Jordan Tice is biding his time nicely while he heals.
Tice may have looked totally healthy last week in rushing for 186 yards in 22 carries to lead Osage City to a 36-33 win over Northern Heights. Fact is, the junior has been battling injuries suffered in the first two games — and his coach, Mike Ritzel, thinks Osage’s Flint Hills League opponents may not have seen the best of him yet.
“The amazing thing about all this is, so far this year, he’s not at 100 percent,” Ritzel said. “... So when he’s healthy, watch out.”
Tice, who rushed for 1,137 yards last year and earned All-Flint Hills League honors as a sophomore, suffered a hip pointer when he was kneed in a preseason scrimmage. Then, he got his foot stepped on in the second game of the year against Olpe.
Tice said while the hip isn’t really bothering him anymore, the foot is still bruised. But once the game starts, he doesn’t really feel that pain, either.
“My adrenaline starts pumping, and I’m just ready to go,” he said.
A personal goal for Tice is to improve on last year’s stats, and even in his banged-up state, he’s on pace to surpass last year’s rushing total. He has exactly 400 yards rushing in Osage’s three games this year, an average of more than eight yards a carry, and has already scored six TDs, compared to 14 last year.
Ritzel describes Tice as “a little dynamo.” He’s not very tall, at 5-foot-7, but Tice still has good size at 165 pounds.
“Jordan reads his blocks extremely well, and he’s a very efficient runner,” Ritzel said. “Everything’s generally gaining yardage, and he sets up his blocks well.”
His athletic ability comes in handy in other spots on the field. Tice is also a defensive back and kickoff returner, with a season-best return this year of 46 yards. When he’s healthier, he’s also a punter.
“Everything he does, he competes in,” Ritzel said. “He wants to be first — don’t matter what it is. That’s nice. I think you’ve gotta credit his parents with that. They’ve instilled that in him.”
This week, the Indians will be traveling to Council Grove (1-2), the team that Tice torched last season for his career-best rushing game. Tice logged 221 yards in 23 carries in the Indians’ easy 42-7 win.