Former DeMatha Football Star Passes Away at 42

Andre F. Jones, a 1987 DeMatha graduate who played on Notre Dame’s 1988 national championship football team, died June 22 in Atlanta after suffering a brain aneurysm. He was 42 years old.

Jones’s former classmate and friend Andre D. Jones described the father of six as “the best football player defensively I’ve ever seen play at DeMatha – It’s not even close.”

Jones, an outside linebacker, played on the highest-ranked DeMatha football team in school history, leading the Stags to a 10-0 record during his senior campaign in 1986.

“Andre was a dominant defensive player,” said former DeMatha head coach Bill McGregor. “Nobody would run to his side.”

McGregor recalled Jones’s performance in the 1986 Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship game against Archbishop Carroll that helped the Hyattsville school secure an undefeated season.

“He just dominated the game,” said McGregor, who noted that the Stags finished the season ranked sixth in the nation. “It was a great football team.”

Jones, who played collegiately at Notre Dame for the legendary Lou Holtz, received the Brookland Club’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 1986. He was inducted into the DeMatha Hall of Fame in 2009.

Jones forged a great relationship with former DeMatha teammate Jon Jeffries.

“Andre grew up in my house,” said Jeffries. “We were more like brothers than friends.”

Jones leaves behind his devoted wife, Michelle, and their children: Kerry, 23; Tai-ler, 19; Malachi, 17; Dacia, 15; Jahmai, 13; and Jayla, 9.

“This guy was the real deal,” said Jeffries. “He’s had loving relationships with people all over the place. He was a great father and husband.”

Below are links to Jones’s DeMatha Hall of Fame acceptance speech in 2009.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZHkCWojzqo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJXqpjzRDPc&NR=1