The North remembers is a catch phrase from the HBO show Game Of Thrones that is also true for the Jordan High football program. The only Moore League school in North Long Beach has an ingrained sense of pride, but after years of disappointment, the Panthers are looking for a bright future while respecting the past.

Jordan alums John Ross and John Timu have made that connection a lot easier. Both All-Moore League stars attended the University of Washington and are now on NFL rosters. Timu is playing linebacker for the Chicago Bears, and Ross was the ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft after setting the NFL combine record with a 4.24 40-yard dash.

We talk about it a lot, head coach John Kane said of Ross and Timu. They lifted weights in that weight room. (Ross) ran 40s out here. He caught passes and played defense on this field. And now hes doing the same thing for the (Cincinnati) Bengals. The kids see anybody can do it if they set their mind to it and work hard. I mean, they watch him on TV. Whats better than that?

Jordan found success running the ball last year and will continue to develop its rushing attack in a variety of formations. Senior Maesean Misher will be the featured running back in a stable full of capable runners that Kane calls fast and shifty. Senior Isiah Clark is also returning after rushing for almost 1,000 yards last season.

The running backs will be working behind a rebuilt offensive line led by new senior center Joe Torres and left tackle Omar Escotto, who is 6-foot-3 and 285 pounds. The Jordan lineman won the beach press competition at Warren High last month after Torres put up 185 pounds a record 38 times. Top-ranked Mater Dei and other Division 1 teams competed.

Winning at Warren helped boost our confidence as a unit, Torres said. The weight room is going to help us finish blocks. We are going accomplish big things for our football program.

We line up in multiple offensive sets, and our kids like it, so we use that as one of our strengths, Kane said. The (offensive line) is new at it, but when you work hard from December to August, its not that hard if you have the strength and toughness.

In the defensive secondary, Clark and fellow senior Josh Wofford are the key returning starters. The 6-1, 190-pound Wofford will be moved back to safety after having to play out of position at linebacker last year.

Were trying to make sure were not asking guys to play both ways, Kane said. Its the tired, mental mistakes at the end of games thats cost us.

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Jordan was a win away from the CIF playoffs but gave up a 19-0 lead to Lakewood in the season finale. The Panthers lost three other games in the fourth quarter.

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Jordan High football using NFL alums as motivation - Long Beach Press Telegram