INLAND FIELDHOUSE

Take a closer look at MoVal Rancho Verde senior RB Jordan Jefferson and you’ll see a player who understands the weight of expectations.

Jefferson rushed for 621 yards and seven TDs last season as the back up for the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 runner-up, and now steps to the fore as the Mustangs’ No. 1 option out of the backfield.

The 5-foot-7, 165-pound back is good between the tackles and elusive enough to get to the second level and make defenders miss. He may not have game-breaker speed, but college coaches can expect leadership and double-digit gains to come in bunches.

We caught up with Jefferson after Rancho Verde’s 45-7 victory over Corona Santiago in Week 1 on Friday, Aug. 30. Jefferson totaled 105 yards on 19 carries (5.3 yards per carry) with two touchdowns. He had runs of 19, 11 and 13 yards, but scored on plays of 5 and 3 yards, respectively.

InlandFieldhouse.com: What do you think about the teams performance tonight?
Jordan Jefferson: We we’re going in all around – in the passing game and on the ground – and I got to give a shoutout to my backup, Elijah Ugorji, with three touchdowns. That’s good for him.”

IF: Did you come down with a cramp?
JJ: Yeah, I had a calf cramp so I tried to tough it out. I tried to get back into the game for my team and do what I can do.

IF: How big is getting a win against a Big VIII League team?
JJ: It was a good game but we expected to win, and we came and we won.

IF: What’s it going to take for you guys to have what you consider a successful season?
JJ: We going to have to be healthy. Everyone’s going to have to be healthy. That’s what killed us last year in the championship game. We really got to be healthy and have good practices each and every week.