Glenville’s Jones does it all in win over Massillon

Tim Rogers, The Plain Dealer, November 29, 2009 6:20 a.m.

Glenville’s Toney Foster Jr. dives into the end zone to put the Tarblooders on the board in the first quarter of their 31-17 win over Massillon on Saturday night in Akron. - (Scott Shaw, The Plain Dealer)

Some people suffer growing pains.

Glenville quarterback Cardale Jones celebrated his.

The dynamic 6-5, 210-pound junior played the best game of his career at just the perfect moment Saturday, and there was nothing painful about it.

Displaying the poise and passing touch of a more seasoned player, Jones led the Tarblooders to a 31-17 victory over Massillon in a Division I state semifinal at InfoCision Stadium in Akron.

The victory, the biggest in school history, sends Glenville (13-1) into next Saturday's state championship game against Hilliard-Davidson (12-1) at Canton's Fawcett Stadium. It is the first time a Cleveland public school has reached the state final.

"Cardale grew up tonight," Glenville coach Ted Ginn Sr. said of Jones, who was the best player on the field over the final 24 minutes. "You can't take anything away from him."

Jones finished by completing 9 of 20 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns and did not suffer any interceptions. He ran 16 times for 150 yards and scored the Tarblooders' decisive touchdown on a 26-yard jaunt around the right side with a little more than five minutes to go.

Glenville, which denied Massillon a fourth state title appearance, had a 17-10 lead at the half but committed several blunders that enabled the Tigers (10-4) to pull into a 17-17 tie with 5:53 left in the third.

That's when Jones took over. First, he found Shane Wynn for a short completion that the 5-9, 165-pound junior turned into a 71-yard touchdown that put the Tarblooders on top, 24-17, with 8:59 to go. "Cardale had several options on that play," Glenville offensive coordinator Anthony Overton said. "He looked off his other two receivers and got the ball to Shane."

The show wasn't over. During Glenville's final decisive drive he completed a key pass of 19 yards to junior Evonte Dunn on a second-and-18 play and capped that drive by running around right end, following a convoy of blockers to the end zone.

Jones gave all the credit to Wynn for his touchdown and to his blockers for the final score.

"He got open and came back for the ball and it was all Shane after that," Jones said. "On the run I just followed my blocking. They were great all night. I don't think I was sacked all night."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: trogers@plaind.com, 216-999-5169