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♦ 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?. 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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. 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