Nobody would blame Jerry Stone if he were a little nervous. After all, he’s a junior, he’s not very big (5’11” and 196), and he’s preparing to face one of the hardest-hitting defenses in the country this Friday, when his Lakewood Lancers host the Poly Jackrabbits at Cerritos College in a CIF Semifinal. But Jerry Stone is not nervous. Outside of the Lancers’ film bungalow, still chewing the cookies he’d been snacking on while watching tape, he smiles when asked to describe how he feels about the upcoming game: “Excited.”
And why shouldn’t he be? Stone’s performance this season has his teammates, and their fans, feeling pretty juiced too. While Stone is on the field, the Lancers are 8-0, and averaging 35 points a game; without him, they’re 2-2, and score 23. But his impact doesn’t end on offense—their defense allows 20.5 points a game without him, and just 15 with him. That’s the reach of a breakout player who averages 193 yards of offense a game, and who’s gained 1,547 yards of total offense in eight games, with 18 TDs and a yards-per-rush average of over eight. In his first two playoff games, against Servite and Mission Viejo, Stone has 447 yards rushing and receiving, and 5 TDs.
It’s worth noting that Lakewood’s coaches aren’t particularly surprised: Thadd MacNeal, head coach of the Lancers, said before the season that, “Jerry Stone is going to light up the Moore League.” He said it again after Stone gained just 70 yards in his first game, against Crenshaw. “Trust me.” And while Stone genuinely seems uncomfortable with taking too much credit for his team’s success, his coach gives him plenty anyway. “Jerry plays hard on every down. He does everything we ask him to.”
Since his return from a four-game rest due to academic ineligibility in the middle of the season, the Lancers have asked him to do a lot. Stone laughs off a suggestion that his inactivity might have him feeling more rested in the postseason. “Believe me, I’m not fresh. But I am happy to be back.” Now that he’s back, he’s seen more snaps on the defensive side of the ball, and has consistently come up with big tackles when the Lancers needed them, especially in the playoffs. More importantly, he’s revived a season. After having to forfeit their first four games, and after Stone’s absence, Lakewood was 2-6 on the record books, and you could feel the desperation on their sideline. Then they got their playmaker back, won the final two games of the league schedule to qualify for the playoffs, and have since been what Poly coach Raul Lara described as, “The hottest team in the bracket.”
Yet despite all statistical evidence to the contrary, Stone downplays his importance. “We can’t just say we’re a better football team because some players didn’t play. We got better—the linemen block better, everything is better. This is going to be a different ball game.”
Lakewood fans certainly hope so—as does their coach. Last year in a league game against Poly, Lakewood lost 13-6, and coach MacNeal said afterward, “We’re just one big play away.” This year he has the ultimate playmaker on the field for the first time against the Jackrabbits, and his team is peaking at the exact right time.
Stone has never played Poly, but having grown up in Compton hearing about them, he’s eager for the opportunity. “I just want to play ’em,” he said. “Obviously, everyone knows about Poly, but I’m looking forward to the game.” He smiles again. “I’m not losing.” There’s no telling: he hasn’t so far.