This time, second place was not an option.
Especially for Moweaqua Central A&M running back Perry Jordan, whose five touchdowns led his team to a 35-28 victory over St. Joseph-Ogden Friday in the Class 2A title game at Illinois State’s Hancock Stadium.
Central A&M (14-0) had finished second the last two years and also in 1992. Jordan has started in three consecutive title games, scoring a touchdown in last year’s two-point loss to LeRoy.
“It’s a lot better; I’ll tell you that,” said a happy Jordan afterwards. “There was a feeling (in the community) that if you didn’t win it all, you might as well lose in the first or second round.”
Jordan’s five TDs tied a 2A title-game record while the 577 yards total offense by both teams set a 2A mark for a final. The 63 points also set a 2A title-game mark.
“I’d give up all the touchdowns to have a state title, but they were nice to have,” said Jordan, who rushed for 161 yards and four touchdowns on 34 carries and also scored on an 80-yard punt return. That set a record for all classes in a title game.
After Jordan opened the scoring with a 1-yard TD run, St. Joseph retaliated with Ryan Jones’ 55-yard touchdown run just 17 seconds later.
“We had a guy in position, but Jones just broke a tackle and went for the touchdown,” said St. Joseph coach Richard Duval.
Jones, who was pretty much St. Joseph’s offense on this day, gained 198 yards on 28 carries and scored twice.
Jordan’s long punt return and a 2-yard TD run provided Central A&M with a 21-7 lead early in the second quarter. Jones leaped into the end zone from the 2 in bringing St. Joseph-Ogden within 21-14 at halftime.
Central A&M’s Justin Dirkes followed up his interception with a fumble recovery that set up Jordan for touchdown No. 4.
St. Joseph (12-2) rallied on quarterback Michael Benso’s 14-yard touchdown run and Jarrod Widick’s 39-yard scoring run.
Jordan scored the game-winner early in the fourth quarter.
