Newspaper Page Text
♦ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2006
2B
TAME
From page iB
There were also big defen
sive moments when the Lions
beat Pebblebrook 20-18 in
the second round. Such plays
include a blocked punt before
the go-ahead touchdown.
“They just battle,” said Nix.
“It seems like it’s a group
of kids that doesn’t want to
let their teammates down, let
themselves down. They prob
ably come from families that
have high expectations of suc
cess.
“They have a great number
of guys who play both ways.
That’s obviously a problem
for depth purposes, stamina
and those kinds of things. At
the same time, if the defense
is not playing too good ... they
are the guys. So there’s no
finger pointing. That’s a posi
tive, there.”
As for the game against the
Jackets, Nix said there wasn’t
so much a major turnover that
shifted momentum. However,
at one point Thomas County-
Central was faced with 4th
and-2 at midfield. Nix said he
felt the Jackets made a good
call in going for it, but the
Lions held, which in turn led
to a short scoring drive for the
tying points.
“They are multiple,” he said
about the Lions’ defense. “At
different times, they will be
in a four-man front and bring
linebackers or strong safeties
up on the edge to make it look
like a 6-2.
“Or they will be in a 4-3
look, then drop a linebacker
into the nose to make it a 50
look. You can tell they are
pretty smart kids to do as
JORDAN
From page iB
in front of me.”
In the 2006 season,
Northside followers have
also seen Jordan account
for numerous touchdowns
-11 in all -as a fullback. But
these weren’t his first touch
downs in high school varsity.
Defensive players can score
on occasion as well, and for
Jordan that first moment in
the end zone came as a sopho
more in 2004.
“I was playing Will line
backer at Carver High School
in Columbus,” he said. “I will
never forget it. The quarter
back had fumbled the foot
ball, and I picked it up and
dove in the end zone. It was
an exciting play for me.
“I love getting my hands
on the football, being able to
make a play. Anytime we need
a big play, I’m willing and
ready and want the ball to be
in my hands.”
From sacking a quarterback
to scoring a touchdown ... to
playing in the state’s biggest
athletic stage, the Georgia
Dome. Northside made the
trip last year for the semifi
nals and came out with a win
against Baldwin High.
“It was always my dream to
go play in the Georgia Dome,”
said Jordan. “I’ve seen guys
like Chansi Stuckey, going to
see those guys play in the
Dome, and that was on my
mind. I always said once I
play high school football for
Northside, I want to play in
the Dome, too. It was very
exciting.”
Those have been the highs
so far in Jordan’s football
career, but there have been
two lows. And at a program
like Northside, one low usual
ly means a bad end to a great
season. Last year the Eagles
lost to Statesboro High in the
AAAA championship game at
Georgia Southern University,
one year after Statesboro
handed Northside a second
round loss in Bulloch County.
“When you lose after you
gave everything you had
and played a good game ... I
thought I played a very good
game and the rest of the
MUSEUM
From page iB
finish line. Patriotic open
ing ceremonies and plenty
of refreshments afterwards
make this local fitness event
the one to attend.
The start time for the mara
thon and half marathon is 8
a.m. The 5K run/walk will
start at 8:15 a.m.
Race packets may be picked
up at the Museum of Aviation
much as they do.
“We are very uncertain
at what basic looks we are
going to get. We are trying to
prepare for several different
things.
“We have to do a good job on
the option series. Somebody’s
got to take the dive and some
body’s got to take the quar
terback. He has a great ability
of making that first guy miss.
It’s uncanny how well he does
that.
“We have to make sure we
don’t let him get that extra
four, five or six yards, or an
extra 46 yards.”
What coaches at St. Pius X
must have seen in studying
Northside’s offense over the
past two playoff games is a
concentration on the running
game, even' if the play is tech
nically a pass play.
In addition to Tyuan Green’s
strong performances of late as
the lone set back, receiver
Nick Bass has taken quite a
few inside shuffle passes from
quarterback Marques Ivory.
Bass takes these shuffles
right into the middle of the
line just like a running back.
He had five catches in the
quarterfinal win against
Habersham Central last
Friday, and two of those
resulted in touchdowns.
He scored another touch
down off the shuffle the week
before against Brunswick.
“It’s a good play, like a little
option series, too,” said Nix.
“When we read somebody, and
if that particular guy takes
the inside receiver, then we
carry it on outside and pitch
it to the next level. I don’t
know if we had full intentions
of throwing the ball a good
bit the other night, but it
defense played a real good
game, but just a few plays can
change a game quick,” said
Jordan. “It was a bad turnout,
and I don’t want the feeling to
happen any more.”
Naturally, after those two
losses to the Blue Devils,
Jordan was one of those itch
ing all offseason for one more
shot at this team. That’s not
going to happen, though, as
Statesboro was upset in the
first round by Westlake.
“You always want to think
about the game before you,”
he said. “But I was hoping
that we could play them again
just so we could prove to every
body we could beat them.
“But it’s all about taking it
one game at a time. You think
ahead, that’s how a lot of
teams get beat.”
One other potential rematch
from last year’s playoffs
went by the waste side when
Thomas County-Central
dropped a one-point decision
to St. Pius X, the No. 3 seed
out of Region 6-AAAA.
“Our coaches told us they
are a hard-fighting football
team,” said Jordan about the
Lions from Atlanta. “They
don’t ever give up. We are
going to have to go out there
and play football. We don’t
plan on letting them get any.
If there’s a zero up there
in the third quarter, we are
going to try to keep it all the
way. We don’t want to give up
any points.
“It’s another game, but it’s
a big game. We have a chance
to be seen on T.V You don’t
want to have too many bad
plays or folks are going to see
you doing bad. You want to
give it everything you have,
take no plays off.”
Jordan does possess every
natural skill one would want
in a football player. He stands
between 5-8 and 5-9, and his
last time in the 40 was 4.6.
“It might not be the fast
est 40 time, but when you
see me on the football field I
get to the football real fast,”
said Jordan. “I always think
that that’s a track time, and
there’s no track on the foot
ball field. If you know how to
get to the football ... that 4.6
is probably a 4.3 on the foot
ball field.”
Century of Flight Hangar on
race day only between 6:30-
7:30 a.m.
A picture ID is required at
registration/check-in. Award
ceremonies start Jan. 13, at
9:30 a.m. in the Museum’s
Century of Flight Hangar.
Entry fees are SBO for a relay
team, S4O for the marathon,
S3O for the half marathon and
$lB for the 5K run/walk.
A $5 surcharge applies for
registrations after Jan. 5. To
register or for more informa-
seemed like thingß were going
smoothly and all, so we didn't
throw it much.”
The other common play for
the Eagles was a faked hand
off to Green out of the shotgun
and Ivory keeping the football
for big gains. Ivory does not
possess Green’s speed, but his
size makes him hard for one
defender to stop.
“I hope we continue to be
able to do that,” said Nix. “It’s
going to be critical. Tijuan ran
the ball 29 times last week.
That’s a lot of carries.
“I expect (St. Pius X) to try
to (shut down the run). They
have seen us have success
throwing the ball down the
field. We’ll hopefully execute
whatever we need to be suc
cessful.”
Today marks the second
year in a row Northside has
reached the semifinals, but
for every player who makes
it this far the words that first
come to mind are “The Dome.”
Some schools are making this
trip for the first time.
Eagle players like Green
and Ivory were on last year’s
team that beat Baldwin High,
but did not actually partici
pate in the game.
“I think they understand
this is the step to get to the
last game,” said Nix. “We
want to go to the Dome, we
want to win in the Dome and
get to that next ball game.
Wherever it might be, that’s
what we’ve got to do.
“They ought to be anxious
and excited, but hopefully not
because it is in the Dome.
“There aren’t but four
schools left in the tourna
ment. Hopefully we’ll take
care of business and be one of
the two.”
These are some of the num
bers, though, used by college
scouts in evaluating potential
talent. Jordan admits that the
major schools aren’t recruit
ing him, but he wants anyone
to judge him by how he plays
the game.
“If they want a good foot
ball player, I hope they aren’t
blind,” said Jordan. “They
can see I am a good football
player. I’m here waiting for
anybody to come try and get
me. Anybody has a chance at
me. I just want to play foot
ball somewhere and try to get
a good education.”
As for his own personal
favorites, he said he always
watched the Georgia Bulldogs,
the Georgia Tech Yellow
Jackets, Florida, and Florida
State, any team with big rival
ries.
But before deciding on a
football future, his immedi
ate concern is helping lead
Northside to the school’s
first-ever state championship.
It would be a fine reward for
those who have helped mold
his career, from his lineback
ers coach Randy Carr to his
defensive coordinator Kevin
Kinsler to his head coach
Conrad Nix.
One of the major lessons
he’s learned from his Eagle
coaches is to treat every big
play as if he’s done it before.
“They’ve been a big impact,
to tell you the truth,” said
Jordan. “A lot of times the
coaches have been telling me
since my 9th grade year... I’ve
always been an excitable per
son, love to talk, once I make
a big play I love to celebrate,
but they always tell me, ‘You
don’t have to celebrate. Folks
see you when you make those
type of plays.’”
He recalled a game against
Westside when he did make
one of his usual big hits and
he may have celebrated a bit
too much. He said the coaches
got on to him about it, which
in turn made him chastise
himself somewhat.
“A lot of things I do, I prob
ably shouldn’t do,” were the
words Jordan preached to
himself. “Since the playoffs,
once I make a big play, I just
go back to the huddle. Go to
the next play.”
tion call Race Director John
Hunter at 478-926-6686 (day)
or 478-953-5335 (evening) or
e-mail him at hunteijh@cox.
net.
For museum and race infor
mation call June Lowe or
Mary Lynn Harrison at 478-
923-6600 or e-mail Mary Lynn.
Harrison@museumofaviatio
n.org.
On-line detailed race infor
mation can be found at http://
robinspacers.org or www.
museumofaviation.org.
SPORTS
Name
Andrew Stevens
Blake Patterson
Blake Waits
Brandon Cody
Brandon Quinn
Brett ColHaf
Brett Layson
Carl Robinson
Chris Wood
Ford Baggarley
Garrett Blaxton
Jared Bundrage
Jimmy Intorcia
Justin Montgomery
Kyle Miller
Matthew Dubose
Matthew Schuster
Miles Dowdy
Nathan Winn
Nico Gabrielli
Paul Reese
Payne Clubb
Ross Rabun
Ryan Campbell
Taylor Beitler
Thomas Chandler
Todd Brown
Will Patterson
Coach of the Year
Barney Hester
Name
Matthew Dubose
Payne Clubb
Will Patterson
Blake Yaughn
Josh McCallum
Ben Childs
Foster Veazey
Blaze Hargrove
Nico Gabrielli
Nathan Winn
Brett Collier
Matthew Schuster
Gatewood Ledbetter
Davis Daniel
Garrett Blaxton
Blake Waits
Gordon Warnell
Jacob Wilkinson
Lane Miller
Paul Reese
Jameson Clark
Thomas Chandler
Wesley Gariand
Landon Woodall
Ford Baggarley
Davis Popper
Ross Rabun
Ben Wiikerson
Ryan Campbell
Zach Young
John Blount
Brandon Cody
Gerry Smith
Name
Andrew Stevens
Caleb Wishart
Brandon Quinn
Miles Dowdy
Todd Dutro
Adam Webster
Tersoo Uhaa
Carl Robinson
Bryan Baize
Jimmy Intorcia
Brett Layson
Caleb Vinson
Kyle Miller
Blake Patterson
Taylor Beitler
Chris Wood
Todd Brown
Zeke Wilson
Tim Mansour
Jonathan Martin
Larry Simmons
Andrew Williams
Justin Montgomery
Landon NeSmith
Jared Bundrage
Courtney Newmans
James Bryson
Justin McLemore
CLEATS
/ <
MV EPlTOff, TUAtJ, S.AV?. ABBY IMI'T
SOISie TO LIKE TOE £TC(?Y I W ABCOt i
HI PA PS?. J \
mIT WA9> i
euwwrcg i
Ro. 8.1... Gall .ill. JACK MCKIAUS^
2006 Seorgla Independent School Association
AAA All-Stats football team
School
Riverside Military
Tattnall Square
Pinewood Christian
Sherwood Christian
Riverside Military
Southland
Tattnall Square
Riverside Military
Tattnall Square
Stratford
Pinewood Christian
Mount de Sales
Tattnall Square
John Milledge
Tattnall Square
First Presbyterian
Southland
Riverside Military
Southland
Southland
Deerfield/Windsor
First Presbyterian
Stratford
Westfield
Tattnall Square
Deerfield/Windsor
George Walton
First Presbyterian
Tattnall Square
AAA South All-Region
School
First Presbyterian
First Presbyterian
First Presbyterian
First Presbyterian
First Presbyterian
First Presbyterian
First Presbyterian
Southland
Southland
Southland
Southland
Southland
Southland
Southland
Pinewood Christian
Pinewood Christian
Pinewood Christian
Pinewood Christian
Pinewood Christian
Deerfield/Windsor
Deerfield/Windsor
Deerfield/Windsor
Deerfield/Windsor
Deerfield/Windsor
Stratford
Stratford
Stratford
Stratford
Westfield
Westfield
Westfield
Sherwood Christian
Sherwood Christian
AAA North All-Region
School
Riverside Military
Riverside Military
Riverside Military
Riverside Military
Riverside Military
Riverside Military
Riverside Military
Riverside Military
Riverside Military
Tattnall Square
Tattnall Square
Tattnall Square
Tattnall Square
Tattnall Square
Tattnall Square
Tattnall Square
George Walton
George Walton
George Walton
George Walton
George Walton
George Walton
John Milledge
John Milledge
Mount de Sales
Mount de Sales
Mount de Sales
Central Fellowship
(c) 2008 Bill Hinds, Oist by Universal Press Syndicate
KV- ~*
! / YOO THINK \
: [ w£'s>goW6 /* x- —<
• ItOKltt 1
:
Jp
i /i\ n» v i p %«ry
THE HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
Year Position
SR K
SR C
SR OG/LB
SR RB/DB
SR LB
SR OG/LB
SR QB
SR RB/DB
SR TE
SR LB
SR C/DE
SR OL/DL
SR RB
SR OT/DT
SR OG/DL
JR TB
SR TE/DE
SR OT/DT
SR RB/LB
SR RB
SR QB/DB
JR QB/DB
SR WR
SR OG/LB
JR LB
SR OT/DT
JR LB
SR OL/DL
Year Position
JR TB
JR QB
SR C
SR LB
SR TE/DE
JR WR
JR LB
SR QB
SR RB
SR RB/LB
SR OG/LB
SR TE/DE
SR LB
SR K/P
SR C/DE
SR OG/LB
JR OT/DT
SR WR/FS
JR RB
SR QB
SR RB
SR OT
SR DE
SR DT
SR LB
SR OT/DE
SR WR
SR DT
SR OG/LB
SR RB/DB
SR LB
SR RB/DB
JR RB/LB
Grade Pos.
SR K
SR FS
SR LB
SR OT
SR WR
SR C
JR LB
SR RB
SR LB
SR RB
SR QB
SR OT
SR G
SR C
JR LB
SR TE
JR LB
JR RB
SR T
SR RB
SR DB
JR QB
SR T
JR RB
SR RG
SR FB
SR TE
SO S
com I
/mPT IF WIE VTAY?> M MER lOCKSfU
fi-
-i come out. we josr §; B
li/>1 wAUTTO«EMOW /KKj
Yon FIT IVi THERE. / |gp