By By DAN WEISS / Dowagiac Daily News
NILES -- It's hard to argue with the numbers: 295 carries for 2,584 yards, 29 touchdowns and 178 points scored; averages of 234.9 yards per game and 8.8 yards per carry.
Niles senior running back Lonnie Jones' statistics for the 2003 football season were indeed impressive, so much so that the Associated Press named him the Class B Player of the Year in Michigan, it was announced today.
Jones was also very pleased.
Jones, now the owner of several school records for rushing, was quick to shed sole responsibility for his amazing year.
Knowing he was capable of good things this past season, Jones committed himself to becoming a better player in the offseason.
The Niles football team won its first ever state playoff game this season and lost in the District championship game to Lakeshore, a team it beat during the regular season. Despite his personal success, Jones is still disappointed in the way the season ended.
Few people, Jones included, expected him to put up the numbers he did this season. He is the all-time southwest Michigan leader in single-season rushing yardage and stands eighth on the state's record list.
Janicki, who had never coached a Michigan All-State First Team player until now, gave Jones plenty of credit for his success, pointing to his efforts in the offseason and practice.
Being such a dominant player could easily create a high-pressure situation, but no matter how many yards he gained or touchdowns he scored, Jones said he never felt any extra responsibility.
Football has been a positive influence on Jones' life from an early age.
There's a good chance football will continue to be a big part of Jones' life. He hasn't made any plans to play in college yet, but that decision is not far away.
A career in football may even be in Jones' future.