Chichester’s Jones thankful for one last Turkey Bowl
UPPER CHICHESTER — Chichester’s Kahsi Jones raised his arm and gave the thumbs up signal as he was wheeled off on a stretcher late in a 28-6 loss to West Chester Rustin on Oct. 5.
It was his way of letting everyone at Anthony Apichella Memorial Field know he was OK.
For several scary minutes the senior running back/linebacker lay motionless after taking a hit while trying to return a kickoff.
“I didn’t really field the ball,” Jones said. “I went to catch it and I dropped it. I picked it up I tried to outrun the defender who was trying to tackle me, but I didn’t get anywhere. He tackled me from behind and I hit my head on the ground hard.”
Jones said he was unconscious for “11 or 12 minutes.” When he regained consciousness, Jones admitted to being scared as medical personnel put him in a neck brace before placing him on a backboard and taking him to the hospital as a precautionary measure.
“I wondered if I was going to play again, but I knew I had to keep my head up,” Jones said. “I’m a strong person. I’m a lion.”
Players from both teams knelt and held hands as fans anxiously watched from the stands. Jones knew all eyes were on him. That’s when he decided to make his gesture.
“I wanted everyone know I was OK,” he said.
Jones suffered a concussion and a bruised neck and was released from the hospital that night. He missed Chi’s Del Val League opener against Academy Park, but returned to play in the final three regular-season games.
Jones will be in the lineup again when the Eagles (3-8) renew their Thanksgiving Day tradition with rival Sun Valley (1-9) for the 52nd consecutive year Thursday morning at Dr. Wally Field (10:30) in Aston.
Jones came back strong and played well enough to earn first-team All-Del Val honors at running back and honorable mention for his play as an outside linebacker, kick returner and member of the kickoff coverage team.
“I’m very thankful,” Jones said.
Surviving that scary moment is not all Jones is grateful for. He’s glad to have the opportunity to play in one more Turkey Bowl because it’s more than just a game, it’s a community event, and a chance to bond with an arch-rival.
For the fourth year in a row administrators, coaches and players met for breakfast Monday at Chichester. The gathering, which is hosted by the visiting team, is an added twist to one of the oldest Thanksgiving rivalries in the area.
“It was nice, it gave us a positive vibe and a chance to bond with our rival,” Jones said of the breakfast. “We both want to be classy as a team because we have much respect for each other as a team. We don’t want to have a game like the Steelers and the Browns.
“You want to win, but you want to win with class. If you knock someone down make sure you help them up. It’s all about friendship and the neighborhood.”
Chichester won last year’s game, 35-19, and has taken two of the last three meetings. Sun Valley leads the overall series, 28-23. Jones, who is looking to continue his education and athletic career at either Williamson or Thaddeus Stevens, would like to make it two in a row and three out of four for the Eagles, but for reasons that go far beyond bragging rights.
“For the seniors, this will be the last time we play together,” Jones said. “We’ve been friends and teammates for a long time and we want to go out there one last time and play with class and respect, and set an example for the younger guys to follow.”
