Incredible shrinking man is Gannon star
Before Marc Jones transferred from Findlay (Ohio) to Gannon last season, he had an idea of the type of player he wantedto be.
He began his college career at 260 pounds, which fit his purpose as a short-yardage and blocking running back in Findlay’s multiback system. He found success as a freshman in 2015, rushing for 372 yards and seven touchdowns through10 games.
But he felt like he had more to give, despite averaging 5 yards per carry. So he went four hours northeast from Findlay to Erie, where the coaches at Gannon envisioneda new role for him.
The Painesville, Ohio, native came to Gannon’s campus at 247 pounds but dropped an additional 22 pounds over this past offseason in preparation for to be Gannon’s lead running back. It was evident to coach Brad Rzyczycki that Jones had untapped potential, but even he couldn’t predict the season the 5-foot-11 back is having.
After seven games, Jones has 1,540 rushing yards — the highest total in all three levels of NCAA football. That includes a 153-yard lead over Stanford running back Bryce Love,who has set FBS records with his torrid start to the season.
Similar to Love, Jones is also averaging more than 10 yards per carry — doubling hisfreshman year output.
Jones was named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference offensive player of the week for the third time after producing 247 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, three receptions for 34 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in Gannon’s 76-31 win Saturday against Seton Hill. He did most of his damage in the first half, playing justfive snaps after the break.
“I don’t think we had any expectations that he would have over 1,500 yards eight gamesor seven games into the season,” Rzyczycki said. “It’s kinda worked out that way. But we’re not surprised by the amount of success he’s had at thispoint.”
Ithasn’t set in for Jones just how insane his season has been. His decision to lose weightwas motivated, in part, by how he felt physically. At 247 pounds, he felt pain in his ankles, back and knees after running. He has noticed an improvement in his conditioning and and ability to recover after games. And he hasn’t lost his ability to break tacklesfor long runs.
Jones was Gannon’s thirdleading rusher and fifth-leading receiver last year. Through seven games this year, he already has the thirdhighest single-season rushing total in Gannon’s history and is 88 yards away from the schoolrecord.
“They basically told me it’s my spot to lose and I just need to embrace everything that’s going to come with being the featured back,” Jones said. “At the time, I needed to learn the offense a little better, which I think I’ve done a pretty good job of doing. They just told me we’re going to work together, we’re going to keep working. Stayed up here in the summer, worked out, got to know the guy a little better and kept going from there.”
Rzyczycki said that while he’sa defensive coordinator at heart, he’s having more fun scheming on offense than he has ever had in his career. Gannon leads the PSAC in total touchdowns, and it’s largely because Jones is averaging a first down every time hetouches the ball.
“They all know I want to run it,” Rzyczycki said. “There's going to be a point where someone stuffs so many people in the box that you have to throw the ball. But it hasn’t been to that point yet. Last week, we had a lot of Cover 1 and Cover 0 and we werestill able to run the ball. It hasn’t adjusted what we’re doing at all. It hasn’t changed what we’ve been doing over the last six years in this offense.”
Duquesne
The Dukes (5-1, 2-0 NEC) earned a share of the 2016 Northeast Conference title, but it was Saint Francis that earned the league’s automatic bid to the FCS playoff due to a 14-10 tiebreaking win against Duquesnelast October.
Duquesne coaches and players will have that in mind whenthey play host to the Red Flash (4-2, 2-0) Saturday. The rematch could decide which teamearns a playoff bid. Graduate transfer quarterback Tommy Stuart has been strong through six games and is tied for the FCS lead in passing touchdowns with 20.
Robert Morris
After falling to Duquesne at home last week, the Colonials (2-4, 0-1 NEC) will attempt to bounce back when they play host to Sacred Heart (2-4, 0-1) Saturday.It will mark the first time Robert Morris has played consecutive home gamessince 2015.