Excitement filled McIntosh County last fall, the kind that only comes from local Southeast Georgia pride in a successful high school football program. Throughout Darien, Cox, Townsend, Eulonia, and even Sapelo Island, everyone was cheering for the McIntosh County Academy Buccaneers as they made their way past the regular season, through postseason, and all the way to the Georgia Dome.
Meanwhile, MCA’s future was making his presence known over at the middle school.
“I had four running touchdowns in one game last year,” said Jordan Prince, the McIntosh County Middle School eighth-grader leading the way for the middle school Bucs on offense and defense.
Prince, a speedy running back and defensive back, stands 5’5” and 130 pounds and will continue to grow in high school. Football is his primary sport.
“I’ve played football since I could walk,” Prince said. “It is the first sport that caught my eye. My second sport is track; I love to run.”
And run he does. On the track team, Prince competes in the 100-meters, the 4×100, the 4×400, and the long jump.
Whether it is football in the fall or track in the spring, Prince is running. It’s no wonder his nickname is “Fastboy.” His speed and quick, cutting style of running with a football get him to the edge and out into open space, where he operates best. From there, it is all speed, which will come in handy the next few years when he potentially plays both sides for the Class-A MCA team.
“In high school, I see Jordan playing running back and defensive back,” said Marty Jones, McIntosh County Middle School football coach. “Jordan is one of those kids that flies out of a cannon running the ball and on defense has the speed to cover all areas of the field.”
Prince realized he had speed in his first big run from scrimmage as a young man.
“The quarterback handed me the ball, and I passed linebackers, safeties, and cornerbacks and made the touchdown,” Prince said.
He started realizing his abilities as a defensive back during a scrimmage when he snatched an interception and ran it back to the 20-yard line to seal a win for his team. Last year he was on the McIntosh Middle team that got the opportunity to play the high school’s junior varsity team.
“We lost, but we played a strong game,” Prince said.
The hard-working young man enjoys playing football, and his favorite part of playing the game comes toward the end when victory is on the line in the fourth quarter.
“My adrenaline starts pumping because there is work to do,” Prince said.
Prince puts in work off the field, too. He improves himself as a player by working out whenever and wherever he can. Prince is a team leader for Jones’s middle school Bucs and gives a boost to the team with his hard work in the classroom, weight room, and on the field.
“He gives our team the perfect example of what an all-around athlete should look like,” Jones said. “His strongest part of his game is his ability to be coached. Jordan understands his talent but works his butt off every day to improve and not get comfortable where he’s at.”
The son of Shiela Prince, Jordan’s goal is to earn a college scholarship and pursue a degree in engineering. Away from school and practice, Prince likes to play basketball, listen to music, and go to church. He credited his mother and Jones for helping him develop both as a player and as a person.
“My mom is my biggest cheerleader, and she pushes me to do my best in everything,” Prince said. “Coach Jones always gives me good advice for on and off the field.”
Prince continues to look for new challenges and has already ran and finished a 3K road race at Darien’s annual Blessing of the Fleet. Next season he will move up Highway 17 to the high school outside of Darien. He looks forward to playing for coach Terel Toomer at MCA, but first comes his eighth-grade season in which he hopes to guide MCMS to the middle school conference championship.
“Jordan’s hard work and leadership abilities are strong qualities that help lead our team,” Jones said. “The only way we can be successful is having leaders like Jordan help lead the team into the right direction.”
“The fourth quarter. My adrenaline starts pumping because there is work to do.” – Jordan Prince
Favorites:
Snack: Sweet and Spicy Doritos.
Food: Stewed chicken.
Hobby: Relaxing with my brothers and listening to music.
Pro Team: NY Giants.
College Team: Oregon Ducks.
Pro Player: Jemahl Charles, running back for the Kansas City Chiefs.
TV show: “ESPN.”
Movie: “Superman.”
Movie star: Janelle Monae.
School subject: Social studies.
Pets: Dog.
Place to travel: Orlando, Florida, and New York City.
Car: Tron Lamborghini.
Who inspires you and why? “My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and my mom. They both love me, no questions asked.”
RS – Jordan Prince (McIntosh Middle)
By Rob Asbell
Photography by Michael Brinson
