Loyola linebacker-tight end Charley Jones has had a hectic senior year, and the highlight for his undefeated and No. 2 Dons comes this morning, when they play Calvert Hall in the annual Turkey Bowl at M&T Bank Stadium.
Jones, 6 feet 1, 195 pounds, is second on the team in tackles with 82 and has 101 receiving yards. After his parents moved to Houston for his father's job last summer, Jones remained behind, living with teammate Shannon Klein's family. His parents and brother Danny, a freshman at the University of Tampa, will be in town today to watch the Turkey Bowl and join the Kleins for a turkey feast. Jones, 18, has a 3.2 grade-point average and is considering a career in marketing or business management.
Which do you like better, offense or defense?
I think of myself as a defensive player. I love defense. I like to hit. After you make a big tackle, it just feels exhilarating. It's a great feeling, the best feeling in the world.
What are you looking for in those few seconds before you make the hit?
Coach has built up a lot of tendencies for us, so before the snap, we kind of think where the play's going to go. We see where the hole forms and we just kind of fill it. I know Matt Heacock - he's the other linebacker - does a really good job. If I fill the hole, he's going to come and make the tackle or if he fills the hole, I'm going to make the tackle.
What does the Turkey Bowl, the Calvert Hall game, mean to you?
They're our rival, and it's the biggest game of the year. If we don't win this game, we get a share of the [Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference] title, and we want that undefeated season.
What's the feeling when you get on the field on Thanksgiving Day?
It's a special time. You get so pumped up for the Turkey Bowl. This is my third year on the team. I didn't play [in the game] last year or the year before, and I was really pumped up. I can only imagine what it will be like this year. It's always an exhilarating game.
When you play Calvert Hall, with such a rivalry, do records mean much?
You have to be careful because they're going to be pumped up. That's their goal. They're going to try to knock us out so hard. We're undefeated, and they're going to be gunning for us. Records don't usually matter in this kind of game.
How do you stay focused in such a hyped game?
