MASSILLON, Ohio — Rising high school freshman Josh Jones, the former field general for the P.S. Jones football team, showcased his small-town talent on a national stage earlier this month, competing in The Duel, a National Football Academies sanctioned event for rising star athletes.

In the ninth grade division, Jones competed alongside other quarterbacks from across the United States and Canada and was selected as one of four finalists. At the end of the second day, those finalists from each age group squared off in an all-encompassing skills competition to determine the National Champion.

It came down to the wire. Jones, who finished tied for first place with another competitor, was awarded second place on the tiebreaker, finishing the contest a fraction of a second slower.

“Coach Darin Slack and his NFA coaches are outstanding and really focus on the importance of a quarterback demonstrating character, building leadership and improving performance in a way that serves his teammates,” said Brian Jones, Josh’s father who attended the spectacle. “Josh has bought into their philosophy of preparing as a quarterback and performing at a high school level.”

Jones’ quarterbacking intangibles and intelligence were put to test, as the competition measured his cognition and decision-making ability, speed, strength, stamina and accuracy on the field. Each aspect runs on point system, with the top player in each age group being acknowledged as the National Champion.

To qualify for the event, Jones had to participate in off-season development camps and earn an invitation from one of the NFA coaches, confirming that his skills are among the pool’s best. He earned bids from coaches in 2013 and 2014.

Jones, the son of former Washington Athletic Director Allison Jones, will join the John T. Hoggard High School football team in Wilmington this fall.

“His coaches at P.S. Jones — coach Raper, coach Crocker and coach Ham — reinforced those lessons over the last few years,” Brian Jones said. “I know Josh is grateful for his experiences in Washington, and he is excited about continuing with the National Football Academy. I’m thankful Josh gets the opportunity to be a student and compete in athletics at Hoggard, one of the state’s top public high schools.”

Also competing in The Duel was Washington Youth Football League product Walter Gerard Jr., who participated in the seventh grade age group. Gerard had a good showing, but did not finish among the final four in his division.