CJ Dumas and Kole Wilson have formed a special connection by playing with each other for years.

The quarterback-wide receiver duo has been an integral part of Paetow’s offense for the past three years and are having their best years yet as seniors, helping lead the team to a Class 5A-Division I state title game.

Dumas is having the best year of his high school career. He has thrown for over 2000 yards and 28 touchdowns so far to just nine interceptions.

He’s just a leader and one of our undisputed leaders on offense,” said Paetow head coach BJ Gotte. “He has the ability to be calm no matter the situation and make any type of throw we ask of him. He understands that no matter what happens he can stay in a rhythm and execute. He has leadership and poise and that’s what we expect from him as a three-year starter.”

A big part of Dumas’ confidence is the confidence that he has in his teammates and in throwing the ball to Wilson. Dumas has completed 42 passes this year to Wilson, who has 914 yards on the year and 14 touchdowns on those completions, averaging over 20 yards a catch.

“Our motto is just to get it up to Kole to where he can make a play,” Dumas said. “The ball doesn’t have to be perfect for him, even if it’s not in the spot it’s supposed to be but he just makes plays on everything. Having playmakers like that even if the ball is underthrown or overthrown, it’s a great thing to have. You don’t have to be perfect with it, he always makes me look good.”

People call Wilson a lightning rod, the senior can make plays anytime he touches the ball and he is more than just a receiver for the Panthers. The senior has rushed for two touchdowns this year and also returns punts, where he has accumulated over 500 yards this season and three touchdowns, averaging 15 yards per punt returns this season. In all, Wilson accounts for nearly 100 yards per game for Paetow.

“I try to tell those college guys every time I see them, this kid can play for you,” Gotte said. “He’s just such a special talent. He’s a great kid, a hard worker and has never shied away from any challenge and has always responded to anything put in front of him. To see him have success in the different phases that he has had is really cool, I’m really happy for him.”

The two have pushed each other to be at their best and our some of each others best motivators.

We know how good we are,” Wilson said. “We just keep getting better and know each other. We just keep pushing and it’s taken us to the next level.”

Dumas and Wilson hope to cap their season off with a state championship when they play an undefeated College Station team at 7 p.m. on Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. They’re excited for the opportunity but know the job isn’t done.

“It’s a really great feeling to get this far, especially with how things went last year when we went out with COVID early on and everything,” Wilson said. “We’ve been waiting for this and preparing for this ever since then. All offseason we’ve worked to get to this point, now we just got one more to go.”