December 1, 2001 11:41 PM
Rocky's Jones is football's Player of the Year
By Steve Tappa, staff sports writer There was a four-touchdown game at Galesburg, a
279-yard assault at Arlington Heights St. Viator and a memorable motivational speech at
halftime against Quincy.
While those moments marked a rare 9-0 regular season for Rock Island High School's
football team, none qualify as this past season's personal highlight for the perpetrater.
Instead, Rocks running back Maurice Jones reveled in something much simpler.
``The highlight for me was just knowing I'd get to play again because most kids don't
have the abilities God's blessed me and my teammates with,'' the senior explained. ``I
used to take it for granted, but not this year. Knowing I could play and do what I did, I
was thankful.''
Jones had plenty of blessings to count. The all-state track sprinter finished with
1,738 yards and 23 touchdowns, a gaudy 12.52 yards-per-carry average, a dozen scores of 40
yards or more and 138 points in 138 carries.
All of that added up to Jones edging United Township linebacker Ben Sacco and Geneseo
two-way terror Josh Rowold for this year's Metro Football Player of the Year honor from
The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus.
``When he first came to us, he was a runner, not a running back,'' said Rock Island
football coach Vic Boblett. ``But, he's the complete package now. It's not like he was
just racing people to the corner this year. Almost all of his long runs came off cuts
inside the containment, and he got the tough yards when he needed as well.''
Jones credits his teammates and coaches for helping him rank in some select local
company.
A pair of past University of Iowa stars -- Assumption's Eddie Gibson (12.9) and
Bettendorf's Tavian Banks (10.9) -- also had gaudy per-carry averages in their final prep
seasons of 1992.
All-time QC metro rusher, Alonzo Wise of Rock Island, averaged more than 10 yards per
carry in accumulating 2,316 yards in his 1997 all-state season. Jones also broke Wise's
Western Big 6 Conference scoring mark before being passed himself in the league finale by
Moline junior Larry Turner.
``We switched our coaches up this year, and Coach (Craig) Allison taught me more than
I'd learned before,'' Jones said. ``He got in my face more, hollared more, made me more
dedicated and wanting it more.''
Jones also credits his track coach, Ed Lillis, for being a father figure and steering
him straight. Lillis not only goaded him into finally going out for track as a sophomore,
but might be the main reason Jones is still in school and involved in athletics.
``Without him, I don't know where I'd be,'' admitted Jones, who quit the freshman
football team two games into its season. ``He's helped me so much.
``He used to take me home after practice and buy running gear for me when I didn't have
the money. And, more than anyone, he's the one that's been on me about my grades.''
That helped the splendid sprinter from going nowhere fast.
Making the grade
``I was always thinking about all the kids who would have given anything to be in my
shoes for just one single play,'' Jones said about the main motivation behind his superb
season.
``We have a lot of handicapped kids at Rock Island, and I talk to them all the time,
especially my little buddy J.R. in my biology class. Guys like that tell me all the time
how they wish they could do some of the things I do on a football field and that would
make me teary-eyed. That made me want it even more because I knew how bad they wanted
it.''
Jones also became acutely aware of other little eyes watching his every move.
There was the one day this fall a little boy approached him on the street, made sure it
was Jones and said, ``Man, I look up to you,'' before running off.
There were visits by the Washington and Edison junior high players, where the constant
refrain was they wanted to be like Jones.
And then, there is his flag football-playing younger cousin, Bryce, who would tell
Jones, ``Every time I run the ball, I think about being just like my big cousin Maurice.''
All that makes Jones recoil in horror.
``I've already told next year's varsity coming up -- you all should have learned a big
lesson from me. Don't be like me. Don't make the same mistake as me,'' the all-stater
said, lamenting a less-than-spectacular academic track record.
In fact, that inattention to classwork will keep Jones from receiving a Division I
college scholarship offer this February.
Boblett said a lack of academic dedication until this past year also will likely
prevent Jones from graduating with his class this spring.
``He could have had the world at his feet,'' Boblett said. ``It's sad, but he's far
enough behind that the best thing he could do right now is drop out of Rocky, get his
(general education degree) and go to a (junior college).
``But, he's such a strong track performer, he doesn't want to do that. He wants to
compete in track and try and get his diploma with his class. I'm afraid, though, he'll
complete the spring semester just shy. Then, he'll have to drop out so he can enroll in a
GED program so he can get (his high-school equivalency) in time to enroll in a JUCO.''
If NCAA rules allowed a student-athlete to enroll in a GED program at night while still
attending high school by day, Boblett said Jones would be doing it.
``He's got a long, tough road ahead of him,'' Boblett said.
``But, you haven't heard the last of me yet,'' Jones vowed.
Jones is looking at several two-year schools, but could land at Northern Iowa Area
Community College. Former Rocks star Corey Williams was a JUCO All-American for NIACC a
few years back.
``I regret now that I didn't take my first two years of high school as seriously as I
should have,'' said Jones, a cousin of former Rocky hoops star Pete Mickeal.
``I clowned around and didn't really care too much. I think about that all the time. I
wish I could go back in the past and change things, but I can't. I have to move forward.
``I'm hyping myself up, knowing what I have to do now. If I have homework, I do it. If
I have to lift weights, go do it. If I have to study some more, go do it. That's how it is
now. Playtime is over if I want to continue playing.''
Boblett said the Rocky coaching staff already spends two days a year going over NCAA
guidelines in an effort to prevent the problems Jones is facing.
The Rocks also bring back success stories like NFL player Austin Wheatley to tell their
tales and try and influence a ``school first'' approach.
However, Jones is proof that not everyone is hearing the message, Boblett said. That's
why Jones is willing to offer himself up as a cautionary tale to the next generation, to
all those little kids that look up to him.
``Look out, Mo-tivation, here it comes,'' Jones said. ``Keep your grades up if you want
to play. Even if you think you can slack off, you can't. Don't be like me. Be better than
me.''
Copyright 2001, Moline Dispatch
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