Mister Jones does know what’s happening and knows what his Littleton Lions can do.
The play on the vintage Bob Dylan lyrics from the 1960s is relevant in 2009 — the senior running back joined a couple of other Lions at skill positions to show what they can be Friday night in a nonleague 41-6 whipping of George Washington at All-City Stadium in Colorado’s obscure Zero Week.
Jones, quarterback Noah Gaumer and wide receiver Denzel Washington staked Class 4A Littleton to four touchdowns by early in the third quarter as their promise seems real.
“That’s exactly right,” said a chiseled Jones, who verbally committed to the University of Colorado in June. “With all of our skill players, we could hurt some people.”
Still working through assorted ankle aches and pains, Jones, who said he is relieved to have committed so he can concentrate on school and enjoy his final year, nevertheless ran freely for 115 yards and had a 61-yard touchdown in the third quarter that all but sealed it against the 5A Patriots.
But it was Gaumer and Washington who got it going early. Washington made a leaping catch of a Gaumer lob for the Lions’ first touchdown on their opening drive, then Gaumer further went to work. He muffed a GW punt after the ensuing series, but was able to secure the ball on a bounce forward and go down the left sideline for a 63-yard score. Gaumer added a 12-yard touchdown before halftime.
“We were a little sloppy, but our kids responded and we made some adjustments,” Lions coach Chad Koepke said. “It’s early. We saw some things we liked. We kind of went off a script.
“We just wanted to see a bunch of stuff, see what our kids could do, and spread the ball around.”
The Lions’ lines also had some moments, including surviving attempts at a couple of moves by the Pats, and their defense debuted nicely by ringing up six turnovers, including four interceptions.
“We had some spurts, but we turned the ball over too much and let them get untracked,” GW coach Steve Finesilver said. “They’re a veteran team with some really good skill people and some size.”
David Yang added two touchdowns in the fourth quarter for the Lions, who next get John F. Kennedy, then have a bye in Week 2.
Littleton 14 7 7 13 — 41George Washington0 0 6 0 — 6L — Gaumer 63 punt return (Dottavio kick). L — Washington 32 pass from Gaumer (Dottavio kick). L — Gaumer 12 run (Dottavio kick). L — Jones 61 run (Dottavio kick). GW — Chapman 95 kickoff return (kick failed). L — Yang 15 run (Dottavio kick). L — Yang 1 run (pass failed).
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
