Sunday, November 28, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Jordan, Wildcats outrun Reed to set up all-Southern 4A final

REVIEW-JOURNAL

Not even five inches of snow could slow down Las Vegas running back Eric Jordan on Saturday.

Jordan rushed for 291 yards, accounting for 198 with three long touchdowns, to lead the Wildcats to a 21-14 victory over Reed in the Class 4A state football semifinals in Sparks.

Las Vegas had no production outside of Jordan. The Wildcats didn't complete a pass, and ran for negative 2 yards on 10 rushing plays when Jordan didn't touch the ball.

"He's been carrying us all year," Las Vegas coach Chris Faircloth said. "When he gets out there like that, no one's going to catch him from behind."

Las Vegas (12-2) will play Palo Verde (13-0) in the state championship game at 12:30 p.m. next Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Five inches of snow fell Saturday morning, and officials spent three hours attempting to clear the field. The game kicked off 30 minutes late.

"I don't know who that benefited the most," Faircloth said of the conditions. "When we woke up today, I think it bothered (the coaches) more than the kids. But we told them it's the same field, same conditions, and I don't think it really bothered us."

Jordan's first touchdown came on a 61-yard run with 3:15 to go in the first quarter, giving the Wildcats a 7-0 lead.

The Raiders tied it on a 15-yard run by Ryan Lammle with 56 seconds to go in the quarter.

The ensuing kickoff went into the end zone for a touchback, and Jordan wasted no time giving Las Vegas the lead again, sprinting 80 yards for a touchdown on the next play.

Jordan's only miscue came when he fumbled in the third quarter, giving Reed the ball at its 30. The Raiders capitalized, driving 70 yards to score on a 1-yard plunge by quarterback Zack May for a 14-14 tie with 7:22 to go in the quarter.

The Raiders appeared poised to go ahead later in the third, driving deep into Las Vegas territory. But Kyle McHenry fumbled on third-and-inches, and Joshua Winfield of the Wildcats recovered at the Las Vegas 11.

Jordan made the turnover count, scoring on a 57-yard run with 12 seconds to play in the quarter to put Las Vegas ahead for good.

Reed wasn't able to get out of its own territory on its final two drives.

With less than three minutes to play, the Raiders lined up to punt on fourth-and-5 from their 30. But the play was a fake, and 265-pound punter Jerry Siewierski was dropped for a 2-yard loss by Cris Basch.

Akeem Anifowoshe intercepted a May pass with 1:40 to go to end Reed's final possession, allowing the Wildcats to run out the clock.

Lammle finished with 76 yards on 15 carries to lead Reed. But the 2,000-yard rusher injured his ribs early in the game and had only two carries in the second half.

"That helped us a little bit," Faircloth said. "They couldn't really break the big run without him in there."