ASHLAND — It’s early in the second quarter when Ashland University tailback Jordan McCune checks into the game for the first time in what, for him, feels like an eternity.
The Eagles already lead Lake Erie College 13-0 and it’s about to get much worse for the Storm. A storm of different sort is brewing in the AU backfield.
It’s been almost a year to the day since McCune, a 2011 Clear Fork graduate and the program’s career rushing leader, last played in a meaningful game. The compact 5-foot-8, 215-pound senior is about to re-introduce himself to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
On his first carry, McCune gets to the edge and races down the far sideline for a 36 yard gain. Four plays later, he bulls into the end zone from 4 yards out to give the Eagles a 19-0 lead.
After sitting out all but one game with a high ankle sprain last season, McCune would rumble for 98 yards and two touchdowns in his 2014 debut a 66-21 AU victory. He would do it on just nine carries, averaging 10.9 yards per attempt.
“It felt great to finally get back out there,” said McCune, who took a medical redshirt last year and has two years of eligibility remaining. “I wasn’t nervous at all, just excited. There was a lot of adrenaline flowing.
“If you don’t get that rush, you may want to re-evaluate yourself.”
Taking any time off is hard for McCune, who once rushed for almost 100 yards against Orrville after breaking a bone in his lower leg earlier in the game. He played in every AU game during his first two seasons on campus.
“You could tell last year was hard on Jordan,” said AU tight end Logan Slavinski, a fellow 2011 Clear Fork graduate. “He’s not the type of person who likes to stand on the sidelines.”
As a true freshman, McCune led the Eagles in rushing with 834 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was the first true freshman to lead the team in rushing since 1999 and was an All-GLIAC honorable mention selection. The following year McCune rumbled for 928 yards and 13 TDs on 162 carries and again was an All-GLIAC honorable mention pick as the Eagles went unbeaten during the regular season, won the GLIAC title and advanced to the playoffs.
“We weren’t surprised at all that Jordan went there contributed right away. He is such a physical specimen,” Clear Fork coach Dave Carroll said. “He’s been like that ever since he was a little guy.”
Added Travis Hissong, a former Clear Fork teammate now pitching the the New York Yankees organization, “Physically, Jordan is a freak. He’s been that way for as long as I’ve known him.”
McCune rushed for 76 yards on 11 carries in last year’s season-opening 10-9 loss at Indianapolis before leaving in the fourth quarter. In McCune’s absence, fellow tailback Anthony Taylor broke AU’s single-season rushing record with 1,691 yards.
McCune and Taylor were both members of AU’s heralded 2011 recruiting class.
“Me and ‘AT’ came in together as freshmen and neither of us really knew what to expect,” McCune said. “We have a great relationship. I was his biggest supporter last year.”
Vance Settlemire emerged in the backfield last year while McCune rehabbed his injury, rushing for 380 yards and seven TDs. In last week’s opener, Settlemire led the way with 99 rushing yards and a touchdown. Taylor had 85 yards and three scores as the Eagles piled up 290 yards on the ground.
“We have three players who are very capable at tailback. We can give our opponents a dose of all three guys,” AU coach and Madison graduate Lee Owens said. “After last year, you have to start with Anthony Taylor. After that we have Jordan and Vance at No. 2.
“It’s a good situation to have. It’s my job to keep the right guy on the field.”
Owens will lean on the running attack as redshirt freshman quarterback Travis Tarnowski adjusts to the starting role. Tarnowski made himself at home in his first collegiate start, throwing for 374 yards and three touchdowns.
“He did a nice job for his first start,” McCune said. “We have a lot of confidence in him.”
AU fans who followed McCune during his high school days at Clear Fork will notice something else different this season. McCune changed his number from No. 35, which he had worn for his entire AU career, to No. 33, which he wore as a senior at Clear Fork.
“It’s a family heirloom,” McCune said. “My dad had it and my dad’s dad had it and my great grandpa had it.”
The Eagles host Walsh on Saturday before visiting Ohio Dominican on Sept. 20. ODU won the GLIAC South Division title last year and advanced to the playoffs.
“We’ve definitely got a lot of potential,” McCune said. “We feel like we have the chance to be special.”
As for McCune, he’s just glad to be healthy.
“It’s nice to be back and to know that I’ve got another couple of years,” he said. “I’ve still got some things I want to prove.”
