A former Graham-Kapowsin High School star who caught two touchdown passes for the University of Montana in a regionally televised victory over North Dakota GÇô and then topped that performance with three TDs against archival Montana State GÇô is among the former south Pierce County student-athletes who are playing intercollegiate sports this fall. Jamaal Jones, once an all-league wide receiver for Graham-Kapowsin, is playing the same position as a senior for Montana. He caught four passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns GÇô one of them a 74-yard bomb from quarterback Makena Simis GÇô to help the Grizzlies thump North Dakota 42-16 Oct. 24. The game had a Root Sports TV audience. He went one better Nov. 21, scoring three touchdowns and gaining 132 yards on nine catches as the Grizzlies beat Montana State 54-35. Jones' penchant for finding the end zone continued when he and his teammates marched into the first round of the Division I NCAA tournament Nov. 28 against South Dakota State. He caught a touchdown pass as the Grizzlies won 24-17 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs, where they lost to North Dakota State 37-6 to end their season. Even in defeat, Jones stood out by catching a pass from Brady Gustafson for their team's only score. Jones, a three-year starter for Montana since transferring from Washington, had more than 100 yards worth of receptions in three other games this season GÇô 168 yards on seven catches against Liberty, 119 on eight grabs against North Dakota State, and 113 on seven catches against Northern Arizona. Those performances helped him finish his college career as Montana's second all-time leading receiver. According to Montana's sports information department, Jones is getting some interest from the National Football League for next year's draft of college players. Graham-Kapowsin's football talent pool also stretches to college programs in two other states: " Three ex-Eagles are on Central Washington University's roster this sesason GÇô offensive lineman Luke Asbjornsen, who's a freshman, and defensive back Tabby Yu and fullback Kyle Madsen, both sophomores. " Portland State University Zack Dwyer, a junior running back, and Kahlil Dawson, a sophomore defensive back. This year, Dawson returned a kick 94 yards for a touchdown against Idaho State. And he had a 28-yard return against Washington State in the Vikings' 24-17 upset of the Cougars Sept. 5'one of six wins in the first seven games for Portland State. Also with the Vikings are two more products of the Bethel School District GÇô former Spanaway Lake teammates Sadat Sulleyman, a senior defensive end. and Logan Stegner, a sophomore kicker. " Pacific Lutheran University's team includes Lucas Hatton, a junior offensive lineman from Eatonville High; Lepapamatietie Hunkin Jr., a defensive lineman from Spanaway Lake High; and Cody Johnson, a wide receiver from Bethel High. PLU has local athletes in two other sports this fall, as well: " The women's soccer team, which was ranked 22nd nationallly and leading the Northwest Conference standings last week, has Machaela Graddy, a sophomore forward, and Amber Richards, a freshman infielder. They're both from Eatonville, where Graddy was an all-state performer. In a 3-0 shutout of George Fox Oct. 25, Richards scored a goal and Graddy had an assist on another Lutes goal. Through the George Fox match, Graddy shared the team lead this season with seven goals and was near the team-high with three assists. " The Lutes' cross country teams include Britt McCracken, a freshman from Bethel who runs for the women, and for the men, junior Brendon Bonnell and freshman Ryan Gutierrez, both from Graham-Kapowsin.
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