Riders salute Jones with game ball as 97-yard punt return scores touchdown
OTTAWA Christion Jones already has a souvenir from the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Ontario road trip.
He was presented with the game ball by head coach and general manager Chris Jones on Friday after the Riders roared back from a 17-0 deficit to pull off an 18-17 win over the host Ottawa Redblacks.
Christion Jones’ 97-yard puntreturn touchdown ignited a run of 18 unanswered points that helped Saskatchewan improve its record to 7-6.
“The ball is in my bag as we travel so I’ll have it when we go back to Regina,’’ Jones said prior to Wednesday’s practice at Carleton University. “It was my first time doing something special at the professional level and I’m very excited about it.’’
Chris Jones had a number of prospects among whom to award the game ball. One of them was defensive back Jovon Johnson, who had a fumble recovery before making an interception that ended Ottawa’s last chance at a comeback.
“Christion made a play when we needed a play,’’ Chris Jones said. “We were down three scores and things didn’t look very rosy with it raining. ”
Christion Jones made a number of plays during his collegiate career with the University of Alabama Crimson Tide, for whom he played with from 2011 through 2014. During four seasons with the Crimson Tide, Jones returned 68 kickoffs for 1,727 yards and two touchdowns as well as 66 punts for 719 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught 85 passes for 1,030 yards and seven touchdowns.
Christion Jones wasn’t selected in the 2015 NFL draft, but signed as a free agent with the Miami Dolphins. He was cut by the Dolphins in 2015 and again in 2016 after re-signing with the NFL team.
He signed with the Toronto Argonauts in 2016, but was released after training camp. The Riders signed him in July based on what Chris Jones saw of the returner with Alabama.
“He plays very vertical and he’s stronger than he looks,’’ Chris Jones said. “He’s a lot like (B.C. Lions returner) Chris Rainey in that he can start one way and cut back on them. He’s a very elusive guy.’’
Christion Jones dressed for three games earlier this season, returning 11 punts for 198 yards before being sidelined with a shoulder injury.
When the Riders ran into injury issues with their returners, he was activated early from the six-game injured list. He returned four punts for 26 yards against the Calgary Stampeders on Sept. 24 and six punts for 139 yards and a game-changing touchdown against Ottawa.
“It was a very special feeling,’’ Christion Jones said of the TD. “I have to thank God for giving me the opportunity to make that play. I was able to do it and I’m happy for the direction that I was going.’’
Christion Jones was asked to compare making a big play at the NCAA and CFL levels.
“This is different because it’s on a professional level and it was at a significant point of the game for our team,’’ said the 24-yearold Jones. “It also came in an area when your teammates can push you and motivate you like your teammates in college.’’
The Riders are preparing for Saturday’s game against the Toronto Argonauts at BMO Field. Christion Jones would like to come through with another big return that sparks the Riders.
“We want that punt return to be a virus that we keep letting loose and affecting the game in that way,’’ he said. “We’re hoping come Saturday that we can bust a big one then.’’