale, N.J.), 40-21.
* The Miami Dolphins are re-naming their Coach of the Year Award in honor of George Smith, who retired last spring as head coach at St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) after winning six state and two national championships. The first winner will be announced on New Year's Day.
* Larry Hill earned his 200th career coaching victory on his 51st birthday as Smithson Valley (Spring Branch, Texas) defeated Clemens (Schertz, Texas), 42-14.
AJGA NAMES PLAYERS OF YEAR
The American Junior Golf Association has named Cody Proveaux of Leesville, S.C., and Ariya Jutanugarn of Bangkok, Thailand, as its annual Rolex National Players of the Year.

Cody Proveaux.
Photo courtesy of AJGA
Jutanugarn is a 15-year-old sophomore who does not attend an American high school. She had four championships and four runner-up finishes during 2011 AJGA tournaments.
The 6-0, 220-pound Proveaux, a senior who lives in Leesville, S.C. and is committed to Clemson University, won the 2010 Polo Golf Junior Classic and the 2011 Junior PGA Championship. He also placed second in four other tournaments.
MICHAEL JORDAN'S SONS TO START WEBSITE
The Chicago Tribune reports that the sons of Michael Jordan - Jeffrey and Marcus - are going to start a website. It will be called heir-Jordan.com and will tell how it is to live as a member of the Jordan family.
* It's going to cost Serra (Gardena, Calif.) $1,500, but 6-10 Emmanual Ndumanya reaped the school some preseason publicity when he shattered a glass backboard attempting a dunk during a practice session.
POTPOURRI
* Wapahani (Selma, Ind.) stunned top-ranked Muncie Burris (Muncie, Ind.) in a four-set sectional volleyball thriller to avenge a regular-season defeat. Burris had won 95 consecutive sectional matches and 14 consecutive Class 2A state titles dating to 1997.
* Missy Franklin continues to dazzle the swimming world, even though she is just a junior at Regis Jesuit (Aurora, Colo.). Her latest exploits included a short-course, world-record clocking of 2 minutes, 0.03 seconds in the 200-meter backstroke during the FINA World Cup in Berlin. She also won the 100-meter freestyle in 52.09 - which is 10th all-time - and the 100-meter backstroke in 56.73. She was unable to accept the $10,000 bonus for the world record because it would have cost her the right to swim in college.
* Remember the name Drew Ward. He's a sophomore at tiny Leedey (Okla.), a school of 125 students in a town of about 400. However, the 6-4, 200-pound shortstop is rated the No. 1 sophomore in the nation by Perfect Game. He's been playing travel baseball since he was 5 years old and has a carpeted batting cage at home.
*Our congratulations go to Angela Tammaro for her 700th victory as field hockey coach at Greenwich Academy (Greenwich, Conn.). She also has won 600 games as a lacrosse coach.