INDIANAPOLIS — For the first time October 1985, the Indianapolis Colts had two players rush for over 100 yards in the same game as Colts beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 33-13.
Back-up running back Jonathan Williams stepped in midway through the 3rd quarter when starter Marlon Mack left the game with a hand injury. Mack had already rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown at that juncture.
Williams picked up the Colts strong running attack right were Mack had left off adding 116 yards rushing of his own.
“This team always lives by the standard of ‘next man up’,” Williams said. “Everybody has to be prepared because you never know what your role is going to be going into the game because of injuries and things like that. I think we prepared well and it showed today.”
“There was good preparation this week,” added head coach Frank Reich. “We talked all week, run the ball, stop the run, win the turnover battle that was really the keys for us and play smart football when it comes to penalties. We are able to do all of that.”
The Jaguars scored first off a long touchdown pass from Nick Foles to DJ Chark midway through the first quarter. The Colts would then score 31 unanswered points. One of those touchdowns was a second effort after a previous touchdown call was reversed as offensive lineman Quinten Nelson had lined up as a fullback and tried to punch it into the end zone.
The original call was a touchdown that prompted a celebration in what appeared to be Nelson doing a kegstand off one of his fellow Colts players.
It wouldn’t be until late in the 4th quarter when the Jags were able to score again. When the Jags went for a two-point conversion, the pass from Foles was intercepted by linebacker Bobby Okereke who took it 98-yards for a safety.
The Colts move to 6-4 and into a tie for the top spot in the AFC South with the Houston Texans. Unfortunately, Coach Reich confirmed after the game that running back Marlon Mack had broken his hand and will not be playing in the Colts Thursday night affair with the Texans.
(PHOTO: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
