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After career-high 230 yards rushing against North Dakota State in quarterfinal win, All-America running back is not expected to play Friday




Eastern Washington University All-America running back Taiwan Jones has a fractured bone in his foot and is not expected to play this Friday (Dec. 17) when Eastern hosts Villanova in the semifinals of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs.

Jones, who ranks second this week in FCS in both rushing yards (145.2 per game) and all-purpose yards (201.8), suffered a fracture to the base of his fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot in EWU’s 38-31 overtime victory over North Dakota State Saturday (Dec. 11) in the quarterfinals. He finished with a career-high 230 yards rushing in that game, including 203 yards and a touchdown in the first half.

Eastern head athletic trainer Brian Norton said Jones will have a consultation with an orthopedic surgeon on Monday to determine if surgery is needed. Norton said there is a slight possibility that Jones could return for the national championship game on Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas, if Eastern advances.

“I’m disappointed most for Taiwan,” said Eastern head coach Beau Baldwin. “He’s worked so hard, and without Taiwan Jones we wouldn’t be in this position. We feel that way about a lot of players on our team, and Taiwan is a part of that. It’s always disappointing when one of your players is not able to go, especially one so instrumental in our success this season.”

“His performance was great once again,” Baldwin added of Jones’ performance against the Bison, which gave the junior from Antioch, Calif., 1,742 rushing yards and 17 total touchdowns for the season. “You can practice all you want and prepare by watching film, but until you go against him live, you don't understand the angles you need to take. It's not just the big runs. It's the running through tackles and how hard he runs. We knew it would be a physical game.”

Baldwin said one of Jones’ backups -- true freshman Mario Brown or junior Darriell Beaumonte will start at running back this week. Brown has 214 yards and a touchdown this season and Beaumonte has 216 yards and a pair of scores. Jones is averaging 7.9 yards per carry this season and 7.7 in this career, while Brown and Beaumonte are averaging 3.5 and 2.7 this year, respectively.

“Our other players have to step up,” Baldwin said. “This will be a challenge that our players need to attack and go after. But it’s going to be disappointing to not see that young man play this Friday.”

But his twin brother Formosa Jones will fill in!

oh the 3000 fans wont be able to actually see 1 football player. ah shucks.

If you can't run the ball you can't keep Sczur off the field.

This could be ugly

danefan wrote:If you can't run the ball you can't keep Sczur off the field.

This could be ugly

This news will make the ASU game look close. Nova by 24+.

Bad news for EWU. The red field didn't bother me. Boise's blue field makes me dizzy a little bit ill.

andy7171 wrote:Bad news for EWU. The red field didn't bother me. Boise's blue field makes me dizzy a little bit ill.

I agree.. Boise's 'blue' is very difficult to tolerate.. but surprisingly I didn't mind EWU's 'red'.

ChickenMan wrote:

andy7171 wrote:Bad news for EWU. The red field didn't bother me. Boise's blue field makes me dizzy a little bit ill.

I agree.. Boise's 'blue' is very difficult to tolerate.. but surprisingly I didn't mind EWU's 'red'.

Well, with the snow, it was actually pink.

Looks like it's up to us to stop the evil CAA empire.

93henfan wrote:

ChickenMan wrote:
I agree.. Boise's 'blue' is very difficult to tolerate.. but surprisingly I didn't mind EWU's 'red'.

Well, with the snow, it was actually pink.

As my wife said when watching that game....."didn't somebody THINK about this possibility before they installed this bloody kotex?"

I take back what I said (even jokingly) in the other threads.

EWU has zero chance now.

But at least a Big Sky team other than Montana finally made the semis, right 89hen?

danefan wrote:If you can't run the ball you can't keep Sczur off the field.

This could be ugly

That isn't really the concern. Jones is mostly an all-or-nothing big play back—ball control was never EWU's strength. They are only 7th. in the Big Sky in TOP (27:53 avg.). Their opponents average about 8.5 more plays per game than they do.

The fact that Brandon Kaufman is the Eagles' only remaining playmaker is the biggest concern.

Mvemjsunpx wrote:

danefan wrote:If you can't run the ball you can't keep Sczur off the field.

This could be ugly

That isn't really the concern. Jones is mostly an all-or-nothing big play back—ball control was never EWU's strength. They are only 7th. in the Big Sky in TOP (27:53 avg.). Their opponents average about 8.5 more plays per game than they do.

The fact that Brandon Kaufman is the Eagles' only remaining playmaker is the biggest concern.

The Silver Lining -- Eagles Beat Weber State Without Jones: Despite not playing with its biggest playmaker and yardage machine, Eastern Washington University found plenty of big plays and plenty of offense at Weber State on Oct. 2 at Stewart Stadium in Ogden, Utah, when running back Taiwan Jones missed the game with a painful pelvic contusion.

Eastern scored 21-straight second-half points after falling behind 17-14 to surge past the Wildcats 35-24 in a crucial Big Sky Conference football game. Junior quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell passed for 337 yards and four touchdowns and the defense had three interceptions that led to scores. He directed Eastern on touchdown drives of 66 yards (9 plays), 65 yards (13 plays), 80 yards (6 plays), 68 yards (9 plays) and 67 yards (4 plays).

Eastern finished with 465 yards of offense, and most importantly for the Eagles, Eastern had leads after all four quarters -- including an 11-point winning margin. Mitchell was 23-of-36 as he finished with his first 300-yard passing game for the Eagles. He completed 14-of-19 passes in the first half and 9-of-17 in the second half.

http://www.goeags.com/sports/m-footbl/2 ... 3Villanova" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We have other experienced playmakers on offense, so we can at least partially fill in the void. But as I've said before, the two most important playmakers are J.C. Sherritt and Renard Williams.

Defense wins championships. We've got a good shot at it.

Jones is a really dynamic player. It's a shame that he won't get to show his skills on national TV this weekend.

uofmman1122 wrote:I take back what I said (even jokingly) in the other threads.

EWU has zero chance now.

But at least a Big Sky team other than Montana finally made the semis, right 89hen?

He's changed the argument now.

AZGrizFan wrote:

uofmman1122 wrote:I take back what I said (even jokingly) in the other threads.

EWU has zero chance now.

But at least a Big Sky team other than Montana finally made the semis, right 89hen?

He's changed the argument now.

Of course.

And if EWU wins out it will be only one other team not named Montana...

That's the beauty of it.

It's like standing on #17 having lost the front, you're one down for the back, and two down for the overall. You press your way back to a near victory. Ehhh Hen?

Mario Brown & Darriell BOTH SUCK. FVCKIN TAIWAN!!! BE A MAN & GET OUT THERE! ONCE AGAIN, SOME LIMP DXCK BASTARD, SINGLE HANDEDLY, FXCKS UP THE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

BlackFalkin wrote:BASTARD, SINGLE HANDEDLY, FXCKS UP THE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

Agreed. Fockin Szcur.