Howell lineman Bobby Kanka paid the ultimate compliment to teammate and star running back Justin Jones.
He did not praise the Jones that rushed for 1,710 yards and 25 touchdowns this season. He did not praise the guy who caught five touchdown passes or the former quarterback that can has thrown three touchdown passes mostly while rolling to his left.
“I’d be best friends with that guy for the next 60 years,” Kanka said.
He loves Jones the person, the guy with the 4.0 grade point average who reached out to Kanka and guided him every step of the way while he transitioned from a difficult transfer from Pinckney to Howell high school. He loves the guy who does volunteer work in the Howell community and wants a career in medicine or science when he graduates college. The guy who signs autographs for tiny tykes after games. The guy who is a menace on the field but a gentleman off it.
The guy who can figure out any math problem. That’s the guy Kanka wants to be buds with for the next 60 years.
“I think a ton about the kid and the man he is going to be,” Kanka said. “I came into Howell as a sophomore. He brought me in with open arms. I love that guy.”
Jones is the straw that stirs the drink for Howell. He is asked to grind for the tough inside yards. He is asked to catch critical passes and throw them also. He is a major reason why Howell is one step away from playing in the Division I semifinals.
The Highlanders (11-0) can take that step with a home victory in the regional finals against Hudsonville Saturday (1 p.m.) at Howell High School.
He backs down from no challenge, even in the classroom. Howell coach Brian Lewis had long talks with Jones and his family about him backing off taking so many AP courses his senior season. Lewis knew how demanding this football season would be and the demands he’d put on Jones.
“He said coach I can do it,” Lewis said. “I got it. I got it.”
Jones has gotten all A’s since the sixth grade when he got a B+ in a class.
Jones is an asset to any college on and off the football field. He’s gotten offers from Wayne State University and Mount Union. He is also receiving texts from other schools who have shown interest.
His main focus now is winning football games for Howell. He is also mentoring his replacement. Sophomore running back Bryce Kish shows the same grit and tenacity as Jones. Kish is a great athlete with great running instincts. He has also learned from Jones who has taken him under his wing.
“He is like a little brother to me,” Jones said of Kish. “I am the youngest in my family so I never had anybody to be a role model for. He is a great kid. He is a great learner. He takes everything in. He knows what he has to do. There is no quit in that kid.”
Howell thrives on great offensive line play and with a stud at running back. Jones is that guy now. Kish is likely to be that guy for the next two years.
“He is a great role model, the way he leads,” Kish said. “The guy is incredible. It is hard to not want to be like him.”