The Contraband

Issue date: 11/3/04 Section: Sports

Media Credit: KRT Quarterback Chris Jones completed 16 of 31 passes for 129 yards and two total touchdowns in his first starts for the McNeese Cowboys against Texas State on Saturday night.

McNeese State University quarterback Chris Jones has taken the long road to where he is now. Out of high school, he went to Division III Louisiana College and became the backup quarterback for the Wildcats. With that lasting only one semester, Jones was looking for a transfer. Jones looked around, talked to some coaches, sent in some game film, and McNeese decided to give him a try.

Jones came into the same situation at McNeese. Incumbent Scott Pendarvis, just ending his sophomore season leading the Cowboys to a national championship game appearance, was back and looked to be set in the starting role for a couple more years. Still, Jones wanted out of Louisiana College, so he packed his bags and settled in Lake Charles.

Jones started his sophomore season as the third-string quarterback behind starter Scott Pendarvis and backup Ryan Corcoran, and over the span of his sophomore season, Jones threw only one pass. In the game against Portland State University earlier this season, Jones completed three of five passes, passing his career total as a Cowboy in only one game.

He continued to get playing time through the next few games, and Jones' big break came in the McNeese come-from-behind win over Florida International University. After throwing an interception in the first half, Jones led the Cowboys to a 30-27 win. He played the entire second half and all but wrapped up a spot as the starting quarterback for this past Saturday, Oct. 30's game against Texas State University, which the Cowboys lost 54-27.

"I'm a lot more excited when game day comes around. As far as things I'm doing in practice, I'm not really changing anything. I prepared myself as if I was a starter when I was a backup in case something were to happen and I were to get a lot of playing time in any particular game," said Jones.

Jones has big shoes to fill. Pendarvis had been the starter for over two years now, and he had even led the Cowboys to the 2002 National Championship game. However, Pendarvis has seemed to fall on hard times this year, throwing for only six touchdowns in the first seven games, while throwing 10 interceptions.

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