The562’s coverage of Jordan Athletics is sponsored by John Ross, Class of 2013.
The562’s coverage of Cabrillo Athletics is sponsored by the Cohn Family.
Jordan needed a win Friday night.
After a shaky month of football that featured three close losses, the Panthers got a much-needed victory to celebrate Homecoming 45-6 over Cabrillo.
Jordan sophomore JJ Nielsen put together one his best performances of the season with six touchdowns while keeping a balanced offense throughout the win.
“Our offense finally clicked,” Nielsen said. “Receivers catching the ball, me throwing the ball well and the running backs running the ball well, and specially the O-Line blocking their butts off.”
After Cabrillo won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half, Jordan (6-3, 2-3) wasted no time as Jordan Washington broke for a 17-yard gain. Nielsen capped that drive with back-to-back completions including a 43-yard touchdown to Jacob Hernandez for to give the Panthers an early 6-0 lead three minutes into the game.
After the Jordan’s defensive front came up with the first of many stops, Washington and Nielsen combined for 63 yards on four carries on the ensuing drive. Nielsen capped the drive with a 23-yard touchdown run to put Jordan up 13-0 midway through the first.
Cabrillo running back Bobo Jackson gained some tough yards and had three carries for 21 yards on the next drive, but in ended inside the Jordan 30-yard line when quarterback Luis Haro was sacked on fourth down.
A 31-yard run from Washington set up a Nielsen touchdown to Deontae Tucker from 17-yards out for a 19-0 lead after one quarter.
Nielsen found Gerald Pickens for a 40-yard to put the Panthers up 25-0 with 10:51 left in the second.
“This looked like my offense,” Jordan coach Jon Nielsen said. “This is how we’re supposed to play football.”
Jordan’s defense continued to swarm Haro and the Jaguars, then once again Nielsen immediately went to work as he had a 17-yard run before finding Tucker for a 10-yard touchdown to give the Panthers a 32-0 lead.
The Panthers got the ball back after recovering an onside kick and Washington capped that 43-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown to give Jordan a 39-0 lead with 6:45 left in the first half.
Cabrillo’s best drive of the night was stopped as the Panthers were able to sack Haro as the first half clock expired.
With a running clock to start the third, Nielsen extended the Panthers lead when he found Hernandez for a 3-yard touchdown to put Jordan up 46-0.
Cabrillo wouldn’t be shut out as Haro found freshman D’Jon Pittman for a 35-yard touchdown.
The Panthers will wrap up the season against Poly, while Cabrillo will take on Millikan.
