Hempfield eager to make sure Cam Jones doesn’t get a kick out of L-L showdown
Hempfield coach George Eager believes Cam Jones is the best all-around player in Section 1 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League. He’s determined to not aid the Wilson senior’s MVP campaign by kicking the ball to him when the Black Knights and Bulldogs meet in a battle for first place Friday night at Gurski Stadium.
“He’s the biggest play-maker in Section 1, without a doubt,” Eager said of Jones. “He may be the best in Section 1 for several years. He changes the game.”
| Section 1 | League | | Overall | |
| Hempfield | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Wilson | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Penn Manor | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Manheim Township | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Cedar Crest | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Reading High | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| McCaskey | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
Last season Jones did that on defense, as a shutdown cornerback, and on special teams, where he returned seven kicks for touchdowns.
This year he’s doing it on offense, too. He’s taken over as the Bulldogs primary ballcarrier during their current five-game winning streak and has emerged as one of the league’s top backs.
“He’s a threat every time he touches the ball,” Eager said. “He runs hard, and he’s big and strong enough that he can break arm tackles. We’ve stressed all week that we’ve gotta put bodies on him; if we don’t he’s gonna break tackles. He’s very dynamic and his speed is second to none.”
Jones has scored 17 touchdowns: 12 in the run game, once on a reception, four on punt returns. He’s run for 466 yards, second-most in Section 1. His 8.6 yards-per-carry average is highest among Section 1 backs with 50 or more carries.
He began the season at wide receiver but moved into the backfield when Cleveland Harding injured his ankle in the season-opener. He’s been too good to keep out of the backfield, though Wilson coach Doug Dahms is trying to limit his touches as a running back. He’s so valuable everywhere else that he doesn’t want to expose him to too many hits.
“He’s gonna get his 10, 12 touches again (this week),” Dahms said. “Cleveland Harding’s healthy now, so we’re hoping he’ll start picking up some of it.”
Hempfield (3-0, 5-1) was considered a contender but not one of the favorites in Section 1 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League before the season started.
It elevated its status with a 17-14 win over ManheimTownship two weeks ago and can all-but clinch its first title in 17 years by beating the Bulldogs (2-0, 5-1).
A Wilson win will keep it in first place but hardly clinch a third straight Section 1 title. There’s more work to be done. The Bulldogs play at once-beaten Penn Manor next week and close the season at Township (1-1, 4-2), which still has hopes of sharing a title.
The Black Knights aren’t quite as dynamic as they were a year ago, when another Cam — all-league quarterback Cam Harbaugh — was running the show. This year they’re relying more on defense and a ball-control offense designed to run behind 6-3, 288-pound junior tackle Deyvid Palepale and 6-2, 300-pound senior guard Mike Shaffer.
“They’ve got those two horses that, when they need it, they can go behind them,” Dahms said. “Their two linemen are what you’ve gotta deal with.”
Palepale has offers from Louisville, Temple, Penn State and Boston College, with more on the way. Dahms compares him favorably to Wyomissing’s Jven Williams, a Penn State recruit. (Palepale is being recruited primarily for defense.)
“They lead the way for us,” Eager said. “We want to run behind them.”
Wilson’s defense seems up to the challenge. Over the past five games it has allowed just six TDs and an average of 163 total yards per game. It has allowed 21 first-half points in its five wins.
For the Bulldogs the game comes down to not allowing Hempfield to control the ball.
For the Black Knight it comes down to not allowing Jones the chance to break the game open on special teams. The Holy Cross recruit has returned an incredible eleven kicks — seven punts and four kickoffs — for scores over the past 18 games.
“He has the ability to make guys miss and make good athletes look average,” Eager said. “You know, when you can do that you’re a big-time player.
“We made a point to say we don’t want to kick to him,” said Eager. “That is 100 percent priority No. 1, because he can change the game. Hopefully we execute that. Sometimes that’s easier said than done.
“It’s hard to directional kick. I know fans in the stands think it’s easy, but to do it (in a game) is easier said than done. We’re going to do our best to keep it away.”