CCU Football Notebook: Jones an emerging playmaker for Chants

Sophomore Chris Jones hasn’t had many opportunities within the Coastal Carolina offense this fall, but nobody on the team was surprised to see him haul in a touchdown catch Saturday night.

Or by his continued effectiveness on special teams.

“Chris Jones was probably the MVP of camp,” junior running back De’Angelo Henderson said after the game. “He had a phenomenal camp. If you all could have seen the stuff he did in camp ... MVP of camp. No surprise what he did today.”

Jones doubled his season output with two catches for 31 yards, highlighted by a 19-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter of the Chants’ back-and-forth 34-27 win over Western Illinois.

Add to that another nice performance as Coastal Carolina’s punt returner, as he totaled 88 yards on four returns with a long of 64, and Jones’ potential was on full display Saturday night.

“I just wanted to really make a play for the team,” he said. “That’s all I’m here to do. I really like that on my shoulders, I really want to do something great for the team. I’m not really a self person; I’m here for Coastal Carolina football.”

The 5-foot-11 sophomore is still stuck behind starters Bruce Mapp, John Israel and Tyrell Blanks for targets, but he was a player offensive coordinator Dave Patenaude was high on coming out of the preseason and performances like the one he had Saturday night will only help create more opportunities for him.

Meanwhile, he’s now averaging 19.4 yards per punt return for the season, ranking sixth in the FCS.

“It’s just a great feeling when your teammates trust in you,” Jones said. “When your teammates trust in you, you always know, ‘If I do something wrong, or if I miss this play, I’ll get it back.’ So I’m just out there to make these boys happy, to make Coastal happy and hopefully win a national championship.”

Deveaux making an impact

Senior safety Kelvin Deveaux has now come up with a big defensive play in all three games this season.

He had an interception against Furman, a fumble recovery against South Carolina State and came through with a key pass break-up on fourth down late in the fourth quarter Saturday.

After getting a quarterback hurry on Western Illinois’ Trenton Norvell to force an incompletion on third down of the Leathernecks’ next-to-last possession, Deveaux got a hand up just in time to knock away Norvell’s deep pass toward the goal line on fourth down.

That and the Chants’ defensive stand on the Leathernecks’ final drive sealed the win for Coastal Carolina.

Deveaux, a first-time starter this season, also notched seven total tackles in the victory.

“It’s a blessing to be able to make plays for your team like that,” he said. “As a starter and as a leader on the team, that’s one thing that the guys look to me to do. Basically, just do my job. I don’t have to go out there and do things miraculous; I just have to do my job. There’s 11 pieces to the puzzle. I’m just glad I was able to step up tonight and just do my job and make plays for my team.

“But it felt good to come up with that. I definitely knew it was a big play in the game so that was rewarding to [do] that for my team, but at the same time that’s not the only play that stopped them.”

Abercrombie strong again

Sophomore running back Osharmar Abercrombie was impressive again in limited action, rushing for 26 yards on four carries.

That all came on consecutive plays early in the fourth quarter, including a 5-yard pickup on fourth-and-one to help set up Jones’ touchdown reception.

A week earlier Abercrombie had a 58-yard touchdown run, but his opportunities remain limited playing behind Henderson.

“Osh gets plenty of work over the span of the week and we will not hesitate to use Osh, but when Hop’s really effective and he’s good and he’s moving well there’s not real reason to take him out,” Chants coach Joe Moglia said.

“Osh is a good back, so when you put him in in the fourth quarter he’s got good legs. So we’re not afraid to use him at all.”

Injuries

Israel landed hard on the turf in the first half while stretching out for an incompletion, but he returned to the game and Moglia said afterward that “he’s fine.”

Senior quarterback Alex Ross, meanwhile, played through an ankle injury Moglia said happened in the first quarter.

“It’s a low ankle sprain,” Moglia said after the game. “He was able to move around – I mean he wasn’t able to move around well – but he could still execute and he could still manage the game and call the game.”

Record crowd

Coastal Carolina reported a Brooks Stadium record crowd of 10,311 Saturday night and Moglia talked after the game of the atmosphere in the stadium.

“I was pleased,” he said. “I think when we first go out there it looks a little empty, but certainly as the game goes on [the stands filled up]. What I really liked was there were times when they were clearly audibling and our fans started to make some noise. That’s difficult for the offense if they aren’t prepared for that. ...

“I know we were all proud that our school was well represented here.”

This story was originally published September 20, 2015 at 6:13 PM with the headline "CCU Football Notebook: Jones an emerging playmaker for Chants."