FAYETTEVILLE — Lovejoy's game against Texas 5A Division I defending state champion Highland Park on Friday very well could feature two future Razorbacks.
Lovejoy senior linebacker Bumper Pool (6-3, 220 pounds) already has committed to Arkansas. It is expected that Highland Park senior quarterback John Stephen Jones (5-10, 175) will follow in his family's footsteps and play for the Razorbacks.
Jones in the grandson of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. His father, Stephen, also played at Arkansas.
Jones was named the team’s offensive MVP after running for both of his team’s touchdowns in Highland Park’s 16-7 win over Temple in the state championship game last December.
"He is a playmaker, he extends plays and is very creative," Pool said. "I am looking forward to playing against him. It's always fun to play guys who play the game with a lot of passion."
Lovejoy coach Todd Ford, whose team lost to Highland Park 27-20 last season, likes what he sees from Jones, who has been quoted that wants to play for the Razorbacks.
He has led Highland Park to a 2-1 start this season with wins over Waxachachie and Mansfield Timberview. The Scots lost their first game of the season 53-49 at Rockwall.
“I am very impressed with (Jones),” Ford said. “He is a very, very savvy quarterback. In coaching quarterback I have seen a lot of good ones and he ranks up there pretty high because his field vision is very, very good.
“As he is moving around in the pocket or as he breaks the pocket, his downfield vision is excellent, he has a quick release and he can put the ball on you accurately while on the run.”
Jones beat out two seniors to win the starting quarterback job last season and finished the season with 3,054 passing yards, 297 rushing yards and 31 total touchdowns.
“That’s one of the biggest things I have been impressed with and I think it is his biggest improvement from year one last year to year two,” Ford said It looks like he is more comfortable. I don’t want to throw (former Texas A&M quarterback) Johnny Manziel on him because he is not that type of runner, but he likes to escape the same way.
“He’ll duck under a defensive end and pop back out of the pocket and find a guy going across the field - and it was a planned drag - but his receivers know he has the ability to keep the play alive so they stay alive for him. That makes him really dangerous.”
Pool has been a bright spot for the Leopards (0-3). He has 30 tackles this season.
“Our first three weeks we have played arguably one of the toughest schedules around,” Ford said. “We have another quality coming in tomorrow night in Dallas Highland Park.
“I have been very pleased with Bumper and what he has brought to the table. He has been very, very productive as everyone would expect.
“We actually played him a at H-back the other night. There were not many plays during the game on which he was standing on the sideline and he was happy about that. He wants to be out there all the time.”
Ford praises Pool for being an all-around person.
“I tell people that he is a very, very good football player, but he is also am very good person,” Ford said. “He knows the difference between right and wrong and he has always been the alpha among the group and people follow him pretty easily.”
Pool is playing his fourth season on the Lovejoy varsity and has recorded more than 300 tackles in his career.
“I think his biggest strength is that he has an uncanny knack of knowing where the ball is,” Ford said. “I continue to be amazed how much he is around he football. Part of that is coaching, but the biggest part of it is just having that knack of knowing where the ball is going and ending up around it.
“I think that will continue to improve as he gets to the next level, but he goes sideline to sideline and makes play after play.”
Arkansas has moved to a 3-4 defense and Ford believes Pool has the versatility to play inside and out as he gets bigger.
“I think he has the ability to do both,” Ford said. “I think he could play outside in college right now, but if he wants to take the route of bulking up to 245 or 250 inside linebacker then he has the ability to do that.
“I think he’ll stay outside for his four years or bulk up and come inside as he goes along.”