Jones has career day in win over Navy
By BRIAN KESSLER
Sports Editor
Following Notre Dame's 28-24 victory over Navy, Julius Jones had no idea how many yards he just rushed for.
Reporters swarmed the freshman tailback as he emerged from the locker room and one of them clued Jones in that he picked up 146. Jones simply smiled and laughed.
"I don't know what to say about that," the modest Jones said. "I finally had a good game and showed everyone what I could do. I had a field day out there."
Jones also probably wasn't aware that he just recorded the most rushing yards by a freshman tailback since Jerome Heavens ran for 148 in 1975.
"We were having some trouble passing the ball, so we had to go back to the run," Jones said. "I knew the job had to be done and I wanted to get in there and do it. The line blocked well. There were holes everywhere. All I had to do was pick one. I had a good game."
Jones obviously knew that.
He was the bright spot on a day in which the Irish desperately needed one to knock off the upset-minded Midshipmen.
"He's exciting to watch," Notre Dame running backs coach Desmond Robinson said. "He's a good back and he made some plays for us today. I think he's really maturing and showing he's worthy of getting more plays."
"With his hands on the football, he's a weapon," head coach Bob Davie said.
After just one carry for a yard in the first quarter, Jones got his chance to shine in the second. On Notre Dame's first drive of that quarter, Jones got five straight carries that took the Irish from their own 44-yard line down to the Navy 13. The highlight of the drive was Jones' 28-yard run in which he started up the middle, before breaking to the outside for a big gain. Jones' runs set up a touchdown that put the Irish ahead 14-0 midway through the second.
"I felt very comfortable out there after five or six carries," Jones said. "I like situations like that where I get the ball and can make a play."
Navy stormed back with 21 unanswered points, but the Irish called on Jones again and just like UPS, he delivered.
With less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter, Jones had back-to-back 12 yard rushes to start the Irish drive that culminated with Jarious Jackson's 57-yard touchdown run on the next play.
"He's very special. He reminds me a lot of Autry Denson," center John Merandi said. "His ability to read holes is just unbelievable."
With the score tied in the fourth quarter, the Irish went almost exclusively to Jones when it came time to handoff. On their first drive of the quarter, Jones got four carries only to see it end with a blocked field goal. With Notre Dame pinned on its own 5-yard line on its second drive, Jones bailed the Irish out again. On the first play, he broke away from defense and scampered 37 yards. Jones watched the drive stalled on the next play when Jackson was sacked and fumbled.
"He had that big run out of our endzone," offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers said. "I think he's a special guy, the type that is going to make you miss. He was real close to going the distance a couple of times. It was a good game for him to get in, play under pressure, and get the checks."
With the Irish trailing by three points and driving late in the game, Jones was at tailback getting the carries. The Irish were forced to pass the ball with time running out, but Jones had already done his part.
"He played a whale of a game," Navy head coach Charlie Weatherbie said.
All Sports Stories for Monday, November 1, 1999
