Kali Jones Returns To Old Stomping Grounds as Withrow Faces Troy in OHSAA Regional Semifinals
Kali Jones, the head coach of the Withrow Tigers, will get to come back home to play for a chance to go to the Regional Finals as they take on the top team in the Miami Valley League in Troy tonight.
Jones, who was a Colonel White graduate and Daytonian, has came a long way to get to this point, as have the Withrow Tigers.
Withrow has been one of the most dominant teams in all of Ohio this year, as the Tigers boast talent all over the board.
The outright champions of the CMAC, the offense has set records left and right, behind the terrific trio of Chris Henry Jr (Top 5 Soph in the country), Luke Dunn (2300+ yards passing, 32 TDs, 6 INTs, 65% Completion Rate), and Terhyron Nichols, who is a 2-way stud who has a bunch of offers (over 20 D-1 offers) as well.
The offense has been remarkable, obliterating most of the Withrow passing records, and putting this Withrow squad and its fateful into mentioning a run to the OHSAA State Semifinals.
But it's the defense that has been truly game changing, and is why this team could be headed to bigger venues in the near future.
The defense is giving up less than 5 points a game, which is downright staggering.
53 total points allowed in 12 games, which is a 4.4 ppg clip.
This is astounding, considering the opponents they have played.
The only teams to score double figure were St. Xavier (14-10 loss) and Springboro (29-10 win).
The defense is led by sophomore sensation Christrion Browner, who led the team in tackles (76) along with Alai Ulaisele (58) and Chris Payne (49). Nichols had 40+ tackles as well from the DB position. Wylen Gover lead the team in sacks (7) while Nichols is top 5 in the CMAC in interceptions (4).
While the Tigers feel like this could be a banner year, they are fully expecting a serious battle tonight against the ground & pound offense that Troy has exerted on its oppents all season with great success.
Troy, who's star RB Jahari Ward was knocked out later in the season, has found a way to keep the vaunted running game explosive and unstoppable, all the while using the play action pass to near perfection.
Troy crushed Lima Sr. and have been rolling all season, using a stout rushing game and a defense that suffocates teams as well.
"We know they will be ready. They're a well coached team and a top organization. We have watched film and we see their style of play. We have played some teams who are similar to their style. So we are prepared for that." Jones would say in a audio interview.
Jones has taken the road less traveled as he continues to elevate his coaching status and his program.
Jones played HS football in Canada before coming back home to play football in the Marines.
Once he got into the coaching aspect, he never looked back.
He started his career at Wayne before heading to Dayton Christian. He would be a offensive coordinator for a couple years before heading to Woodward to be a head coach. After a couple years at Woodward, Withrow put in for Jones services and was able to get him away from Woodward.
After his 3rd season, Jones was on the radar of some big programs all around the state.
However, Withrow doubled up on Jones, backing him even more and sending the statement that the Tigers had found their guy for the current and the future.
Two years later Withrow find themselves in a great position, as Jones will come home to continue on his remarkable journey with the Tigers at Welcome Stadium, which has been re-opened to doing Tournament games (starting this year).
After speaking with Jones, there's no question he wants to show why his Tigers are one of those squads you want to see this season.
Dayton get ready as Jones and the Tigers are headed to town to take on Troy tonight (7pm) at Welcome Stadium.
