All in the family for Jones

Cade Jones carries on a legacy.Each rush by the West Branch running back wearing the No. 32 jersey continues a family tradition that will come to a close at the end of the season.Jones dons the number that has only been worn by his family for the last two decades, following the death of cousin, Chad Gates, who was killed in a hunting accident after his sophomore season in November 1994. The all-state rusher will lead Class 1A fifth-ranked West Branch (2-0) when it hosts No. 1 Iowa City Regina (2-0) in a District 6 game tonight at the Little Rose Bowl, starting at 7 p.m.The Bears' program retired the jersey number when Gates died. Gates' younger brothers, Pat and Howie, were the only other players to wear the number, which will be retured again after this season. All were running backs.“I feel a lot of pride wearing it,” said Jones, praising Pat and Howie Gates as well. “I feel I have big shoes to fill when I wear that jersey.“It's an honor. There is so much expected of you and you want to do so well.”Chad Gates was one of only a few freshman starters for the Bears. When he died, his moth, Kerry, was pregnant with the now 17-year-old senior. Jones never got to meet his cousin but has heard stories of his late cousin's feats.“Chad had the knack to be an athlete,” Jones said. “I have a couple highlight films of him. He had a special ability. We was tough and he was shifty.”Jones has the same knack, being an important part of the Bears state semifinal teams since he was a sophomore. He rushed for 1,769 yards and 27 touchdowns. He enters the game against the Regals with 373 rushing yards, averaging 11 yards a carry, and six touchdowns. Jones refrains from comparing himself to his cousin on the field. Running styles differ, but personality traits are similar.“He was a gifted kid,” Jones said about others' comments. “He wouldn't step on an ant. He was just a good solid person.”West Branch Coach Butch Pedersen coached each of the family members. He said sharing the jersey is a special tribute to Chad Gates, and Jones represents it well.“They are very proud of Jonesy,” Pedersen said. “I know Chad, although he might be in a different seat and not with us physically, is watching from up above and he, too, is proud of Cade Jones.”The Bears have enjoyed his contributions on offense, but he has added a role on defense this season. Jones, who won the 1A 195-pound state wrestling title in February, likes playing defensive end. Pedersen identified the talent before he joined the varsity program, and witnessed Jones' hard work that led to him being a team captain."Cade is a tremendous athlete," Pedersen said. "He's got great speed. He's a power runner. He's got great balance. He's improved his blocking skills."Cade is playing both sides of the ball this year, where he didn't last year. He's even more active for us than he has been."Jones suffered a different kind of loss as a youngster as well, which has shaped his life. Jones' father served a 12-year prison sentence, attending his first game for the Bears' 2011 playoff win over Alburnett. Jones didn't want to comment on what caused the incarceration, saying his dad made some bad decisions in the past."He's trying to pay them back now, which I feel shows a lot of good character," said Jones, describing their relationship as more "man-to-man" than "father-son" now. "It's good he's back. It's a more motivating factor for me."That is where Jones transfers his life experiences into success on the football field. Suffering a lost loved one, being a single parent and serving a sentence have hit his family harder than any defender or blocker could hit Jones on the field.It puts the marquee matchup against Regina in perspective."When I think at these types of games, I think of a lot of things," Jones said. "This type of game in the big picture really isn't that tough. It is a tough game, but when you look at it as you do a lot in your life, and it isn't that tough."Jones owns goals to play football in college. He is considering a number of schools, including NCAA Division I programs."I will play football," Jones said. "I'm really excited about the future, taking what I have right now and make a bigger statement in college (and) taking what my parents have given me, all of the qualities they've given me, I just want to make it all worthwhile."For now, the focus is on the top-ranked Regals, who have dropped down to 1A after winning the last two 2A state titles. Regina has won about 30 straight games, and Pedersen said the Regals are a heavy favorite to win. The key will be to improve, play together as a team and limit mistakes that have occurred in the first two weeks, according to Pedersen.The Bears will approach this game like any other. Always have and always will."Every game we go into we have a confident feeling we can win, but we also have the realization that you have to play to your ability to be a winner," Pedersen said. "This game isn't any more important to us than any other games we're playing in the regular season."