Jarret Nielsen had the best night of his high school career on Friday. The junior quarterback completed 30 of his 37 attempts for 548 yards and five touchdowns while leading Jordan to a 59-24 win over visiting North Torrance in the season opener.
“It’s just year two of the offense and understanding stuff while doing the extra work,” Nielsen said. “While I was playing baseball (in the spring) I still did football stuff, and that was different… It’s going through my progressions and making the right reads on the defense in the box and the leverage of the DBs. It’s just hard work.”
Nielsen completed at least three passes to five different receivers, and one of them was Cerritos transfer Jake Bautista who finished the night with seven catches for 197 yards and two touchdowns of 50 yards or more.
“Everyday we’ve worked with each other and that chemistry builds,” Bautista said of teaming up with Nielsen. “It’s created a bond and we’re a brotherhood now… Once we get the hang of it there’s nobody stopping us.”
Bautista added that coach Jon Nielsen’s play calling and Jarret’s mental connection with his dad has helped the offense click. Coach Nielsen had one only one thing to say after the final whistle.
“Numbers don’t lie, people do,” coach Nielsen said.
Jordan running back Jordan Washington also had a great night with 183 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. The senior also had a highlight play when he jumped over a defender in the second half.
“It’s working so well because we believe in ourselves and we’ve become a family,” Washington said. “Last year we struggled with that. This group is more focused and ready to be playmakers on this team.”
Bautista, Washington and Deonte Tucker all had seven catches. Tucker scored twice while racking up 96 yards.
The Jordan defense was also impressive in stretches while getting into the North backfield, especially in the first half. Defensive lineman Israel Poyer had a handful of tackles for loss, and Jay’Mari Redmond returned an interception for a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter that gave Jordan a 13-6 lead.
“It’s been about us coming together,” Poyer said of the defensive improvement. “I tried to encourage my team with those tackles for losses and the sack. It’s about hyping my team up to do better.”
After the Redmond score, the Panthers defense forced a quick three and out. Then after Washington capped a big-play drive with a short TD run on the ensuing possession, Jordan forced another three and out. Nielsen hit Bautista for a 50-yard touchdown on the first play off the next possession to make it 23-6.
North freshman quarterback Boogie Anetema and freshman receiver Kingston Anetema hooked up for three touchdown passes on six completions, but after Jordan sophomore defensive back Amari’e Maddox moved over to play bump and run coverage on Kingston, he only had one reception after halftime.
The Jordan offense continued to hurry to the ball throughout the fourth quarter that included a running clock, and that urgency is popular with the Panthers.
“It comes from practice, you practice how you play, and we compete like that every day,” Washington said. “We prepare ourselves for the tempo we’re doing by running ourselves to death. We come out here ready to compete. We wanted to send a message against a higher division team.”
Jordan visits Peninsula on Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
