Curtain call
- Updated: July 17, 2018
Ohatchee’s Lowe gets late call to play a final game, joins teammate Ford, two others from county in all-star game
Ohatchee teammates Jordan Lowe (57) and Jarrett Ford (55) were late additions to Thursday night’s North-South All-Star Game. Lowe was added Sunday. (Photos by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
MONTGOMERY – Jordan Lowe thought his football days were over the night Ohatchee lost in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs. So much, he was spending his summer cleaning and installing swimming pools and getting ready to attend Gadsden State in preparation for “the next part of my life.”
The next time he figured he’d have a football in his hands was when he was throwing it around with his kids in the backyard. Then the phone rang Sunday and suddenly he had the opportunity to play one more game.
The Ohatchee lineman was a last-minute addition to the North roster and will play the final football game of his career in Thursday night’s North-South All-Star Game at Cramton Bowl. He is one of two Indians lineman added to the game in the last three weeks as Jarrett Ford was added to roster in mid-June.
“I got called by (Ohatchee) coach (Scott) Martin and I had to think about it for a second,” Lowe said. “I was basically done; I wasn’t going to play football in college. But my dad talked to me and it was like this was a chance for one last hurrah, go down and do it.
“My first thought was, wow, I’m gonna be so out of shape because I haven’t done anything since basketball season. I thought I was done. Then I got excited. Everyone likes to suit up and put the pads on and go out and play. I was hyped to get to play again. I missed it, missed the team bonding and being around the guys. And it was good Ford is here.”
Ford was just as excited his teammate made the team.
“I went in a group chat and sent a picture of my jersey and he said I’m coming up there tomorrow,” he said. “I didn’t believe him at all, then I found out and I told them my friend was coming down to join us. I was pretty excited.”
Ford was nominated for the game but didn’t make the cut, then was added to fill an open roster spot. Lowe got the call after all the players had already reported and three committed linemen didn’t show. North team officials reached out to Martin for the possibility of another lineman and Lowe had his second chance.
Since arriving on site Lowe has been working at both guard spots on an offensive line that has only six players. He spells Ford at times at right guard, a position he hadn’t played since his junior year season opener.
Ford, whose playing career will continue next season at the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.), spent the last two months working out with former Ohatchee teammate and Cumberlands signee Garrett Young to stay in game shape. He and Martin both believe that commitment will give him an advantage Thursday night.
“I think he’s ready to play really well,” Martin said.
Lowe, meanwhile, is ready to give it one last shot and create a memory of a lifetime.
“I’m going to play it the best I can,” he said, “go out there and show people I was good enough to go to college and do all that stuff.”
Piedmont running back Lee Stanley and Weaver receiver London Knight also are on the North roster. Donoho head coach Mark Sanders is on the coaching staff.
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