The town of Fort White is known as a quiet, rural hub for outdoor recreation, where residents appreciate the peace of the community. For junior Bo Jones, center for the Fort White High School football team, that peace lasts six days a week, because Fridays are reserved for domination.
Jones and the Indians have been off to a strong start to the 2025 season, a product of what he says was a focused offseason.
“Our mindset this offseason was to grow and learn about each other in ways we haven’t in the past,” Jones said. “There are a group of guys on this team that want to be here and have the mindset of going hard each and every snap, so it’s been fun to see that pay off so far.”
Jones anchors the offense as the team’s center and contributes on the defensive line as well. His impact on both sides of the ball in Fort White’s one-point win over North Marion earned him this week’s UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Athlete of the Week honor.
“It’s a pretty cool honor to get this award, but it’s all about the team’s success for me,” Jones said. “I want to do whatever I can to play hard for my teammates and coaches and leave everything I can out on that field.”
The next two weeks will be pivotal for the Indians, who face rivals Union County and Lafayette (Mayo). Jones said he is eager to see how the team’s offseason work pays off.
“It’s our chance to determine if we can walk the walk,” Jones said. “We can see where we are as a team, but if we can play for each other, there’s no doubt in my mind that it’ll turn out well.”
The Fort White offense is averaging 160 rushing yards per game over its last three contests. Despite having just one senior on the offensive line, Jones said he’s proud of how the group has performed.
“I was meant to play offensive line,” Jones said. “To knock someone back and keep them away from the quarterback makes me so energetic. We try and take control early on, and that keeps us excited the rest of the game.”
Like many football teams, the Indians have dealt with injuries, including some obstacles that Jones dealt with last week. Jones credited athletic trainer Magan Kim with keeping the team healthy and focused.
“She helps in so many ways, encouraging us to do things the right way and watching how we act,” Jones said. “Magan is always running around and helping, and without her I don’t think we’d be as good of a football team.”
Jones hopes to continue his football career at the collegiate level but said his current focus is on helping his teammates grow as they hit the heart of their 2025 schedule.
Each weekly winner of the Athlete of the Week award becomes eligible for the UF Health High School Athlete of the Year Scholarship, a $2,500 prize awarded at the end of the 2025-26 academic year.