Giant help for Wilson
Richards standout continues scoring spree, gets boost from ex-NFL running back Joe Montgomery
Richards’ Jadon Wilson received some guidance Friday night from a Southland legend.
Joe Montgomery, who starred at Richards and Ohio State and played in the Super Bowl with the New York Giants, left his home last week in Georgia to visit his family.
Montgomery stopped by to watch host Richards’ 14-3 South Suburban Red victory over Eisenhower. He relived old memories and gave a rousing speech to the current Bulldogs.
And when the game started, Montgomery hung around on the sideline and offered up a few pointers to the running backs. Wilson, a senior who ran 25 times for 110 yards and scored a touchdown, listened intently.
“He kept telling me to stay low and to keep my legs running and my shoulders square,” Wilson said. “It was like having an Ohio State running back and Super Bowl player in your back pocket. It was good to have him there. It was exciting.”
Wilson also was impressed with how the 45-year-old Montgomery looked.
“He could definitely play tomorrow,” Wilson said.
Wilson can play now, and he’s on a three-game roll.
He scored four TDs on Sept. 17 for the Bulldogs in a 42-21 victory over Shepard and added four more a week later in a 33-13 win over Oak Lawn.
The 5-foot-10, 210-pound power runner said he can make some of the moves of lighter backs and prides himself on his balance.
Wilson also had kind words for an offensive line that features Michal Lupa, Benjamin Cain, Nathanial Conway, Mustafa Washington and Tom Cotugno.
“The guys on the offensive line have been working their tails off this whole season,” Wilson said. “I have been able to find the holes, get upfield and do my best in space.”
Richards coach Tony Sheehan said he opened the season with an approach of running back by committee, but Wilson has broken away from the pack.
Wilson was raised in Chicago and moved to Downers Grove, where he played in the Downers Grove South program before moving to Calumet Park.
He played with Richards in the spring as the team went a disappointing 3-3.
His emergence this season been a big boost for the Bulldogs (5-1, 4-0) entering Friday’s game at Evergreen Park (4-2, 3-1).
“Jason has become a leader — he is always positive,” Sheehan said. “The kids flock to him. He keeps getting stronger and stronger and he’s been able to wear defenses down.”
Wilson is the latest in a line of recent power runners from Richards that includes Derek Flowers and Leshon Williams, a redshirt freshman who has appeared in two games for Iowa.
Wilson said he’s getting looks from various colleges “from Division I to Division III” and took an unofficial visit Saturday to Northern Illinois during a rain-soaked win over Eastern Michigan.
Wilson said the goal is to return in late November to Huskie Stadium in DeKalb with his teammates for an appearance in the Class 6A state championship game.
He said he has found a home with the Bulldogs.
“I love it here,” he said. “It has a good, positive vibe and football history. It’s the place I want to be.”
He’s also delighted the Bulldogs have been put the average spring season behind them and come out even stronger in the fall.
“It was frustrating because I knew the history behind Richards, and 3-3 was not good,” he said. “We weren’t satisfied with 3-3. We knew we had to come back and work 10 times harder.”