BURNSVILLE - Mountain Heritage football has a line about junior Cason Jones.
"Cason Jones is a star," senior running back Lane Chandler said. "I always tell him, 'What can't Jones do?' That's what we say."
The No. 2 Cougars (12-0) still don't know where Jones' weakness is. And after he made three big plays to ice Mountain Heritage's 26-8 win over No. 3 Murphy (12-2) on Friday, they hope not to find out.
Mountain Heritage will return home to host the 1A Western Regional final next week against No. 5 Corvian Community (14-0) in an undefeated matchup - two months after the Cougars thought Tropical Storm Helene may end their home season.
"To even come back here and play, after what we've been through, it's like a miracle," Jones said. "God's helped us through every bit of this."
Jones, the No. 2 Cougars' do-it-all linebacker-tight end-running back star, took a handoff with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, up only four points. He found the sideline, and with one final stiff arm, he was gone.
On defense, it was Jones again making the difference just three plays later. Murphy quarterback Brady Grant was attempting to scramble and juked out two defenders before breaking Jones' tackle, but Jones didn't let go. He wrapped Grant up again, stopping him for a 1-yard gain and forcing Murphy to punt.
"When I grabbed him, I just thought, don't let go," Jones said. "I knew people were coming. We've got players all over the field that fly to the ball."
The Cougars scored on the ensuing possession. When Jones caught the two-point conversion pass, it made Mountain Heritage's lead three scores and iced the victory.
Jones was putting the finishing touches on what Chandler started in the first half.
Chandler set the tone early for Mountain Heritage - on just the third play of the game, the senior found a crease and shot 56 yards for the opening score. It took just 1 minute, 29 seconds for the Cougars to take the lead. They never relinquished it.
Chandler had 121 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the first half and finished the night with 186 yards.
"I knew coming out tonight Lane was ready to play," Mountain Heritage coach Joey Robinson said. "He'd be a guy that could carry the ball. ... He'd be a big key for us."
Friday was the fewest points Mountain Heritage has scored all season, but the defense, which has allowed 10 points per game, stepped up when needed. Murphy's only score came after a 50-yard run by senior fullback Kadence Leatherwood, catching Mountain Heritage off guard.
TWO QB OFFENSE: How Brevard football rode a two-quarterback system to the fourth round of NCHSAA playoffs
The defense responded the next drive, stuffing Murphy on fourth and goal at the 4-yard line. The Bulldogs struggled to move the ball the rest of the game, with three four-and-outs in the second half.
"These games late in the state playoffs, mountain football, Smoky Mountain Conference versus Western Highlands Conference, what else do you expect besides a defensive fight?" Robinson said.
Evan Gerike is the high school sports reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Email him at egerike@citizentimes.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @EvanGerike.