Family pride on the line in Henderson Bowl XVIII

By Jared Harmon

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008 | 12:15 p.m.

Green Valley High senior running back Taylor Jones knows the importance of the Henderson Bowl.

This year, the annual battle between Henderson's oldest high schools — Basic and Green Valley — will also determine the winner of the Henderson City Championship, annually awarded to the Southeast Division champ.

But, for Jones, it is also a chance to participate in a family tradition.

His oldest brother, kicker and wide receiver Nick Jones, helped the Gators to their first Henderson Bowl win in 1992 by kicking field goals of 46 and 34 yards.

Middle brother Ian Jones, a quarterback, was a part of two consecutive Henderson Bowl wins in 1996 and 1997 — victories of 26-7 and 28-15, respectively.

Now it will be Taylor Jones' chance to continue the family legacy. The game, now in its 18th year, is set for 7 p.m. Oct. 30 at Basic.

"I remember being in the crowd at one of Ian's Henderson Bowls as a kid," Taylor Jones said. "I remember sitting on the fence and looking at the stands — they were packed. This game is always big but I don't think it's ever been as big as it will be this year."

Green Valley, 5-1 in the Southeast Division, can secure the league No. 1 seed in next week's Sunrise Regional playoffs with a victory.

While the stakes were not as high in Nick Jones' Henderson Bowl appearance, the Chaparral transfer said he learned quickly how important the game was for the community.

"Sometimes rivalries take a few years to heat up as the newest school takes some time to get its program going. But the Henderson Bowl was instantaneous," Nick Jones, 33, said. "I don't know what it was, but as kids we felt like the Basic team hated us and we hated them."

Ian Jones, 29, said the game always felt like it had the aura of a college rivalry because of the passion of the crowds and the extra effort it seemed to draw from players on both sides.

"The Henderson Bowl was huge and we would get these big crowds for the game," Ian Jones said. "It was a lot like a college rivalry because it didn't matter if one team was better than the other, you knew you were going to get a tough game. It's nice to see the big crowds coming back to Green Valley."

With his team pushing for an undefeated season in league play, Green Valley coach Matt Gerber has stressed his team focus on one game at a time.

But, as the rivalry game has drawn closer on the schedule, he could sense the excitement building in his players and coaches.

"It's always there in the back of your mind," Gerber said. "There's a lot of history behind that game for the staff and the players so that's one you circle at the beginning of the season. I know Taylor is excited for the game and it's always nice to see a family still involved with the program like that."

With the turnover of coaches and administrators as well as the transience of the Henderson community throughout the years, few have been a part of the highs and lows of the Green Valley football program like Chuck Jones, father of the Jones boys.

"It's real special as a father to see your sons participate in such a big game — a game with so much community involvement," Chuck Jones, 56, said. "It's nice to see them contribute to the program and be a part of some of the Gators' best years."

While representing the Jones family name is important to him, Taylor Jones said he is looking past any added noise and focusing on winning one more game.

"My brothers might mention how it's an important game or kids at school or whoever, but I'm just trying to think of it as the league championship game," Taylor Jones said. "It feels awesome to be in this spot. We weren't really sure where we stood after last year but we came together as a team and now have a chance to take the division."

Jared Harmon can be reached at 990-8922 or jared.harmon@hbcpub.com.