JEFFREY REINHART jreinhart@LNPnews.com
It was one of the most clutch performances in one of the biggest games in the history of Elizabethtown’s football program.
Jordan Hallman went crazy Monday night, and the Bears’ 6-0, 175-pound senior couldn’t have picked a better spot.
With a shot to clinch at least a tie for the Section 2 championship and improve to 9-0, and facing longtime section kingpin Manheim Central, Hallman carried 20 times for a career-high 312 yards and scored five touchdowns in E-town’s 56-14 rout over the Barons.
His TD runs covered 23, 35, 64, 86 and 14 yards, respectively, as E-town snapped a 20-game losing streak against Central, remained unbeaten, and can clinch its first outright Section 2 title with a win at Cocalico on Friday.
For his efforts, Hallman is the New Era Player of the Week.
“Jordan is just a phenomenal athlete,” E-town coach Jeff Polites said. “He continues to make big plays for us.”
After running roughshod over the Barons, Hallman looked for a hole, followed his blockers and stiff-armed the New Era’s Five Questions:
NO LOSSES THROUGH NINE GAMES, INCLUDING A WIN OVER MANHEIM CENTRAL. MUST FEEL PRETTY GOOD?
“It means a lot. Since our senior meeting last year, our goal all along was to go undefeated, beat Manheim Central and make Districts. Those were our goals. So far we’ve chalked up two of those.”
IF YOU BEAT COCALICO FRIDAY YOU WIN THE SECTION TITLE OUTRIGHT. HOW DO YOU APPROACH THAT GAME?
“We’re going to enjoy the Central win, but we have to focus on Cocalico because it’s going to be another one of those games that’s won in the trenches. And I have a lot of faith in our linemen. I guess the bottom line is that we’ll have to come out and play E-town football, just like we have the first nine games.”
TALK US THROUGH YOUR PREGAME ROUTINE.
“I like to go in the weight room and listen to my iPod. I like to listen to my music and just be alone and envision what’s going to happen – sort of do a play-by-play in my head. That way, when the time comes, I’ve already seen it.”
WHO ARE THE PRANKSTERS ON THE TEAM?
“(Senior) Oliver Thayer and (junior) Alex Kirchner. Those guys are always telling jokes to try and ease the tension a little bit. That allows us to go out there and do our thing.”
YOU CAN TAKE THREE PEOPLE TO DINNER. NAME THEM. WHERE TO YOU? AND WHAT DO YOU ORDER?
“Reggie Bush, because I try and emulate him. Jessica Simpson. I mean, look at her. And Hugh Heffner. I don’t know how that old guy does it, but he does it. My favorite restaurant in Taco Bell, but I don’t think Jessica Simpson would prefer Taco Bell. So we’d go to Red Lobster. And I’d get something with shrimp in it.”
