Cam Jones ready to step out as Wilson opens against Central Dauphin in the GoBigRecruiting.com Game of the Week
GoBigRecruiting.com Game of the Week
Cam Jones mostly stayed in the shadows last season at Wilson, and he was fine with that.
He started as a sophomore on a championship defensive unit, established himself as strong cover corner and sure tackler, and earned second-team all-league defensive honors.
He rarely got his hands on the ball and didn’t see his name splashed across any headlines.
“I wasn’t the biggest name,” he said. “I just played my role, which was needed.”
Expect Jones’ role to change, starting Friday night when the Bulldogs meet Central Dauphin in the GoBigRecruiting.com Game of the Week at Gurski Stadium.
Jones won’t come out and say exactly what his role on offense will be. Could be as a wide receiver. Could be used out of the backfield, along with older brother Jadyn. Could end up taking direct snaps as a Wildcat quarterback. Perhaps all of the above.
“Right now, there really isn’t a plan,” he said coyly, breaking into a big grin. “I’m just being moved around, trying to find what’s best for the team, what role is best for me to help us as a team, wherever they need me.
“We’ve got a lot of talent on offense. I’m just that guy who can be moved around. It’ll be interesting.”
Central Dauphin vs. Wilson is always interesting.
The match-up brings together two of the most dominant football teams in District 3 over the last 20-plus years.
They met in season-openers in 2018 and 2019, and in early week games in each of the four seasons prior. All of them have been true head-bangers, what with two of the more physical teams in the district slamming into each other to test their mettle.
This year should be no different.
“It’s a good measuring stick right out of the block,” said Wilson coach Doug Dahms. “They’re always going to be physical, they’re always well-coached, and we’re probably going to see them again in the playoffs. It’s a good tough opener with two nice, solid football teams.”
The Rams are one of the few teams around with a series lead over the Bulldogs. They won four straight from 2015-18 — the first team to ever beat Wilson in four consecutive seasons — and lead the series 7-4. The Bulldogs took the most recent meeting, 21-13 in 2019; last year’s scheduled opener was scratched because of COVID.
Dahms likes the game as an opener and hopes to continue the series, though the two haven’t formally agreed to play next season. With the Lancaster-Lebanon League adding 13 Berks teams and realigning its sections in 2022 schedules will look different. Wilson vs. Gov. Mifflin will be played Week 6. The Bulldogs could meet Central Dauphin in one of the first three weeks of the season.
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The Rams are the preseason favorite in the Mid-Penn Commonwealth, which they won last season, going 5-0. The Bulldogs are co-favorites, along with Manheim Township, in Section 1 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League. Both are listed as Teams To Watch in Class 6A by PennLive.com.
The Rams are expected to make another run at a district title in large part because of the return of Max Mosey, one of the top prep quarterbacks in the state. He threw for 990 yards, completing 63 percent of his passes with 13 TDs and five interceptions as a junior. Mosey is 17-4 as a starter and has thrown for 3,120 career passing yards.
He tormented the Bulldogs in West Lawn two years ago, completing 15-of-21 passes for 243 yards and a TD.
“He can run and throw equally well, so he’s obviously a big threat,” Dahms said.
Stopping him will be just part of Jones’ duties Friday.
The other part will come with the ball in his hands, out of the set offense or returning punts.
He’s one of the fastest (if not the fastest) players on the Bulldogs’ roster and showed his open-field running ability in last year’s finale at Manheim Central when he took a pair of punts back to the house (each was nullified by a penalty).
“I wasn’t even supposed to be back there,” Jones said of one return. “It was a (precaution); we didn’t know if they were going to punt.”
Jones admits he was just a nervous first-year varsity player when last season kicked off. He’s grown a lot since. He had a strong football season and an even better basketball season; he became a lockdown defender and helped the Bulldogs win a county championship.
Now he’s put himself in position to be one of the leaders on the football team.
“A lot of people don’t know about Cam,” said senior defensive end Jon Ramsey, “but they will. He’s a great teammate, a voice of the team, and he will not be out-worked.”
Jones is anxious to expand his role.
“I love scoring touchdowns, and love tackling people, as well,” he said. “Playing (only on) defense last year really humbled me. (I realized if you want to play) offense, you’ve gotta earn that. I think this year I earned that. I’m happy to see what I can do with the ball instead of having to intercept it or take it from somebody.”
