Warren Central’s Tim Jones was the accidental running back.

Originally pencilled in on the defensive depth chart at safety, Jones was pressed into duty as the Vikings’ featured back thanks to a knee injury to Shon Jackson in the season opener. Jones took that first handoff against Gulfport and never looked back.

He rushed for 1,463 yards and 15 touchdowns to run away with The Vicksburg Post Offensive Player of the Year award.

“I love running the ball, I love offense,” Jones said. “The first time I got in the game at running back and ran a person over, I said that’s what I’ve worked for.”

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But those who watch the Vikings thought he’d be like his cousin, Chico Hunter, now playing for Southern Miss. During a junior varsity game as a freshman against Brandon, Jones slid along the line of scrimmage on a sweep play and delivered a hit so fearsome that the sound was picked up by the microphone of the film crew in the press box.

But fate intervened and the 6-foot, 180-pounder became the most lethal of offensive weapons for the Vikings. Such was the respect afforded to Jones’ contributions that he was voted the Region 2-6A Back of the Year by the opposing coaches.

Jones’ emergence showed how the WC offensive line gelled as the year went along.

“It’s been a while since we had a tailback like that,” WC offensive coordinator Larry Tyrone said. “He worked hard in the offseason getting himself ready in the weight room and running track. It all started up front and our guys were able to push some people, plus he made some good reads.”

Jones’ emergence was a key reason why the Vikings quenched a three-year playoff drought. He accounted for more than 46 percent of the team’s yardage from scrimmage and scored 17 of its 27 touchdowns — including one on a 60-yard interception return and another off a 63-yard toss from quarterback Beau Wallace.

Even when he wasn’t getting in the end zone, like he did four times in a 34-13 victory over Lawrence County, Jones made a big contribution. His diving score on a two-point conversion in overtime gave the Vikings a critical 27-26 victory over Northwest Rankin.

“Tim did an outstanding job and he’s a very gifted runner,” WC coach Curtis Brewer said. “He seems to be able to, when you think it’s over, to have that little burst or twist or explosion to get him out of tackles. He had the balance to make cuts and get in the open field. But his production was in many ways a reflection on the offensive line.”

Jones didn’t look far for a role model as a runner. His cousin, Carl Blue, rushed for 4,196 yards and 45 touchdowns when he played for Warren Central from 1977-79. Jones said Blue has been a biggest influence.

“I saw most of his tapes,” Jones said. “I saw how hard he worked, how he did what he did and I just did what I had to do.”

Jones’ numbers are even more incredible considering that he is a hard-nosed, physical runner. Rather than side-stepping contact, Jones relishes it. The vast majority of his yards were gained after contact.

“I’ve got to get up, take it and give it right back to them,” Jones said. “I’ve got more power than people expect. I just try to get lower than the people trying to tackle me and run straight through the tackle. My line was blocking for me, I’d just pick a hole and everything worked. You don’t lose yards going straight up the middle.”

He’s gotten scholarship offers from Arkansas State and Louisiana-Monroe and has talked to Southern Miss and Mississippi State. Likely his future is at defensive back, as the two Sun Belt Conference schools need plenty of them with all of the spread offenses run in the conference.

Jones leaves Warren Central feeling like this year’s team got the Vikings back on the right path to perennial berths in the postseason.

“Warren Central has always been ready, but we just had to come together as a team and get everything back to the way it’s supposed to be,” Jones said. “I think it’s going straight up from here on out.”

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Contact Steve Wilson at swilson@vicksburgpost.com