WENDELL - By the numbers it isn't hard to tell why 1985 East Wake graduate David Jones is being inducted into the East Wake Athletic Hall of Fame this March.

Jones had an equal impact on his teammates and friends on and off the field.

"He was something else. He was a great guy to play with and just a great guy too; a special player and a genuinely great person. Even friends I have from college that meet him say that's got to be the nicest guy they've ever met. He's always willing to do anything for you," said former teammate Tim Wolter, who mostly recalls the times the two spent together on the football field under coach Johnny Sasser.

Wolter said he doesn't know if anyone's ever gone for over 1,000 yards in three separate seasons as a Warrior running back. Jones did just that, plus some change.

He rushed for 1,003 yards his sophomore year on the varsity team and for 1,226 yards his junior year. He hit the 1,000-yard mark by the seventh game of the season his senior year, rushing for 140 yards and four touchdowns in the 56-0 mauling of Harnett Central, and remains East Wake's all-time leading rusher with more than 3,600 yards.

That game, one Sasser called a "giant mismatch", pushed the Warriors to a 7-0 record and bumped the team up to No. 4 in the state. Jones' four touchdowns came on a pair of 6-yard runs, a 65-yard run and a 60-yard punt return.

A pair of disappointing losses followed the perfect opening to the 1984 season, but the team bounced back for a 35-0 shutout of Apex for the season finale on homecoming.

"The most special thing was before the game. We both served as captains against Apex in our final game our senior year. It was very cool, and very special to walk out there. That was big to coach Sasser - and to win 35-0," Wolter said.

Jones started and ended the homecoming game. He rushed for 40 yards of the 70-yard opening drive and punched in the first TD. He closed the game with a 9-yard run for 6 and a 2-point conversion, rushing for 115 yards to close out the 8-2 season.

Alongside Wolter, Jones was named to the All-Metro 2nd Squad. He was also named the 3-A Player of the Year by the Raleigh Sports Club in late November, and later named to the Triangle 3-A All-Conference First Team. The 5-foot-9, 166-pounder was chosen as runner up for Back of the Year, and was awarded the Jimmy Buchanan Award at the fall sports banquet in December, where he received a bar and certificate. He also received honorable mention in the selection of the News and Observer's All-East 3-A Conference honors.

Though football may have been his forte, Jones served as captain on the varsity baseball team in the spring as well. Returning from an All-Conference junior season when he was dubbed the Wake County 3-A Player of the Year, Jones led the team in the 1985 opener going 2-3 - connecting on a pair of doubles.

By season's end he was named the team's Most Valuable Player at the spring athletic banquet.

"He's just a great all around athlete, and still is," said Wolter."In sports he worked the hardest and prepared more than anybody, and wasn't the tallest guy. He had a fantastic work ethic. Baseball and football he was very good at, but he's just a leader in everything he did."

Jones will be inducted at the East Wake Hall of Fame Banquet set to take place on Saturday, March 6.

"It's a perfect honor for a guy that had a great high school career," Wolter said.