Howell running back Justin Jones is the man for all seasons and a jack of all trades. For Howell football he is Jared Goff, Amon St. Brown and David Montgomery all rolled into one.
During the biggest Howell-Brighton regular season football game in history Jones caught passes, threw passes and ran between the tackles for 176 yards and three touchdowns. Jones also caught a 20-yard touchdown pass. However, his most satisfying moment came a few minutes following Howell’s 36-14 victory over Brighton when he was presented with The Little Brown Jug, the trophy the schools play for each year.
The win gave Howell (8-0 overall, 7-0 in the KLAA West) the outright division championship and a home meeting next Friday against Belleville (8-0, 7-0), winners of the KLAA East. Brighton (6-2, 5-2) finished the regular season tied for second in the division with Northville (5-3, 5-2) and will wait for its assignment in the MHSAA state playoffs.
“This team is my family. I will do anything for them,” Jones said. “If I have to do all that to help us win then I will do my best.”
The moment of truth for Jones and the Highlanders came on a fourth and one play from their 11-yard line midway through the third quarter. Coach Brian Lewis sent out the punt team but his dad Mike Lewis and defensive coordinator Mitch Zajac bent his ear during a gap in play and convinced Lewis to go for it on fourth down.
Howell led 21-7 at the time and a blown assignment or a failed play could have given Brighton new life and put it back into the game. But was it really a risk? The offensive line was playing well and Jones stood in the back field ready to pounce.
“ I said pop what do you think,” Lewis said. “He said go for it. This is what we do. I have confidence.”
Lewis called time out and barked to Jones “now go get the first down.”
He did, rushing for two yards and the first down. Howell did not score on the drive but ran 8 ½ minutes off the clock and gave Brighton the ball at its own 20.
“He obviously has confidence in us,” said left tackle Tanner Baidel. “It is what we are good at, making plays. That’s what we do.”
The drive seemed to deflate Brighton. Howell’s Marc Flynn blocked a punt and defensive tack Grant Stewart ignited the entire sideline with an over the shoulder one-handed interception. Sophomore Bryce Kish ran 30 yards for a score and quarterback Preston Barb fired a 10-yard touchdown pass to Brady McCarthy.
This game was billed as the biggest Howell-Brighton regular season game in history. Both communities show up for this one and Howell had to pull out additional stands to accommodate them. However, some players downplayed the historical significance of the game.
It is the first time since 1963 that Howell won its first eight games. The 1963 team finished 9-0
“Honestly I look at it as another normal game,” Tanner said. “I don’t look at it as big. I focus on the team, us being together.”

This marked Howell's second straight victory over Brighton. The Highlanders have outscored their rivals 79-21 in the two games.