Jordan comfortable in backfield

One day into training camp this fall, new Watertown High School football coach Vince Williams made an easy decision.

He moved his most explosive player, senior Ishmael Jordan, from quarterback to running back. Not just to give junior Sean Scordo more time at quarterback, but to make sure Jordan got as many touches as he could to utilize his breakaway speed and power.

"I'd say he may be the best running back Watertown has ever had,'' said Williams, who just happens to be the school's all-time leading rusher. "His combination of speed, power and elusiveness is something Watertown hasn't had for a long time. That ability to break something on every play has been a missing ingredient to our success.''

At a svelte 6 feet and 190 pounds, Jordan is big and strong enough to take on even the most ferocious of defenders. And with 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash (he's also a sprinter on the WHS track team in the spring), he can run past tacklers just as easily.

"I don't know if I've ever seen this, but Ishmael made the Nottingham kids look slow last week,'' Williams said. "And they're probably the fastest team we'll play this season.''

One move in particular made Williams a believer in Jordan's escapability. "He was trapped in the backfield by a couple guys, and just put on a quick spin move and pulled away from them for a nice gain. I looked at my assistant coaches and just said, 'Wow!'''

Jordan remembered that move this week as he and the Cyclones prepared for Friday's home opener against perennial Class A power Whitesboro.

"I just like making plays like that,'' Jordan said. "Making people miss you and the feeling of knowing that they can't stop me is why I love running the ball so well.''

Jordan began the season in style, rushing for 104 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown in Watertown's 21-8 loss at Nottingham. Jordan said, "I did OK, but we lost. I know I can do better and the team can do a lot better.''

Williams said most of that yardage was gained "without a real lead blocker. He did a lot of it by himself.''

Jordan averaged 6 yards per carry last season at quarterback, and also threw for 252 yards and a touchdown. But he said he feels more comfortable at running back.

"You have more freedom and a lot of times it's just you one-on-one against a defender,'' said Jordan. "I'm confident enough to think I can beat anyone in that situation.''

Hard work in the weight room during the offseason has helped Jordan put on muscle and also increase his speed.

"I've gotten a whole lot faster the last couple of years,'' he said. "And coach preaches us getting into the weight room, so we did it the whole summer.''

Williams is counting on Jordan not only for his on-field skills this season, but for a majority of the leadership on what is basically a very young team. He is one of just six seniors on the squad.

"He was the guy who got 20-25 kids to come into the weight room during the summer,'' said Williams. "And he's the guy most of the young kids are looking at because of his work ethic and how hard he plays.''

Jordan said it's his responsibility "to make sure the young guys are ready to play and know how to play right.''

He has also attracted some college scouts as he contemplates playing at the next level. Among the interested schools are Albany, Buffalo and Stony Brook.

"I'd love to play in college,'' Jordan said. "But right now all I'm thinking about is Whitesboro and what it's going to take to get this program back to where it should be.'