Butch Jones' son helps Catholic pull off huge comeback vs Oak Ridge in Class 5A quarterfinals

It was a simple move that helped change the course of a season. 
 
During Friday’s Class 5A quarterfinal between Catholic and Oak Ridge, senior receiver Adam Jones, son of former Tennessee Vols coach Butch Jones, grabbed a pass from quarterback Jack Jancek, son of former UT defensive coordinator John Jancek, made a Wildcat miss and ran for a 43-yard touchdown.
 
That play, one of two receiving touchdowns for Jones in the game, gave Catholic (9-3)  the lead again in a 42-40 comeback victory, punching a ticket to the state semifinals. 
 
“Defender was coming over the top, so I put on the brakes and went right,” Jones said. “And it was open from there.”

Three touchdowns by Oak Ridge (10-3) running back Jordan Graham helped give the Wildcats a 27-14 lead at halftime, and another Graham score pushed Oak Ridge ahead 33-14 in the third quarter.
 
But the Fighting Irish, aided by Jancek, scored four consecutive touchdowns, including Jones’ long scoring reception, to go ahead 42-33. Jancek threw two touchdowns and ran for another during the stretch.
 
“(Jancek) was incredible,” Catholic coach Steve Matthews said. “He had a great week of practice. He’s a huge competitor and made some huge plays tonight, both with his legs and with his arm.”

Oak Ridge’s Herbert Booker connected with Kai’Reese Pendergrass for a 77-yard touchdown pass with under three minutes to go, but an onside kick recovery and clock management by Catholic completed the Fighting Irish comeback.
 
“That was special,” Matthews said. “We did not play well at all in the first half … We responded in the second half. I’m extremely proud of the way we came back and got a hard-fought victory over an outstanding Oak Ridge team.” 
 
The key to coming back in the second half was the play of Catholic’s defense.
 
“We just had to come out and stop them on defense,” Jones said. “We know our offense kept driving, but (our) defense had to stop them.
 
“And that’s what we did.” 
 
Friday’s game marked the second consecutive year that Oak Ridge's season ended in a quarterfinal loss to Catholic.

The Fighting Irish will face Central next Friday. The Bobcats defeated David Crockett 23-12 in their quarterfinal game. 
 
“We’re just so young and we’ve battled all year, had so many injuries,” Matthews said. “Just to watch these guys mature when (nobody) thought we’d be here and now to be on to (the) state semifinals is an outstanding job.”