Jordan Celebrates End to Losing Streak

Football players at Jordan High practiced with an air of confidence this week after beating Fairfax in the season opener last Friday, 28-0. The victory was Jordan’s first after two consecutive 0-9 seasons.

“Our kids worked really hard and this win was for the whole community--it brought back some pride,” said Jordan Coach Doi Johnson, in his third season. “To see the look of happiness on the faces of the kids on the field and in the stands was enough for me. I hope I see that same look another night.”

Senior running back James Owens rushed for 92 yards in 13 carries and caught a pass from quarterback David Jackson that went for 60 yards. Junior Rashad Murray gained 101 yards in eight carries and scored on a 60-yard run.

Branden Bullard had 11 tackles, three of them for sacks, and recovered a fumble. Greg Johnson had seven tackles.

Jordan gets a tougher test Friday when the Bulldogs play Roosevelt, a 44-6 winner Friday over Lincoln.

“As long as the kids keep working hard, we’ll make progress,” Johnson said. “The win over Fairfax was definitely a step in the right direction.”

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The City Section has retitled its football championship games.

Winners of the Coastal, Southeastern, Southern Pacific, Northern, Northwest Valley and Valley Pac-8 conferences and the 10 strongest at-large teams will play for the City Championship, previously known as the 4-A division final.

Teams rated 17 through 32 at the end of the regular seasons will be put in another 16-team bracket to play for the Division Championship, previously known as the 3-A.

“We felt it was important to still have two playoff divisions,” City Section Commissioner Barbara Fiege said. “But there was a feeling, expressed by many of the people involved, that there needed to be titling that made it clear that there was a different level of play.

“The teams that were playing in what used to be known as the 4-A are the best teams and will earn the right to be called City champions if they win that division.”

The City and Division championship games will be played Dec. 11 at the Coliseum, Fiege said.