Fuel - Friday Night Football Georgia 2014

PoweReD BY It Doesn’t take Long to notice ta J gRiffin stReaking Down the field. It might take a little longer for Willie Jordan to separate him- self, but he’s the one usually moving the pile. Both are two of the top senior running backs in Georgia this fall. Both are completely different in their style, but the results… the results are just what you want. Jordan is a bigger, more bruising back – perhaps suited better for running in between the tackles. Griffin is most dangerous out in space.

In 2013 Jordan averaged 7. 7 yards a carry and had six 100-yard games and 19 touchdowns. Not bad for a bruising thumper from middle Georgia.

The smaller Griffin? He was the Indians’ do-it-all playmaker and scary home run threat. He had four 100-yard performances in his first five games last season. That was enough to propel the Indians to the playoffs where Griffin showed just how important he is to his team. Down 21-9 in the fourth quarter of the second round of the playoffs to undefeated Langston Hughes, McEachern turned to Griffin. He sparked a come back and scored the game-winning 18-yard touchdown. The rally pushed the Indians out of the second round for the first time since 1999. The win was monumental. as Griffin added an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown the following week to help McEachern top Collins Hill 35-32.

That’s the sort of season Northside has been used to over its many decades of success in Warner Robins. But if the Eagles are to return to old form, Jordan will have to be the catalyst. Quarterback Glenn Smith, the trigger man for the Eagles’ offense last season, is gone. That means the offense will focus on Jordan – and defenses will, too.

But Jordan has proven he can still execute when he’s being targeted by the other side. Witness Northside’s 52-12 win over Grovetown. The Warriors limited Jordan to only 5. 3 yards a carry – his worst average in a game last year. But he pushed his way into the end zone four times during the blow out – showing that it doesn’t matter how you get the job done, just that you do.

And that’s the case with these two very different body types at running back. Griffin, the firecracker in space, or Jordan, the bulldozer pushing the pile, both get the job done. And that’s all you can ask for on a Friday night.